שופטים, פרק ג׳, פסוק י״ד

For a long period of eighteen years, the Israelites lived under foreign rule. Eglon took full control and became the actual ruler of the land, and the people served him directly. However, despite this complete subjugation, his control over the nation was not unusually harsh. It appears that his reign was not marked by cruelty or any special hardship toward the people [ביאור שטיינזלץ].