God Works Through Ehud

Study Scripture: Judges 3: 15 – 23, 30

Background Scripture: Judges 3: 15 – 23, 30

Lesson 7     October 17, 2026

Key Verse

But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded:

Judges 3:15

INTRODUCTION

The Book of Judges shows people as they really are and reveals the reality of things. The Book shows us in a clear fashion who God is, how He worked among His people in the past, and how He is currently working among us.

Our Study therefore will now see how God tests Israel as they break the covenant that God had with them.

God does this testing and disciplining at the repeated idolatry through real oppression by the surrounding nations. God will raise three  deliverers, Othniel and Ehud and will record Shamgar saving exploits.

Obviously we will learn from this that the recurring apostasy of the nation of Israel needed more than temporary deliverance and so Scripture later stresses the need for a final righteous Saviour and King of the nation.

As we look at these real events in the history of Israel we must understand that the oppressions they experienced are not accidents and in addition to this the victory that they experienced from the oppression were not due to human courage.

In every case the Lord God Almighty will act as the covenant Judge of Israel. Then He will act in mercy and compassion as their Deliverer.

It will be important for us to learn certain truths about God’s holiness and the fact that idolatry will enslave you. Then God has to act in righteous discipline and though we do not deserve His mercy God will bring mercy for He knows that human beings need for salvation which is found only in Him.

We should also point out the knowledge you should have that complete salvation will be found only in the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is also to be noted carefully that your failure to obey the covenant has consequences. Your failures do not change God from being your sovereign and He therefore has the right to use the people around you to test you.

In the case of Israel God used the remaining nations to test Israel’s obedience and to teach the lessons of warfare that every believer in God will face.

These military challenges that faced Israel shows us quite clearly whether or not Israel will trust and obey the Lord. 

There is a lesson in this for us today.

The enemies of God are everywhere and Israel faced these nations which included five Philistine rulers and the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites.

The tests that Israel faced related to whether they would keep the commandments God gave them through Moses the test exposed whether Israel would be loyal or not. Moses in Deuteronomy had forbidden into marriage the Canaanite nations because such marriage relationships would turn Israel toward other gods. In judges three we see this precise nature of the failure that Moses had warned against. The Israelites married the daughters of the people of Canaan and gave their daughters to the sons of those people, and they ended up serving their gods.

So the danger of covenant unions with idolatrous people is really direct defiance against the command of God.

It is not that the nation were not aware of what they were doing, but the fleshly nature meant that the lost mental awareness of the name of the Lord.  The danger of the type of relationships into which we enter remains a valid consideration today.

Judges reveals to us what is really going on around us to destroy us, and the kind of enemies we face. These enemies aim to take us into captivity just as they took Israel into captivity, and so we can learn from Israelite experiences who it is that can set us free when we too fall into temptation and captivity.

There are seven cycles in the Book, with six steps in each cycle. In each cycle Israel first did evil in the sight of the Lord, behaving like the world around them, rather than accepting and obeying the truth taught by God from His perspective.

Then in the second step the anger of the Lord turned against them because Israel forgot the Lord their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs. The next step in the cycle saw God putting them into the hands of their enemies. Since they wanted idolatry and companionship with idolaters, He allowed their enemies who were controlled by demonic forces to take them into captivity.

The captivity became so painful and devastating that in the next step Israel eventually cried out to the Lord. Eventually after years of captivity they remembered that the Lord God was their God and they cried out to Him. Not surprisingly God listened to their cry despite what they had done to Him. He remembered the covenant He made with the ‘fathers’.

In the next step God raised up a deliverer, called a judge, who went to war on behalf of Israel empowered by the Lord. In the final step the judge defeated the sundry oppressors of Israel and the people had rest and peace.

The words of the prophet Isaiah are certainly relevant in this study. His statements in Isaiah forty are among the greatest words of comfort in Scripture. He states that before God the nations of the earth are as a drop in a bucket. In verse ten he writes that the Lord God shall come with a strong hand and that He will save and feed His flock. Verse twenty-nine reads: “He gives power to the weak, And to those who have no might He increases strength”.

