The king of Mesopotamia, the king of Moab, and after them the Philistines, and the Canaanites of Hazor, led by Sisera, in turn became the oppressors of Israel. Othniel, Shamgar, and Ehud, Deborah and Barak, were raised up as deliverers of their people. But again "the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian." Heretofore the hand of the oppressor had fallen but lightly on the tribes dwelling east of the Jordan, but in the present calamities they were the first sufferers.

Israel blev først undertrykt af kongen af Mesopotamien og kongen af Moab og senere af filisterne og kanaanæerne i Hazor, de sidstnævnte under Siseras ledelse. Herren lod Otnial, Sjamgar, Ehud, Debora og Barak fremstå som folkets befriere; men israelitterne gjorde atter, "hvad der var ondt i Herrens øjne", og Herren gav dem "i Midjans hånd". Hidtil havde undertrykkernes hånd ikke hvilet så tungt på de stammer, der boede øst for Jordan, men i dette tilfælde gik det først ud over dem.