Ehud(ehi)
“Union, united, or strong”
Summary
A left-handed Benjamite who delivered Israel from Moabite oppression by assassinating King Eglon, subsequently leading Israel to victory and securing eighty years of peace.
☩Identity
Ehud was a son of Gera, of the tribe of Benjamin. The name means 'union' or 'strong' and appears to have been hereditary in that tribe, like the name Gera itself. Scripture describes him as 'shut of his right hand,' which has been variously interpreted as left-handed, unable to use his right hand, or ambidextrous—able to use either hand with equal skill. The latter interpretation is supported by the mention of 700 left-handed Benjamite slingers who were picked warriors, unlikely to have been selected if the condition were considered a defect. Ehud was specially suited for his mission as a Benjamite, since Eglon had established himself in Jericho, which lay within Benjamin's tribal boundaries.
☩The Assassination of Eglon
Israel had been subjected to Moab for eighteen years under King Eglon, who had crossed the Jordan and seized the city of palms. Ehud was selected to bring the tribute payment to the Moabite king. He prepared a two-edged dagger of a cubit's length and girded it on his right thigh—an unexpected location since right-handed men wore weapons on the left. As under the Philistines later, the making of weapons was likely forbidden, so Ehud made his own. After presenting the tribute and sending away his attendants, Ehud returned privately to Eglon, claiming to have a secret message from God. When the obese king rose to receive the divine word, Ehud drew his concealed weapon with his left hand and thrust it so deeply that the fat closed over the blade and it could not be withdrawn. He then escaped through the porch while the servants delayed, assuming their master was relieving himself in the cool chamber.
☩Victory over Moab
Ehud escaped to Seirah in the hill country of Ephraim, where he summoned the Israelites by trumpet blast. Descending from the hills, they fell upon the Moabites, who were dismayed and demoralized by their king's death. The Israelites seized the fords of the Jordan, cutting off the Moabites' retreat to their homeland. Approximately ten thousand Moabites were slain, and not one escaped. According to Josephus, Ehud was subsequently appointed judge over Israel, though Scripture simply calls him a 'deliverer' rather than a judge. Israel enjoyed rest for eighty years following this deliverance—the longest peaceful period recorded in the book of Judges.
Related Verses11 mentions
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Ehud," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. II (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Ehud," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. III (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 3.George Morrish, "Ehud," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).
- 4.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Ehud," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).