Over and over again Israel saw what God was doing among them. Their mighty God was a true source of peace, rest and deliverance. But still they took themselves through the cycles of disobedience, pain, and recovery.

We can look at the experience of Israel and see the same pattern in our lives. We too seek to redefine evil and then turn to man made idols.  We too assume that we do not need God and that we can get away with just holding onto enough of God’s religion to appease Him, while at the same time indulging in the desires of the flesh.

Israel found out in every cycle that in spite of their penchant for self reliance and self righteousness, as they proclaimed they had no real need for God and that they could look after themselves, when misery came, then they understood that the only way out was to cry to God.

Serving the Baals and the Asheroths was never a safe thing to do. When they chose evil God became distant and eventually they “forgot” Him. When the enemies came and they called upon the Baals and the Ashteroths for help no help came, for the false gods provided no security.

They learned that when things took them to the brink and when they then prayed the prayer of faith God heard their prayers, and sent a deliverer to bring rest and peace. They had to learn that the strength to free them form captivity and oppression could only be found in God Almighty, the Covenant keeping God.

The name God Almighty, the Omnipotent One, the All Sufficient One, or El Shaddai as some believe had a powerful direct meaning for the Patriarchs and for the people of Israel. Since we have inherited the promises these words have relevance for us.

We must now look at ourselves and see where in the cycle of human behaviour we are and consider that this repeated pattern of sin and deliverance is not good. We must make life giving choices and take the option of the Lord that has been placed before us.

In our Study Scripture God switches from telling us about the squeaky clean, man of integrity, upright deliverer named Othniel. He shows His power to dispense with those who oppose Him, even if the enemy comes across as a comical figure like the pagan King Eglon, who though he appears to be a buffoon, incredibly brought Israel into subjection for many years.

The conquest of the Land of Promise started with the miraculous sacking of Jericho, which was also known as the City of Palms. But now because of the gross sins of Israel, God allowed an overweight pagan king, who does not come across as very smart, along with some allies to undo this spectacular victory of the conquest of Caanan, and regain Jericho.

One would expect these oppressors of Israel to have been powerful and smart enemies but this one is very different and one does not know whether to laugh or to cry at the situation Israel faced. Israel had certainly slipped into an absurd situation. Sadly we too allow enemies to overcome us that in no way at all should place us in that position. We too allow foolish comical enemies to seize us and oppress us. Then after God frees us we wonder how we could ever have gotten ourselves into that situation.

God’s deliverer was very appropriate for the situation of Israel. The deliverer Ehud is a strange figure with a story of drama and intrigue, cunning, devious, and he was a cloak and dagger operator. We would hardly expect to find a deliverer like this, but nevertheless he was a man of God, who fought in the best way he knew how, guided in his determination to free Israel by the hand of God.

THE TEXT

Verse 15.   After the death of Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Israel again fell into sin.  It had only taken forty years for the people to fall back into this state and cause God to act to correct His people.  This time the threat did not come from an outsider but from a land close to Israel. 

Also, this threat brought company with them in the form of an alliance.  The Lord God we are told Himself strengthened Eglon, the king of Moab against Israel. This king called on the children of Ammon, and Amalek to join him and subdue Israel.  This time the children of Israel served under a pagan king for eighteen years before their cries were heard by the Lord God. 

As always, there are ideas to note.  When Israel commits sins God raises up a new oppressor.  This punishment always has intent.  It is also done with a just purpose, being to prove Israel, correct their faults so that they may turn to their God and worship Him in the right way.

It is not clear why Israel became so bold as to sin before their God at this time.  However, God proved to them that years or decades do not matter to an eternal God, and their God can bring up old or new enemies to use them to prove Israel whenever He pleases. 

God strengthened Eglon, king of Moab, who was close to them, or closer in distance than their previous oppressor Chushanrishathaim, king of Mesopotamia.  These kings rise and fall by the hand of God, even though they would not openly say so. 

