by John Lowe
(Laurens SC, USA)
The Hebrew text, according to some scholars, suggests he was left-handed only by necessity. That is, he was crippled in the right hand, and had to depend upon his left hand. Consequently, he is left-handed.
It may be that Ehud was selected by the children of Israel to take the tribute (money) each year to king Eglon for this reason. His condition did not pose a threat to king Eglon. A strong warrior probably would not make it back from king Eglon.
Ehud had to put faith in God to make such a trip to king Eglon each year. Ehud, because of his crippled condition, had to depend upon the strength of the Lord. The Bible says, “God raised up Ehud for such a time to be the Deliverer.” God uses people who will depend upon Him.
If we are to know deliverance from bondage from whatever it may be, we must learn to trust the Lord. As long as we are trying to turn over a new leaf, reforming ourselves, and trying to improve ourselves, we will continue in defeat and bondage to our crippling addiction.
WE NEED DELIVERANCE FROM GOD and we must depend upon God for His deliverance. SO, DELIVERANCE IS CONNECTED TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP AND TO DEPENDENCE ON GOD.
Last, and certainly not least, Deliverance is connected with the WORD OF GOD.
Verse 16 says that Ehud “made himself a dagger.” It was double-edged, and a cubit (18 inches) long. Most people were not making daggers; they were making themselves comfortable with a
life of bondage. Deliverance from bondage will require a violent take-over. Many people are not ready for such messy things as that. But, Ehud was working on a something to turn the tables. A secret weapon was being crafted by Ehud. Ehud had been working on this secret weapon for quite a while.
I can imagine us getting close to where Ehud lived and we could hear in the darkness...somewhere there’s metal upon a grinding stone. Ehud preparing a dagger. I can also imagine the thoughts that went through Ehud’s mind; as he brought the tribute each year, he was thinking of how could he do this? How could Eglon be destroyed?
Can’t you see Ehud behind his house practicing? Look at him reaching with his left hand down to grasp the dagger from his right thigh and thrust it forward. He practices again and again and again until every move is perfected. Ehud no doubt had a target in his backyard, and every time he passed this target he thought of King Eglon. You can see him pulling the dagger ever so quickly. Ehud, the fastest dagger in the Middle East.
Then the day comes. He has practiced every move and now comes the actual moment. All that he has learned, he will now execute. The application of his skills and talents with his dagger will now be used for God’s honor and glory.
So now the day had come. Ehud had the job of taking the tribute to Eglon’s palace. Ehud along with some other men did this each year, so it was nothing new. After delivering the tribute, Ehud and his men returned toward home. Just a little way from the city, Ehud bids his friends farewell and returns back to the king’s palace. Ehud lets the kings’ servants know that he had a secret message for the king.
Inside Ehud says “I have a secret message for you, king Eglon.” King Eglon sends everyone out of the room. Only Ehud and the king are left in the summer parlor. The king was sitting privately in his cool chamber. I have looked at several texts and it appears that the king was sitting on the pot. Ehud knew this would be a good time...the king was vulnerable. Ehud says, “King I have a secret message for you.” King Eglon leans over to receive the message into his ear, but failed to see the flashing of metal, and with one mighty blow...he was history! A premeditated blow! A planned assassination! The fatal blow was so quick and powerful that the dagger went completely to the other side of his body. The handle was also enclosed by the body fat. From the wound gushed forth his intestines and its contents. A horrible sight! The stench filled the room!
, Ehud leaves the king’s chambers. He locks the door which is made to appear like the king had it locked. Eglon’s servants see Ehud leaving and return and find the door locked. They thought, well he is still relieving himself. You don’t just bang on the bathroom door of the king. They waited and waited and waited. They were so embarrassed that they took a key to unlock the door. They found their master on the floor...dead!
Meanwhile, Ehud had escaped beyond the stone images and into the mountains of Ephraim. He blew a trumpet and rallied all Israel to fight against the Moabites. That day they killed 10,000 Moabites, all stout men of valor; not a man escaped. For 80 years the land had rest. Bondage to king Eglon had ended. Deliverance had come. Ehud was faithful in using his secret weapon, his dagger.
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