Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 59
3:11-28
J u dges
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became Israel’s judge. He went to war against King Cushan-rishathaim of
Aram, and the Lord gave Othniel victory over him. So there was peace in
the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
Once again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, and the Lord gave
King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil. Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and
defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms. And the
Israelites served Eglon of Moab for eighteen years.
But when the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help, the Lord
again raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Ehud son of Gera, a
left-handed man of the tribe of Benjamin. The Israelites sent Ehud to deliver their tribute money to King Eglon of Moab. So Ehud made a double-
edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right
thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing. He brought the tribute money
to Eglon, who was very fat.
After delivering the payment, Ehud started home with those who had
helped carry the tribute. But when Ehud reached the stone idols near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon and said, “I have a secret message
for you.”
So the king commanded his servants, “Be quiet!” and he sent them all
out of the room.
Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs
room. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you!” As King Eglon
rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger
strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly. The dagger
went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king’s fat. So Ehud
did not pull out the dagger, and the king’s bowels emptied. Then Ehud
closed and locked the doors of the room and escaped down the latrine.
After Ehud was gone, the king’s servants returned and found the doors
to the upstairs room locked. They thought he might be using the latrine in
the room, so they waited. But when the king didn’t come out after a long
delay, they became concerned and got a key. And when they opened the
doors, they found their master dead on the floor.
While the servants were waiting, Ehud escaped, passing the stone idols
on his way to Seirah. When he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim,
Ehud sounded a call to arms. Then he led a band of Israelites down from
the hills.
“Follow me,” he said, “for the Lord has given you victory over Moab
your enemy.” So they followed him. And the Israelites took control of the