The level of aggravation that their new ungodly master could cause was directly related to the distance Moab was to Israel. Moab had troubled Israel in the past. Balak king of Moab came at Israel, but because Israel maintained their integrity, Moab was baffled. This was not the case here as Israel strayed from God, and thus their current predicament. 

It is said that Moab and his alliance beat Israel in the fields, took the tribes that lay next to them on the east side of Jordan, and then those also within Jordan, including Jericho, a sort of gateway into Canaan. It was in this spot that the Moabites put a garrison to maintain their control over the area.

This verse opens up telling us about Ehud, the son of Gera, a Benjamite. It identifies him as the next judge. The Benjamites occupied the area around Jericho and would be under Moabite rule, suffering at their hands the most. 

God responded to the cries from Israel for help in a strange and curious way. He did not raise up someone as dashing and daring as Othniel, the previously mentioned judge, but turned to the always weak tribe of Benjamin which tribal name means curiously “Son of the Right Hand”, but where many of whose members were left-handed.

The right hand symbolizes in Scripture strength and power and God is always pictured as rescuing people with His strong right hand. But here on top of everything else God chooses, and He tells us that specifically, a left-handed man from the tribe with an opposite name.

The Bible mentions him as being left-handed, which would not be considered strange except for the peculiarity that many in that tribe were well known for being left-handed, and further to the point, even ambidextrous.  Some believe that Ehud had some type of illness which affected his right hand, and so had only the use of the left hand.  This clearly put him at a disadvantage to the rest of his tribe, and also would make him less fit for war, if in fact it was so.

We can see God using a tribe that was consider weakest amongst all of Israel to set them free. God took Ehud, a man who might only have had real use of one hand. 

One well-known writer explains what Ehud’s physical situation was to explain why he so acted:

“The LXX (The Greek translation of the Hebrew called the Septuagint) says he was ambidextrous, one that could use both hands alike, supposing that this was an advantage to him in the action he was called to; but the Hebrew phrase, that he was shut of his right hand intimates that, either through disease or disuse he made little or no use of that, but of his left hand only, and so was less fit for war because he must needs handle his sword but awkwardly;”

God took that which men considered weak, and forged it into a strong weapon.  God made Ehud His right hand of justice. Ehud was Israel’s messenger or courier delegated with the task of bringing the king of Moab tribute, and every so often gifts to incur favour of the king.

Instead of giving tribute to God, Israel was made to pay tribute to a man, and a pagan king. 

In this capacity, Ehud had more than enough occasion to have audience with the king.   This would allow him some insight into the king’s personality and habbits..

Now Ehud was designated by God to deliver Israel out of the hands of the Moabites.  God destroys those who would destroy the oppressed, when the fullness of their iniquity has been reached, and Moab’s time had come.  God used Ehud as His messenger to the Moabites.

Verse 16.   A sword, used by a right handed warrior person would be worn on the left side. Ehud’s dagger was about fifteen to eighteen inches long.  The length would allow the dagger to be concealed under his clothes.  However, to hide it under the right thigh was definitely a delicate fit for an average man.  It would be obvious that any one from a subject nation bringing tribute would be searched for a weapon especially carefully.  So the hiding place was very cleverly considered, given Ehud’s current physical state. 

Some believe the design of the blade and the intent of it, was something given to Ehud by God.  Ehud let himself be completely used by the Spirit in this act.  So to Ehud this would most likely give him full satisfaction being complete lawful in the sight of God, while to God, it was His divine justice that was being executed.  Keep in mind that for Ehud, it was in his section of the Promised Land that the Moabites set up the heaviest, most likely oppressive garrison, to rule over Israel. 

Verse 17.   This was clearly a complex well though out plan that required some daring, deviousness and stealth.

As Ehud came to present the tribute to Eglon, fulfilling his duty, the Bible notes that the king was a very fat man.  Even though it may be speculation, a man of average height to even a modest 6’ 2”, he would have to be considerably large for his body to envelope a 46 cm dagger (vs. 22). 

