Shamgar

Biblical Account

Shamgar appears twice in the Book of Judges. According to Judges 3:31, he was "the son of Anath," who arose after Ehud. He killed six hundred Philistines with an ox goad, and in this way he delivered Israel. An ox goad is a long, sharp-pointed stick used to prod and drive oxen while plowing. In Judges 5:6, the Song of Deborah states that "in the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways." The expression indicates that travel was dangerous and public order highly insecure during that period.

Nothing is recorded about his origins, the length of his activity, or his death. The accounts of other judges commonly include formulas such as "he judged Israel for so many years" or "the land had rest for so many years," but no such formula accompanies the account of Shamgar.

Significance Within Scripture

Shamgar is recorded as one of the deliverers who rescued Israel from foreign enemies during the period of the judges. Because his account consists of a single verse, he is commonly classified as one of the so-called "minor judges" (judges whose deeds are recorded only briefly). He is also included in the list of twelve judges commonly cited in Korean churches. The Philistines he fought later became Israel's chief enemy in the days of Samson and of Saul and David. Shamgar is not mentioned in the New Testament. Hebrews 11:32 lists judges such as Gideon, Barak, Samson, and Jephthah, but Shamgar's name does not appear.

Interpretations and Points of Debate

• The meaning of "son of Anath": Anath is known as the name of a goddess worshiped in Canaan. As a result, scholars hold several views. Some take it as his father's name, others as a reference to a place of origin such as Beth-anath, and still others as a title for a group of warriors. Some scholars, noting that his name is not Israelite in form, suggest that he may have been of foreign origin. None of these views is a settled conclusion.
• Chronology and placement: Judges 4:1 continues the narrative with "when Ehud was dead," passing over Shamgar. For this reason, some interpreters regard Shamgar as a local hero whose activity overlapped with the time of Ehud or Deborah.
• Traditions added in retelling: Sermons often portray him as an ordinary farmer and connect his story to the Philistines' control of iron weapons (see 1 Samuel 13:19-22). The text of Judges, however, does not directly state his occupation or why he used this weapon. Nor does the text say whether he killed the six hundred men at one time or on several occasions.

In the Korean Church

In Korean church preaching, Shamgar is frequently cited as an example of "a person used through what was in his hand." He is often presented alongside Moses' rod, David's sling stone, and the small lunch of the five loaves and two fish as an instance of great things accomplished through small means. In Sunday school, when children learn the names of the judges in order, he is treated as the third judge, after Othniel and Ehud.