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Equipping Men with Biblical Knowledge and Leadership Skills
Category: Personal Study
Thread: Enigmatic Bible Characters Who Changed the World
Post Topic: Ehud, the Left-Handed Avenger
Post in Thread: #6
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Scripture: Judges 3:12-30
Key Verses:
Judges 3:18-20
18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it. 19 But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.”
The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left.
20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, “I have a message from God for you.”
Enigmatic, Obscure Bible Characters
An enigma is a person that is mysterious or puzzling to understand. The Bible contains many such characters. The writer will drop a name or describe a nameless person, and tell a story about them. As a writer, it always makes me wonder – what makes them tick? Why was that particular name dropped? What’s their backstory?
Ehud is more well-known that some of the other characters in this series, where I put you in their situations, and describe what we know and what we speculate about these obscure characters from history.
Observations
Context
Moabites
The Moabites had some relation to the Israelites in that they were descendants of Abraham’s nephew, Lot. But they were a pagan people who did not follow God. At the time of our story, they had invaded Israel, crossing over the Jordan River and capturing the City of Palms (rebuilt Jericho).
Israelites
Ehud arrived on the scene during a time of chaos for the Israelites. After the Exodus from Egypt, the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years under Moses’s leadership. Then Joshua led them into the Promised Land. When Joshua died, the conquest of Canaan continued as recorded in the book of Judges. This book details a cycle of falling away from faith in God, oppression from surrounding nations, repentance, and deliverance by a regional judge that the Lord would raise up. The judges were typically military leaders who set the people free from oppression and then ruled the people faithfully.
The period of the judges comes before King Saul and the period of the kings.
The Predicament
(verses 12-14) The Israelites in the region of the lower Jordan Valley did evil in the sight of the Lord and were invaded by King Eglon of the Moabites. The Moabites crossed the Jordan and took control of Jericho and the surrounding area. Eglon ruled over the region with a heavy hand, requiring costly tributes to stave off additional invasions. Eglon’s rule lasted 18 years.
Deliverer
(verse 15) The Israelites repented and cried out to God for help. He raised up a left-handed man in Ehud, who was sent to present the tribute to the King.
Deception
(v16-19) Ehud led a delegation to Jericho to pay the tribute. The king was likely heavily-guarded at this point. Ehud made sure that everything went as normal. The tribute was paid, the king seemed happy, and the delegation departed.
But Ehud had trickery in mind. When the delegation reached Gilgal, he sent them away and returned to the king. He claimed to have a secret message for the king. Eglon couldn’t help himself. Having already received the tribute, and seeing that Ehud was alone, he ordered everyone else out of the room.
Assassination
(v20-22) Ehud approached the king’s throne in the upper room of the palace. Ehud had hidden a short sword under his clothes, strapped to his right leg. Before drawing the dagger, he gave the king a revised message: “I have a message from God for you.”
The king probably knew what that meant. He rose to meet the threat. Ehud drew the dagger and plunged it into the King’s fat belly. The king was so obese that the layers wrapped around the handle of the dagger to the point where Ehud couldn’t even pull it out.
Escape
(v23-26) Ehud locked the inner doors and went out onto the balcony. The smell of death was so putrid, the king’s attendants thought he must be relieving himself. Not wanting to be the one who embarrassed the king, they waited outside the doors. By the time the finally decided to go in, Ehud had escaped out the back.
Ehud escaped past Gilgal where’d he first left the delegation, all the way to Seirah, where he rallied his troops.
Deliverance
The Israelites attacked the Moabites under Ehud’s leadership, pushing them back across the Jordan and gaining control of the river. Their victory was utterly complete, killing about 10,000 Moabites.
Interpretation
Setting
The Moabites lived on the eastern side of the Jordan River, around the Dead Sea. Prior to Ehud, they had made serious incursions into Israelite territory, controlling Jericho and other sections of Israel west of the Jordan.
The map below shows Ehud’s path to King Eglon, and also demonstrates how far Ehud’s forces pushed back the Moabites. He who controlled the river crossings in that time controlled the region. The river was much wider than it it is today.
Genre
Historical narrative.
Takeaways
Lefty
The Bible makes a big deal about Ehud’s being left-handed. This must have played a role in his success. But why?
In ancient times, there was a stigma attached to lefties. A left-handed person might work from childhood to train their right arm. City gates were built in such a manner that it would be difficult for right-handed archers or sword-bearers to swing around a gate and attack, leaving them vulnerable for longer. And the name of Ehud’s tribe, Benjamin, literally means “son of the right hand.”
