Lives of Scripture

Eglon king of Moab rose to power over Israel because, after the death of the judge Othniel, "the sons of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD" (Judges 3:12). The LORD strengthened Eglon, who allied with the Ammonites and Amalekites, defeated Israel, and seized Jericho, "the city of palm trees" (3:13). Israel served him eighteen years under this oppression (3:14). When Israel finally cried out to the LORD, God raised up Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, as deliverer. Ehud brought Israel's tribute to Eglon, then returned alone claiming he had "a secret message" for the king (3:15-19). Eglon, described as a very fat man, rose from his seat -- likely a gesture of respect for what he took to be a word from God -- and Ehud drove a concealed sword into his belly with such force that the handle sank in after the blade, and Eglon's fat closed over it (3:20-22). Ehud escaped, locked the doors behind him, and Eglon's servants, assuming he was relieving himself, delayed until they found their king dead (3:23-25). Eglon's death broke Moab's grip on Israel; Ehud then led Israel to strike down about ten thousand Moabites, and the land had rest for eighty years (3:26-30). Eglon's account is Judges' clearest picture of the cycle the book repeats: sin brings oppression, but a cry to God brings deliverance, however unlikely the deliverer.