Topical Encyclopedia Ehud, a significant figure in the Book of Judges, is one of the extraordinary judges raised by God to deliver the Israelites from oppression. His account is primarily found in Judges 3:12-30. Ehud is notable for his cunning and bravery, which he used to liberate the Israelites from the Moabite king, Eglon.Ehud the Benjamite Ehud is identified as a Benjamite, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. This detail is significant, as the tribe of Benjamin was known for its warriors and left-handed fighters. Judges 3:15 states, "Again the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a Benjamite, a left-handed man. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab." Ehud the Left-Handed Ehud's left-handedness is a crucial aspect of his identity and mission. In the ancient Near East, left-handedness was often seen as unusual, and in the context of Ehud's account, it becomes a strategic advantage. His left-handedness allowed him to conceal a double-edged sword on his right thigh, which he used to assassinate King Eglon. This act of deliverance is described in Judges 3:21 : "And Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly." Ehud the Deliverer Ehud's role as a deliverer is central to his identity as an extraordinary judge. After assassinating Eglon, Ehud rallied the Israelites to defeat the Moabites, securing peace for the land. Judges 3:30 records the outcome of his leadership: "So Moab was subdued under the hand of Israel that day, and the land had rest for eighty years." Ehud the Strategist Ehud's account highlights his strategic mind and courage. By requesting a private audience with King Eglon under the pretense of delivering a secret message from God, Ehud was able to isolate the king and carry out his plan. His ability to think and act decisively under pressure underscores his role as an extraordinary judge chosen by God to deliver His people. Ehud's narrative is a testament to God's provision and the unexpected ways He can use individuals to fulfill His purposes. Through Ehud, God demonstrated His power to deliver Israel from their enemies, even when the odds seemed insurmountable. Torrey's Topical Textbook Judges 3:15But when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man left handed: and by him the children of Israel sent a present to Eglon the king of Moab. Torrey's Topical Textbook Library Book 18 Footnotes The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the ... The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus Tiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire ... Against Jovinianus. Resources Who were Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon? | GotQuestions.orgWhat can we learn from the story of the Levite and his concubine? | GotQuestions.org Who was Samson in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Extraordinary Judges: During Four Hundred and Fifty Years Extraordinary Judges: Israel not Permanently or Spiritually Benefitted By Extraordinary Judges: Names of Abdon Extraordinary Judges: Names of Abimelech Extraordinary Judges: Names of Deborah Extraordinary Judges: Names of Ehud Extraordinary Judges: Names of Eli Extraordinary Judges: Names of Elon Extraordinary Judges: Names of Gideon Extraordinary Judges: Names of Ibzan Extraordinary Judges: Names of Jair Extraordinary Judges: Names of Jephthah Extraordinary Judges: Names of Othniel Extraordinary Judges: Names of Samson Extraordinary Judges: Names of Samuel Extraordinary Judges: Names of Shamgar Extraordinary Judges: Names of Tola Extraordinary Judges: Not Without Intermission Extraordinary Judges: Raised up to Deliver Israel Extraordinary Judges: Remarkable for Their Faith Extraordinary Judges: The office of, not Always for Life, or Hereditary Extraordinary Judges: Upheld and Strengthened by God Related Terms |
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