Ehud, a significant figure in the Book of Judges, is remembered as a deliverer of Israel during a time of oppression. His account is primarily found in Judges 3:12-30. Ehud, the son of Gera, was a Benjamite and notably left-handed, a detail that plays a crucial role in his mission to free Israel from Moabite domination.

Historical Context

The period of the Judges was marked by a cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance among the Israelites. After the death of Othniel, the first judge, the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD, leading to their subjugation by Eglon, the king of Moab. Eglon, with the help of the Ammonites and Amalekites, captured the City of Palms (Jericho) and oppressed Israel for eighteen years (Judges 3:12-14).

Ehud's Mission

In response to Israel's cries for help, God raised up Ehud as a deliverer. Ehud was chosen to bring tribute to Eglon, a task that provided him the opportunity to execute a daring plan. His left-handedness allowed him to conceal a double-edged sword on his right thigh, a strategic advantage since it was unexpected (Judges 3:15-16).

Assassination of Eglon

Ehud's plan unfolded when he presented the tribute to Eglon. Afterward, he requested a private audience with the king, claiming to have a secret message from God. Eglon, intrigued, dismissed his attendants, allowing Ehud to approach him alone. Ehud then drew his concealed sword and thrust it into Eglon's belly, killing him. The text vividly describes how the sword was swallowed by Eglon's fat, emphasizing the completeness of the act (Judges 3:17-22).

Escape and Victory

Following the assassination, Ehud locked the doors of the upper room and made his escape. Eglon's servants, assuming he was relieving himself, delayed in checking on him, giving Ehud ample time to flee. Ehud then rallied the Israelites by blowing a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, leading them to seize the fords of the Jordan and cut off the Moabites' retreat. The Israelites struck down about ten thousand Moabite warriors, securing an eighty-year period of peace (Judges 3:23-30).

Significance

Ehud's account highlights themes of divine deliverance and the unexpected means by which God can achieve His purposes. His left-handedness, often seen as a disadvantage, became a tool for liberation. Ehud's courage and cunning are celebrated as instruments of God's justice, demonstrating that God can use unlikely individuals to fulfill His plans.

Legacy

Ehud's successful deliverance of Israel from Moabite oppression is a testament to God's faithfulness in responding to the cries of His people. His account serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience and the power of God to use unconventional methods to achieve His will. Ehud's legacy is one of faith, bravery, and divine intervention in the history of Israel.Ehud

he that praises

Ehud

(union).

1. Ehud son of Bilhah, and great-grandson of Benjamin the patriarch. (1 Chronicles 7:10; 8:6)
2. Ehud son of Gera, of the tribe of Benjamin, (Judges 3:15) the second judge of the Israelites. (B.C. about 1370.) In the Bible he is not called a judge, but a deliverer (l.c.): so Othniel, (Judges 3:9) and all the Judges. (Nehemiah 9:27) As a Benjamite he was specially chosen to destroy Eglon, who had established himself in Jericho, which was included in the boundaries of that tribe. He was very strong, and left-handed. [EGLON]

Ehud

A Benjamite, who delivered Israel from the Moabites, by first slaying Eglon their king, and then raising an army and defeating his people. He judged Israel with honor for many years, Jud 3:12-31; 4:1.

Union.

(1.) A descendant of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 7:10), his great-grandson.

(2.) The son of Gera, of the tribe of Benjamin (Judges 3:15). After the death of Othniel the people again fell into idolatry, and Eglon, the king of Moab, uniting his bands with those of the Ammonites and the Amalekites, crossed the Jordan and took the city of Jericho, and for eighteen years held that whole district in subjection, exacting from it an annual tribute. At length Ehud, by a stratagem, put Eglon to death with a two-edged dagger a cubit long, and routed the Moabites at the fords of the Jordan, putting 10,000 of them to death. Thenceforward the land, at least Benjamin, enjoyed rest "for fourscore years" (Judges 3:12-30). (see QUARRIES .) But in the south-west the Philistines reduced the Israelites to great straits (Judges 5:6). From this oppression Shamgar was raised up to be their deliverer.

EHUD

e'-hud (ehudh, "united," "strong"):

A Benjamite, son of Gera, deliverer of Israel from oppression by Moab (Judges 3:15-30). Gaining access alone to the presence of King Eglon under pretense of a secret errand connected with the payment of Israel's tribute, Ehud, a left-handed man, drew the sword he had concealed upon his right side, and thrust the king through. He locked the doors of the upper chamber after him, made his escape, and with the Israelites overcame Moab at the fords of the Jordan, slaying some 10,000. Ehud's name occurs again in the Benjamite genealogy (1 Chronicles 7:10).

