Why did Ehud lock the doors after killing Eglon in Judges 3:23? Passage Cited “Then Ehud went out onto the porch, closed the doors of the upper room behind him, and locked them.” (Judges 3:23) Immediate Narrative Setting Ehud, a Benjamite “bound in the right hand” (left-handed, Judges 3:15), was admitted alone to King Eglon’s private upper chamber in the palace at Jericho (then under Moabite control). After burying the dagger in Eglon’s abdomen, Ehud exited, shut the double doors, and slipped away before the guards realized their master was dead (Judges 3:24–26). Architectural Background: The Upper Chamber and Porch Archaeology from Late Bronze palatial complexes at Kir-Hareseth, Tell el-‘Umeiri, and Baluʿa shows roof-level “cool rooms” (Hebrew ʿăliyâ) reached by an inner stair and opening to an exterior landing or portico. Such suites commonly had: • A single inward-swinging double door. • No alternate exit except the porch stair. • A privy niche in one corner (cf. Judges 3:24, “He must be relieving himself”). Thus, by closing and bolting the doors from the outside, Ehud created the impression that Eglon had secured his own privacy. Cultural Customs of Privacy Ancient Near Eastern etiquette demanded complete seclusion for royal bodily functions (cf. 1 Samuel 24:3; 2 Kings 9:27). Servants would not intrude until summoned. Ehud exploited this protocol; the locked doors signaled “do not disturb,” buying him precious minutes. Strategic Motives for Locking the Doors 1. Delay Discovery – Judges 3:24 notes that the servants “waited to the point of embarrassment.” The longer the delay, the greater the head-start for Ehud to reach the fords of the Jordan. 2. Guarantee Escape Route – The porch stair led directly to street level; once outside, the assassin could disappear in the bustle of Jericho. 3. Prevent Alarm – Any immediate shout would have mobilized soldiers and sealed the city gates. A locked door muffled sounds and stifled suspicion. Archaeological Corroboration of Moabite Rule The Mesha Stele (c. 840 BC) records Moabite occupation of Israelite territories and references to cities around Jericho. That later inscription validates the plausibility of an earlier Moabite palace at Jericho in Ehud’s era (early 14th century BC by a conservative chronology). Theological Reflection: God’s Use of Cunning Scripture never condones deceit for personal gain, yet in warfare God occasionally directs stratagems (Joshua 8; 1 Kings 22:22). Ehud’s ingenuity delivered Israel from eighteen years of oppression (Judges 3:14-15, 30). The locked doors exemplify Proverbs 21:31—“The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the LORD.” Typological Foreshadowing Ehud gained freedom for Israel by sealing a door behind a slain ruler; Christ gained eternal deliverance by emerging from a sealed tomb the third day (Matthew 27:66; 28:6). The locked doors in Judges highlight man’s attempt to conceal death; the opened tomb in the Gospels showcases God’s triumph over death. Practical Applications • Sanctified Wisdom – Believers are called to be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). • God’s Timing – Trust that providence can use even seconds of delay for His sovereign purposes. • Deliverance Leads to Worship – Israel’s song of praise in Judges 5 finds an echo in every salvation narrative culminating in Revelation 5:9-10. Conclusion Ehud locked the doors to ensure secrecy, delay detection, and facilitate escape, all within the cultural, architectural, and theological framework of his day. The episode underscores God’s sovereign orchestration of details to liberate His people, prefiguring the ultimate deliverance accomplished by the risen Christ. |
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