It was clear that Ehud was very determined, patient and clever.  He hid the weapon, ingratiated himself to the king with the present and even the way how he lured the stewards and guards into thinking that he was not a threat capable of killing the king.  These bodyguards of the king can only be described as bunglers who did not make a serious attempt to search Ehud.

Verse 18.   It appears that Ehud made use of some other servants in order to bring the tribute to the king.  This probably just added validity to the fact that his arm was so weakened that no man could actually be considered a threat in that state.  This I would assume could be seen as an insult to God, as Israel if they continued to serve God would be offering up a like gift to a God that protects, loves and blesses them. 

When Ehud had presented the tribute, there was no longer need of the helpers and the Bible indicates that he promptly sent them away.  After he had delivered the gift, left the courthouse of the king of Moab, and on the way back to their dwelling, Ehud dismissed the other Israelites used to bring the tribute to the king, in order to give the appearance that nothing was amiss.  It would also make his escape after the deed simpler, since secrecy would be advantageous in this case. 

Verse 19.   It is then stated that Ehud returned from the quarries by Gilgal, from the graven images, a thought that burned in his very soul, which fired him up to be even more successful in this mission.  These groves were possibly set up by the Moabites with the twelve stones which Joshua had set up in that area. Gilgal was an important worship site to all Israel and the thought of it being used by the pagans would have hurt Ehud deeply and motivated him to kill Eglon and free Israel.

Next it is also stated that Ehud begged an audience with the king saying to the servants and guards that attended to him that he was on a secret errand for the king’s ears alone.  Whatever other details were mentioned, the expectations must have been great as the king ordered Ehud to be quiet while he sent his chamber attendant away. Clearly seeing Ehud as no threat, he removed his servants, which typically would not be done.  Understanding that he was a child of Israel, and knowing the God that he served, Eglon, probably expected some information concerning the state of Israel he might use.  God provides further proof that He is with Ehud as God hides Eglon’s ruin from him and deprived him of his discretion in actions. 

One writer reviews Eglon’s mistakes as follows: “The return of Ehud intrigues the king. “What else will he give me? Why didn’t he give it to me earlier? Oh, a secret message? This could be good”.

Leaders often crave intelligence, especially the secret intelligence hidden from others. It helps them to make decisions. It can also feed their egos.

Ehud baits the hook, and Eglon bites.

The king clears the room. Ehud’s sword escapes the notice of Eglon’s bumbling bodyguards. Did they fail to search him? Was their search only cursory? Did they stop to think that some people in this world are left-handed and that a left-handled man might strap a sword to his right side thigh instead of his left?

Now Ehud, the left-handed secret agent is alone with Eglon the fatted calf and now, as Ehud approaches Eglon, it’s not just a secret message but also a “message from God”.”  

When Eglon was alone with Ehud, it seems as they made their way into Eglon’s summer parlour, or, that is where Ehud was brought in order to speak with the king, yet another sign that he thought Ehud wasn’t a threat, and the ease at which he felt being ruler.  At this stage Ehud demands Eglon’s attention, as he says that he has a message from God.

Note that Ehud is presented as a great planner and capable, while Eglon is depicted as exactly the opposite, dim-witted and complacent. He is impressed with himself and cannot recognize his danger.

Eglon pays respect to a message from God as he gets up out of his seat. This act of course exposed his belly.

Though a king, and a heathen king, ruling harshly over Gods people, he knew that the God of Israel was a great God and does great things, which of course speaks much about God and His superiority amongst the other gods.

So Eglon arose out of his seat when he was told that a message came to him from God.  We see a heathen king rising as much as he could given his apparent obesity which will be made more evident shortly, but the king rose to hear the word of God. 

As Christians how can we ever truly say we are children of God if we do not react in a similar manner.  Eglon expected to hear something from God, and positioned himself to hear this word.  The history of Israel and Christians have shown that when God says He is delivering a message to them, we don’t react in an expectant manner, and we should know better being children of God.

Indeed Ehud had a message from God, that being, the time of reign for the Moabite king, and his people over Israel had come to an end, like his and their lives.  It should be clear that this assassination plot was not Ehud’s idea, but given to him by God and sanctioned by God. 

