S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries

Ehud served as the second judge of Israel following Othniel. After Othniel's death, the people of Israel sinned and fell to the king of Moab, serving him for 18 years (Judges 3:13-14). When the Isr...

Login or Sign Up to view the rest of this answer.

March 10 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jack Gutknecht Supporter Arizona Bible College graduate and Dallas Seminary graduate

Ehud was the Jews' second deliverer (Judges 3:12-30) 
Israel's sin is spoken of in Judges 3:12: The Israelites do what is evil in the Lord's sight. 
Israel's servitude is dealt with in Judges 3:13-14: 
The Israelites are subject to the rule of King Eglon of Moab for 18 years. In the days of Samson and Gideon, a fat foreign king, Eglon, oppressed the Jews for 18 years. A Benjamite Jew, Ehud, decided enough was enough. "Ehud made himself a sword with 2 edges, about 18 inches [46 cm] long" (Jg 3:16 NCV). After handing over the taxes, Ehud told Eglon he had a message from God. Eglon cleared the room, and Ehud thrust the dagger into the obese king's abdomen, "and the dirt came out." (Judges 3:20-22; Judges 3:22 especially). KJV 

(It was a dagger strapped to his right leg. The peculiar thing about the tribe of Benjamin to which Ehud belonged was that in it were 700 left-handed men. So skillful had they all become in the use of the left hand that they could sling stones at a hair’s breadth and never miss. HL

Judges 20:16 16Among all these soldiers there were seven hundred select troops who were left-handed, each of whom could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. NIV)

Said another commentator, "Eglon, king of Moab, oppressor of Israel, imposed an outrageous tax upon the people, and Ehud received a divine commission to destroy the oppressor. Meeting the king in his summerhouse and saying that he had a secret message for him, Ehud, the left-handed man, put his left hand to his right side, pulled out a dagger and Eglon died. Thus for the salvation of Israel, the left-handed weapon did its work. Wonderful is it not, that God can use all kinds for the fulfillment of His purpose?" HL

Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king stood up from his chair, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand and took out the sword that was tied to his right hip. Then he stabbed the sword deep into the king’s belly! 22 Even the handle sank in, and the blade came out his back. The king’s fat covered the whole sword, so Ehud left the sword in Eglon. (NCV)

After handing over the taxes, Ehud told Eglon he had a message from God. Eglon cleared the room, and Ehud thrust the dagger into the obese king's abdomen, "and the dirt came out." (Judges 3:20-22; Judges 3:22 especially). KJV

July 18 2021 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Jeffrey Johnson Supporter

Who was Ehud?

Ehud, the son of Gera from the tribe of Benjamin, was the second biblical judge of Israel, delivering the Israelites from 18 years of Moabite oppression. Described as left-handed, he used this to conceal a sword on his right thigh and assassinate Eglon, the obese King of Moab, subsequently leading Israel to 80 years of peace.

Ehud is not specifically called "Judge Ehud"; rather, he is referred to as "a saviour" (Jg 3:15 ESV). "But when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised them a saviour, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man left-handed. And the children of Israel sent tribute by him unto Eglon the king of Moab."

The term "left-handed" means 'shut, lame, or bound in the right hand.' Does this mean that Ehud was disabled, perhaps with a deformed right hand? Consider what the Bible says about the left-handed "seven hundred chosen men" out of the tribe of Benjamin: "Every one of these was a slinger of stones to a hairbreadth and would not miss," states Judges 20:16.

Very likely, they were selected for their prowess in battle. According to some Bible scholars, "left-handed" denotes one "who used the left hand as well as the right," that is, an ambidextrous person.​—Judges 3:15, The Douay Version.

The tribe of Benjamin, in fact, was renowned for its left-handed men.

Learning From Ehud's Example

Faith in God motivated Ehud. Ehud acted in faith and delivered Israel from King Eglon's tyrannical power. Courage was one of Ehud's qualities. He had to be courageous to wield a literal sword with telling effect. 

Christians today do not take up such a sword. (Isaiah 2:4; Matthew 26:52) Yet, we do make use of "the sword of the spirit," God's Word. (Ephesians 6:17)

Ehud was proficient in the use of his weapon. We too need to be skilful in using God's Word as we tell others about the good news of the Kingdom. (Matthew 24:14) Personal study of the Bible and prayerful reliance on our heavenly Father will help us to imitate the qualities displayed by Ehud.

Ehud was truly a man of faith and courage, and in today's world, we also need the same courage as Ehud to defeat our enemies, Satan and his demons.

1 day ago • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report