Topical Bible: Homicide: Felonious: Ehud

◄ Homicide: Felonious: Ehud ►

Topical Encyclopedia

Ehud, a significant figure in the Book of Judges, is known for his act of homicide against Eglon, the king of Moab. This event is recorded in Judges 3:12-30 and is a pivotal moment in the history of Israel during the period of the judges. Ehud, the son of Gera, was a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. His left-handedness played a crucial role in his successful assassination of Eglon, which was a divinely orchestrated act to deliver Israel from Moabite oppression.

The narrative begins with the Israelites doing evil in the sight of the LORD, leading to their subjugation by Eglon, who allied with the Ammonites and Amalekites to defeat Israel. The Israelites served Eglon for eighteen years, during which they cried out to the LORD for deliverance. In response, God raised up Ehud as a deliverer.

Ehud's plan to assassinate Eglon was both cunning and bold. He crafted a double-edged sword about a cubit long and strapped it to his right thigh under his clothing, a strategic placement given his left-handedness. This allowed him to bypass the guards' detection, as they would typically check the left side for weapons.

Judges 3:20-21 describes the moment of the assassination: "Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the cool upper room and said, 'I have a message from God for you.' As the king rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly." The text vividly describes how the sword went in so deep that the handle sank in after the blade, and the fat closed over it, indicating the thoroughness of the act.

Following the assassination, Ehud locked the doors of the upper room and made his escape. The delay caused by Eglon's servants, who assumed he was relieving himself, allowed Ehud to rally the Israelites. He blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, leading the Israelites to seize the fords of the Jordan and cut off the Moabites' retreat. The Israelites struck down about ten thousand Moabite men, securing a significant victory and bringing peace to the land for eighty years.

Ehud's act of homicide, while felonious by modern standards, is portrayed in the biblical narrative as a divinely sanctioned act of deliverance. It highlights the complex interplay of divine providence, human agency, and the moral ambiguities present in the period of the judges. Ehud's account serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His willingness to use unexpected means and individuals to achieve His purposes for His people.

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Judges 3:16-23
But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment on his right thigh.
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