Verse 21.   After this statement was made and Eglon moved to hear this message from God, Ehud, with his left hand drew the dagger from its concealed spot and thrust it into Eglon’s belly, while some translations mention Eglon’s heart.

Verse 22.   Eglon’s obesity made him unable to resist or help himself against the death blow; the effect of his luxury and excess.  The entire dagger disappeared in the overweight Eglon, graphically described in the text.

A word of caution to all is that when we pamper the body to such extremes, we should be aware of the misery that might follow.  Consider the vanity in cosmetic surgeries today and how some have gone horribly wrong. His death would for all time appear the more ignominious and shameful due to what state his body was in when he was found, wallowing in blood and excrements. 

In that time, God used Ehud’s hand as His instrument of justice, even to the point of assassination.  Thus Ehud’s actions were justified, as it was done by special direction from God.  God took to avenge His people of their enemies, and to manifest to the world His own justice.  Today, God does not give out such commissions.  In fact, He tells us that we should show kindness to heap coals on their heads, and leave the other justice to Him.

Verse 23.   Also, it seems as though Eglon fell without any noise, which was strange given his enormous size but which favoured Ehud’s escape.  Ehud departed from the parlour, from the porch, shutting and locking the door of the parlour to provide the appearance as though Eglon was resting. 

For Ehud, it showed great presence of mind and coolness. There was no consciousness of guilt, but a strong confidence in the divine protection, as he moved swiftly to escape quietly instead of gloating over what has happened. He made the situation look as though everything was status quo.

Verse 24.   God was clearly with Ehud and the guards did not approach until after he was gone out.  They saw the doors were locked, and thought that their king was just resting, as he might have done in the past.  In that region, eastern people wore long and loose garments when they sat down on such an occasion.  To cover their feet would just be part of a modest act to ensure that no private parts were shown when resting.  The servants would not have opened the door to check on the king for fear that they might wake him and fall under his wrath.  If they had checked, Ehud’s escape might not have gone so smoothly or even upon seeing the death of their king, might have mounted an offence against the nations around, but firstly against Israel to show that such an action will never be tolerated.   But as God would have it, this was not the case, again showing that God was with Ehud in this action, that this was God’s plan.

Verse 25.   Clearly after some time, the servants felt ashamed that they didn’t check on their lord.  Once they gathered the courage, they got a key, opened the door and found their master dead.  It is clear that Eglon was a harsh and distant king, as his closest attendants didn’t wish to press the matter to check on him, until far past a reasonable time of rest. 

The incompetence of Eglon’s servant stands in contrast to Ehud’s competence. The servants stood outside the door figuring something was not right, but did not know what to do. The word “behold” appears three times in verses twenty-four and twenty-five showing these people did not know what to do. They kept on saying the obvious at everything without doing anything constructive:

Behold the door is locked!

Behold he is not opening the door!

Maybe he is on the chamber-pot relieving himself!

Behold the king is dead!

One can hardly imagine that this kind of king and these soldiers held Israel in captivity for eighteen years. This story makes them look ridiculous and shows how far from rationality Israel had fallen.

They (like us) had been dominated in their lives by fear of something or someone that they had no business being afraid of. One writer admonishes: We have lived lives that were less than they ought to be, bound up by fear, habits, and pressures that we have given way to.

We assumed that there was no way out of it. And for many years we have been bringing tribute to “fat King Eglon”, thinking there was nothing else we could do”.

And the writer continues with this unforgettable advice:

“We must finally get to the point where we begin to believe in the greatness of God, not the greatness of our enemy.

By His spirit we begin the process of seeing the God who is trustworthy to meet our needs and break the yoke we couldn’t break ourselves.

The minute that begins to happen, we realize that much of what we feared was foolish, that we have lived defeated lives for no good reason.

“Much greater is he who is in you than he who is in he world”. 1 John 4:4.

“Resist the Devil”, we’re told, “and he will flee from you”. James 4:7.

