Ehud was a left-handed judge of Israel who delivered Israel from the oppression of the Moabite king Eglon. His name means “united” or “union” in Hebrew. Ehud is mainly known for his courageous and cunning assassination of King Eglon, which led to Israel’s subsequent victory over Moab. There is no exact information about his birth year, but Ehud lived during the time of the Judges and was active as a judge around 1334 BC.
Early Life of Ehud
Little is known about Ehud’s early life, as the Bible does not provide detailed information about his background or upbringing. He is introduced as a Benjaminite, a member of the tribe of Benjamin, in Judges 3:15.
Biblical Timeline
Oppression by King Eglon
The Israelites had done evil in the sight of the Lord, and as a result, God allowed King Eglon of Moab to oppress them for eighteen years (Judges 3:12-14). Eglon had formed alliances with the Ammonites and Amalekites and waged war against Israel, eventually occupying the City of Palms, possibly referring to Jericho.
Ehud’s Assassination of King Eglon
After the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help, God raised up Ehud as a deliverer (Judges 3:15). Ehud was chosen to take a tribute to King Eglon. He prepared for the mission by making a double-edged sword and strapping it to his right thigh under his clothing, as he was left-handed (Judges 3:16-17).
When Ehud delivered the tribute to Eglon, he told the king he had a secret message for him. Eglon dismissed his attendants, and Ehud approached him, saying he had a message from God. As Eglon stood, Ehud drew his sword and thrust it into the king’s belly, killing him (Judges 3:19-22).
Israel’s Victory Over Moab
After assassinating King Eglon, Ehud locked the doors of the king’s chamber and escaped (Judges 3:23-24). He returned to the Israelites and rallied them, leading them to seize the fords of the Jordan River, cutting off the Moabites’ escape route. The Israelites subsequently defeated the Moabites, killing 10,000 Moabite soldiers, and the land had peace for eighty years (Judges 3:28-30).
Death of Ehud
The Bible does not explicitly mention the death of Ehud, but after recounting his victory over Moab, it states that the land had peace for eighty years (Judges 3:30). It can be inferred that Ehud died a natural death after serving as a judge and delivering Israel from oppression.
Additional Notes
Ehud’s Left-handedness
Ehud’s left-handedness plays a crucial role in his assassination of King Eglon and serves as an important element in the biblical narrative. In ancient times, left-handedness was considered unusual, and people were predominantly right-handed. This societal bias would have shaped the expectations and assumptions of the people during that period, including those of King Eglon and his guards.
As a left-handed man, Ehud strapped his double-edged sword to his right thigh, which was an unexpected place for a weapon to be concealed. When people were searched for weapons, the searchers would typically focus on the left side of the body, assuming that a right-handed person would carry a weapon there for easy access. Ehud’s left-handedness allowed him to exploit this common assumption and hide his weapon more effectively.
When Ehud approached King Eglon with a secret message, Eglon likely did not expect Ehud to be armed or pose any threat, as his guards would have searched him for weapons. The element of surprise was crucial for Ehud’s success in assassinating the king. As he delivered the so-called message from God, he quickly drew his sword from his right thigh and stabbed Eglon before he could react.
Ehud’s left-handedness not only provided him with a tactical advantage but also served as a symbolic message in the biblical narrative. It demonstrates that God can use anyone, regardless of their perceived weaknesses or societal expectations, to accomplish His purposes. In the story of Ehud, God used an unlikely hero with an unconventional trait to deliver the Israelites from oppression.