F. K. Farr

164. Ehud -- the name of several Israelites
... 163, 164. Ehud. 165 . the name of several Israelites. Transliteration: Ehud
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-hood') Short Definition: Ehud. ... NASB Word Usage Ehud (9). ...
/hebrew/164.htm - 6k

261. Echud -- "union," a Benjamite
... 260, 261. Echud. 262 . "union," a Benjamite. Transliteration: Echud
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-khood') Short Definition: Ehud. ... Ehud. ...
/hebrew/261.htm - 6k

How Our People Served the Moabites Eighteen Years, and were Then ...
... CHAPTER 4. How Our People Served The Moabites Eighteen Years, And Were Then Delivered
From Slavery By One Ehud Who Retained The Dominion Eighty Years. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 4 how our people.htm

Judges
... and repeated in a less elaborate form elsewhere, vi.7-10, x.6-16, is amply illustrated
by the stories that follow"the stories of Othniel, Ehud, Deborah and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/mcfadyen/introduction to the old testament/judges.htm

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
... and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan"The conquest of Canaan and the native
reaction against the Hebrews"The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or ...
/.../chapter iiithe hebrews and the.htm

The Kingdom Conquering
... XI. Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson: the Six Deliverers. XII.1.
Environment counts. 2. The Lord delivers when His people cry unto Him. XIII. ...
/.../palmer/a birds-eye view of the bible/iii the kingdom conquering.htm

The Great Misery of those who Lose the Saints' Rest.
... I may say, as Ehud to Eglon, "I have a message to thee from God;" that, as the word
of God is true, thou shalt never see the face of God in peace. ...
/.../baxter/the saints everlasting rest/chapter v the great misery.htm

The Judges.
... was raised up to deliver them. (2) The invasion of the Moabites and the
deliverance through Ehud. (3) The oppression of the Canaanites ...
/.../tidwell/the bible period by period/chapter ix the judges.htm

How the Title of Saviour is Given to Christ in one Sense, and to ...
... is given to others ("And the Lord raised up to them a Saviour, Othniel the Son of
Kenaz," [2484] and again, "the Lord raised up to them a Saviour, Ehud the son ...
/.../cassian/the seven books of john cassian /chapter xii how the title.htm

An Explanation of the Three Callings.
... And it says: "The Lord sent them a Saviour, called Ehud, the son of Gera, the son
of Jemini, who used the left hand as well as the right:" and again we are told ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter iv an explanation of.htm

Of the Excellence of the Perfect Man who is Figuratively Spoken of ...
... Those are they then who are figuratively spoken of in holy Scripture as amphoterodexion
, ie, ambidextrous, as Ehud is described in the book of Judges "who ...
/.../cassian/the works of john cassian /chapter x of the excellence.htm

Whether the Truth of this Promised Peace Can be Ascribed to those ...
... Solomon had, who reigned forty years. For under that judge who is called
Ehud there were eighty years of peace. [1079] Be it far from ...
/.../augustine/city of god/chapter 13 whether the truth of.htm

Ehud (12 Occurrences)
... At length Ehud, by a stratagem, put Eglon to death with a two-edged dagger a cubit
long, and routed the Moabites at the fords of the Jordan, putting 10,000 of ...
/e/ehud.htm - 11k

Eglon (13 Occurrences)
... The people at length "cried unto the Lord" in their distress, and he "raised them
up a deliverer" in Ehud (qv), the son of Gera, a Benjamite. ...
/e/eglon.htm - 13k

Quarries (4 Occurrences)
... (2.) The "quarries" (Hebrews pesilim) by Gilgal (Judges 3:19), from which Ehud turned
back for the purpose of carrying out his design to put Eglon king of Moab ...
/q/quarries.htm - 11k

Gera (9 Occurrences)
... 5, 7). (2.) The father of Ehud the judge (Judges 3:15). (3 ... Bela's sons.
(3) Father, or ancestor, of the judge Ehud (Judges 3:15). (4 ...
/g/gera.htm - 10k

Parlor (5 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:20 And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlor, which
he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. ...
/p/parlor.htm - 9k

Summer-house (4 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:20 Then Ehud came in to him while he was seated by himself in his
summer-house. And Ehud said, I have a word from God for you. ...
/s/summer-house.htm - 8k

Roof (55 Occurrences)
... Judges 3:20 And Ehud came to him, as he was sitting alone in his cool roof
chamber. And Ehud said, "I have a message from God for ...
/r/roof.htm - 24k

Chamber (73 Occurrences)
... And the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. (DBY JPS). Judges 3:20 And
Ehud came to him, as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. ...
/c/chamber.htm - 36k

Upper (99 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Judges 3:20 Ehud came to him;
and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. ...
/u/upper.htm - 39k

Lefthanded (2 Occurrences)
... The first is Ehud, son of Gera, who killed Eglon, king of Moab, and thereby delivered
Israel from paying tribute to the Moabites (Judges 3:15). ...
/l/lefthanded.htm - 8k

Who was Ehud? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Shamgar? | GotQuestions.org

What can we learn from the tribe of Benjamin? | GotQuestions.org

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