God, in His sovereignty, provided judges for His people for about four hundred and fifty years. When the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them. However, when the judge died, the people reverted and behaved more corruptly than their fathers, refusing to commit to serve God.

The acts of lessor known characters without many verses discussing them hide valuable lessons that can be overshadowed by major figures of the Bible. Looking at the deeds of Shamgar son of Anath we are focused on the time after Ehud's period of stability in Judges 3:30-31. Shamgar killed 600 of the group of the best men of technologically superior Philistines with the ox goad weapon he had on him given by God. His name, unlike the standard three consonant root, is instead semi-close to Shamar which means a defender. He was a defender of the time when Israel was prime for takeover by the Philistines, which was likely because of their unfortunate backslide after Ehud which lasted until Deborah. However, God still looked out for His people and gave them a guardian. He used an ox goad which main lesson teaches us to use whatever gifts God gives us and not the same ones that we might want from others.