Having the secret weapon strapped to his right thigh would thus make it less apt for detection. Think how awkward it would be to grasp a weapon from your right inner thigh with your right hand.
An Evil King, Used by God
We do not always understand God’s ways. Why would an evil king like Eglon be allowed to prosper? To rule over the Chosen People with an iron fist? It’s clear that God used Eglon to punish his own people for their disobedience. We can only speculate why God chose this form of punishment. It took 18 years, but it worked. Finally, the Israelites repented and prayed for a redeemer.
God works out his plan in ways that we can’t comprehend.
About Ehud
- Divine messenger? – Ehud considered himself a messenger of God; a divine deliverer (he said “I have a message from God”). Was he right? The text does say in verse 15 that God gave Ehud as a deliverer.
- Questionable methods? – Ehud used deception, guile, and ruthlessness to assassinate a king. Eglon had been given his authority by God. Was this the wrong approach for Ehud to take?
- Ehud acted alone. Others in the delegation didn’t know what he was up to (he left them behind and circled back to Jericho).
- Did he take vengeance into his own hands? Or did God use him for this purpose?
- Perhaps God told him to kill the king. We don’t know. But we do know that God enabled Ehud to lead a successful revolt and to deliver a peace that lasted 80 years. This would indicate that Ehud was in accordance with God’s will.
- Further evidence that Ehud was in the right – Ehud gave credit to the Lord. In verse 28, he tells the people to follow him, because the Lord has delivered the enemy into their hands. And the results seem to agree. So I do believe his actions were sanctioned by God.
Imagine
Ehud dismounted and shuffled to the palace gates. His men trailed behind with the mule and the saddlebags.
Burly guards with long swords blocked their path. “They stay,” a bald-headed Moabite said.
“They’re my witnesses,” Ehud said. “Don’t want Eglon claiming we never paid.”
The guard stepped closer, a sneer on his face. “How ’bout we just slice the three of you up right here and take your gold? The king will never know.”
I need to stay calm. They’ll get what they deserve soon enough.
“You can try. I promise some of you will not go home to your women tonight.”
The Moabite backed down. “Fine. We’ll escort you. Try anything, and you’re bones will be fed to the dogs.”
The Moabites led the delegation to the upper room. The king was even fatter than Ehud remembered. Ehud took quick note of every detail in the room. The balcony doors. The toilet that dropped waste to containers on the floor below. The position of the throne. He motioned to his men. They tossed the bags to the feet of the king.
Eglon smirked at them. “I trust it is all there…”
“And more,” Ehud said. “We have a special gift for you, O King.” He unwrapped an old short sword they’d found rotting in a field. “This dates back to the days of one of your predecessors, King Balak. It was taken from your people during the time of Moses. We thought it fitting to return it.”
Careful to use only his right hand, he offered to Eglon. The King’s features softened as he took the fake relic. “See? Our peoples can live in harmony. We shall not raise taxes this year! Dismissed.”
“Why are you back?” The Moabite peered at Ehud suspiciously. “Where are your men?”
“I left them down the road. I have a secret message for the king. It’s best if they don’t hear.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“Are you deaf? The message is for the king.”
The bald man stiffened. “Let me check with the king. I doubt he’ll see you.”
He returned a few minutes later, a scowl on his face. Curtly, he motioned Ehud into the lower reception room. They made Ehud untie all the weapons from his belt and drop them on the floor. Baldy escorted him up the stairs, where another guard waited. “Assume the position. King’s orders.”
The double-edged knife strapped inside Ehud’s right thigh threatened to cut off his blood flow. He stuck out his left leg for the guard. “Totally unnecessary. Already left my sword in the other room.”
The big man gave the leg a once-over and patted Ehud’s sides. “This way. Make it quick.”
Ehud closed the inner door behind him and scanned the room. The king lounged on a huge chair in the corner.
“So what’s this secret message?” Eglon said, rising to meet him. “Who’s it from?”
Ehud gave a nasty smile. “The message is from God. The God of Abraham and Moses and Joshua. The Moabite reign ends today.”
Eglon smirked. “You’re crazy! How-“
“Here’s the secret,” Ehud said. “I’m left-handed.”
The sudden appearance of of the dagger in Ehud’s hand wiped the smile off Eglon’s face. Ehud thrust it into the king’s massive stomach. Eglon fell to the ground, gasping as his bowels emptied. Rolls of fat enveloped the dagger.