What we’ve let ourselves do is believe in the authority of sin in our lives when we never needed to.

If we will call upon God, his Spirit will give us the strength to stand against, defeat, and even rout, if you will, those things that once dominated and hurt us”.

Verse 29.   When Ehud made his way back to his people, we can see that the news was quickly taken by the people, as they gathered themselves to war against Moab.  It shows that the people respected Ehud, and looked at him for his service. 

Ehud after what he did to the King of Moab blew the ram’s horn and he country of Ephraim and so we know that he was signalling that national resistance should begin.

It shows his great leadership in this situation as it appears as though he took the fords of Jordan first to prevent communication between the Moabites that were in the land of Israel and their own country on the other side of Jordan.  If any alarm was sounded, Israel would be in a position to defeat the splintered forces.

It is said that ten thousand Moabites fell by the sword at that time.  These were also no ordinary Moabites, but lusty or rich men (from the wealth that they received in Canaan), men of bulk and stature, able bodied certainly, but high spirited and men of valour.  Their strength failed them, as it could not stand against the strength that God had given to His people to destroy the Moabites and remove them from God’s land. 

Verse 30.  The Bible mentions that Moab was completely broken, and its hold over Israel decimated that day, leaving them in a state where Israel and the land had rest for eighty years. 

Some scholars suggest that some parts of Israel were still at war, as we could see from other judges working in Israel, for example Shamgar. Also, it is thought that the eighty years of rest started from the beginning of servitude of Israel, but the former is probably more consistent with the appearances of other judges, indicating that God was still working to free His people in different parts of the land, the greatest victories had been won.

CONCLUSION

We must look at ourselves and see where we are in the cycle of sin and deliverance. Know what works and what does not work. Know what will follow us in the next cycle.

Remember that God is great and His mercy is without limit. In the three accounts that we look at in this chapter God use different means of deliverance. Othniel clearly was a recognized and established warrior and the Spirit of God empowered him to do what God wanted to save Israel.

Then God use a different means to deliver for he could use concealment, a price attack, using, geography to separate the Moabites and then he called for a national mobilization.

Then in the next case we will look at Shamgar used a simple agricultural tool against a large enemy force.

 So God acted and the judges that God raised up knew that it was God’s acts of mercy that saved their nation. They did not pretend that their deliverances were not limited and that their deliverance could not solve the deep problems in the nation.

Note therefore that if we are in the covenant which we profess to be in, God will test us for He wants to expose the degree of our covenant loyalty.

God does not want accommodation with those who are not belonging to Him for He knows that that will lead to idolatry.

We therefore should be very careful how we behave for forgetting God is active disloyalty.

 Never forget that God is all we have for the Lord is the source of deliverance. 

God will bring about deliverance through unexpected servants and through ways that we cannot even imagine.

 What we should know by now that mercy will come when you cry to God. But remember that when you cry to God that does not say that your repentance means that you have deep repentance. Deliverance will come as God determines so we encourage you to cry out to Him.

Know that our past foolishness and temptations and sins are insignificant when we come to Him.

So as we live under the direction of the Holy Spirit let us keep in mind that temporary rest cannot cure the heart. The spirit teaches us that there is a need for deep and permanent salvation which is not the same as immediate political release from trouble.

So let us be serious about being led by the Spirit.

We should be very careful of what we do throughout life. Remember Ehud’s impressive victory achieved much but it was short-lived and when he died Judges 4:1 tells us that the sons of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.

The world needs a greater than Ehud or any of the judges. The world needs the Messiah, the Servant of the Lord.

His Gospel and the blessings of His Cross are available and our job is to go to Him for cleansing and then to reconcile the world to Him with the message of reconciliation. 

So we need to remind you that the New Covenant addresses the heart problem. Under that covenant God promised to write His laws on the hearts of Israel and forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more. This promise is found in Jeremiah 31:31-34.

 So never forget that Jesus established this new covenant in His blood and believers share in its spiritual blessings through union with Christ and the ministry of the Spirit.

 So never forget that and continue to examine yourself for you have to be in the faith at all times.