A Journey Through The Old Testament - Elmer Towns

Scripture, but God raised up the king of Moab who formed an alliance with the nations of
Ammon and Amalek to defeat Israel and put them in bondage. For eighteen years, Eglon, king of
Moab, collected tribute from Israel. That it took Israel eighteen years to turn back to God
suggests something of the degree of sin they had engaged in.
In answer to the prayers of repentant Israel, God raised up a judge and deliverer in the
person of a left-handed Benjamite named Ehud, the son of Gera. In ancient societies, to be
lefthanded was usually thought of as a liability. In extreme cases, left-handed people were
burned as witches or those who were suspected of forming a league with the devil. But for Ehud,
his left-handedness would be an asset.
Ehud arranged to be the one to take the tribute payment of Israel to Eglon at the latter’s
summer palace in Jericho. Because of its favorable climate, the region surrounding Jericho has
been and is today a desirable resort center. Eglon was not the only king to build a summer palace
in that region. But when Ehud took the tribute to Eglon, he hid a two-edged dagger under the
right side of his garment. If there was any kind of security check of those meeting the oppressive
king, it would be assumed any weapons would be hidden on his left side.
Ehud convinced Eglon to meet alone with him. Eglon probably expected to receive some
form of bribe in exchange for a royal favor, but Ehud drew his dagger and thrust it into the chest
of the king. The murder of Eglon is described in vivid detail in Scripture. Ehud thrust it into the
belly of the overweight king so hard he actually lost his grip. The blade must have penetrated the
king’s intestinal tract “and his entrails came out” (Jud. 3:22). Folds of fat covered the handle of
Ehud’s dagger leaving him without a weapon to make his escape. Nevertheless, he locked the
room as he left and escaped to gather an army against the nation of Moab.
When the king’s servants returned to find a locked room, they were no doubt aware of the
foul odor coming from the room. They reasoned, “He is probably attending to his needs in the
cool chamber” (v. 24) which means they thought he was using whatever facilities he might have
had to relieve himself. Not wanting to interrupt their king while he was engaged in this activity,
they continued to wait until they were embarrassed at the length of time he was taking. Finally
they entered the room to discover the corpse of their king.
It is not clear the Moabites were aware of specifically what had happened, but it was
clear from the death of their king that a coup was underway. Without leadership, they probably
panicked and decided to get back to Moab quickly for security reasons and to have an
opportunity to regroup before going after the perhaps unknown rebels. But Ehud had already
anticipated this reaction and had his army stationed at the fords of the Jordan River, the most
likely place to cross into Moab. “And at that time they killed about ten thousand men of Moab,
all stout men of valor; not a man escaped” (v. 29). For the next eight years, Israel had rest.
But the Moabites were not the only oppressors of Israel. About this time, the Philistines
began arriving in large numbers from Greece and settled on the coastal plain of Canaan. They
appear to have aggressively interfered with the commerce of the region, perhaps raiding those
who traveled along the main highways. As a result, “the highways were deserted, and the
travelers walked along the byways” (5:6). Also, the Philistines tended to disarm those they
conquered thus making any underground movement or open rebellion very difficult. But there
was one very resourceful judge, though probably only a minor judge, who used an oxgoad, an
eight-foot pole with one sharp end normally used to goad cattle, to slay 600 Philistines. It is not
clear whether Shamgar did this in one day, or more likely the number represents a lifetime total.
“And he also delivered Israel” (v. 31).