Not getting that weapon back. Don’t want it anyway.
Ehud slid to the interior doors and locked them. Held his nose at the stench as he exited to the balcony. He leaped over the edge and rolled as he hit the dirt to cushion the fall.
Phase one complete. Now to get out of town and re-unite with his army. Phase two promised to be glorious.
Correlations
In the Applications section, we’ll discuss the idea of striving for greatness… allowing God to achieve great things through us, like he did with Ehud. But is this really biblical? Two purposes of correlations are to make sure we aren’t taking things out of context, and to make sure we put the appropriate qualifications around our takeaways. So let’s dive in.
Striving for Greatness
Ephesians 3:20-21 – Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
- v20 – God is able to accomplish more through us than we could possibly imagine. Let’s not limit him.
- v21 – But for what purpose? To glorify ourselves? No! The glory will go to him and his church.
Testing the limits of God
Comprehending God’s Greatness
Job 11:7-8 – “Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?
8 They are higher than the heavens above—what can you do?
They are deeper than the depths below—what can you know?
Remembrance
Psalm 78:41-42 (KJV) – 41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel. 42 They remembered not his hand, nor the day when he delivered them from the enemy.
- Note that other translations use words like vexed or provoked instead of limited. But given the context of verse 42 after 41, it seems that the word limited makes sense.
- God has accomplished mighty things. The Israelites forgot what God had done for them in Egypt and throughout their history. Let’s not forget what he’s accomplished already in our lives.
Missed Blessings
Matthew 13:58 – And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
- This verse describes how people in Jesus’s hometown didn’t believe in him, and therefore he did very few miracles. The verses prior to that describe how they just couldn’t believe that someone among them could be sent from God like that.
- What blessings did they miss out on due to their self-imposed limits?
Greatness with the Heart of a Servant
Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Conclusions
- We can’t imagine what God can do through us. Let’s strive to achieve greatness.
- But let’s do this with a humble heart. A servant’s heart.
- Let’s give the glory to God for anything he allows us to achieve.
Application
Generic Applications
God’s Punishment on a Rebellious Nation
The book of Judges contains story after story of the Israelites falling away from God, and being punished by God to bring them back into alignment. He allowed evil nations to rise to power to bring his chosen people back into alignment.
How can the story of Eglon’s rise to power and dominance over the Israelites serve as a warning to us individually, and to us as a country?
God Honors Repentance
God used evil oppressors to get his Chosen People to their knees, finally admitting their state of rebellion. But when they cried out to him in repentance, he heard their cries, and raised up a deliverer.
Can God be using a hard time in my life to bring me to repentance? And thus, into a closer relationship with him? He expects more out of us than unbelievers.
Personalize it
Don’t be Afraid to be an Ehud
Too often Christians today, in an effort to exude humility in Christ, are afraid to strive for greatness in Christ. Where would Israel have been without men like Ehud, willing to step up and achieve greatness? Greatness for us might not be the overthrow of an evil empire. It might be teaching a class to God’s glory or starting a ministry or writing an amazing novel. But let’s resolve to balance our humility with striving for excellence in Christ.
Accomplishing greatness
We love stories with heroes who accomplished something great. Who stood up against an oppressor, against all odds, to free his people. What do we love about heroes like David, Braveheart, Spiderman, Batman, George Washington? Like Ehud? These men achieved greatness, against the odds. These men used all their skills, their wits, their resources. They took on leadership. They were winsome. They were underdogs. They overcame evil.
Ehud fits all of these criteria. He used all of his skills and resources. He outwitted. He used his left-handedness. He used his faith in God to believe that he could achieve something great. That God could accomplish something great through him. Ehud put no limits on God.
Writer’s personal note – One catalyst for me deciding to pour everything I had into my writing and these blogs was a sermon my pastor preached on striving for greatness. On not putting limits on God. I don’t even remember the Scripture that he used, but the message stuck. So I went for it. Today, my novel still isn’t published, and my blog hasn’t gone viral. I have not achieved greatness, and I might never do it. But that’s up to God. I’m going to continue to give it my all and leave the results to him.
Am I putting limits on what God can do through me? What is stopping me from striving for greatness, whether it ever arrives or not? Finances? Health? Relationships? My past? Is it possible for me to overcome these? How about for God?
Bible study methodology adapted from Searching the Scriptures with permission from Tyndale House:
Swindoll, Charles, Searching the Scriptures. Tyndale House Publishers, 2016.
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