Ehud: One Man Who Will Stand
Judges 3:12-30
Judges 3 is all about the Lord:
1. The Lord’s (Judges 3:12)
- heb: ayin, eye.
- Their behavior was not grievous to the sight of Baal (because he didn’t have eyes… he didn’t exist!)
2. The Lord’s (Judges 3:12)
- Eglon is the king of Moab. The people of Moab were the result of the incestuous relationship between Lot and his own daughter. It’s humiliating for Israel to be knocked down by Moabites.
- Notice that the Lord is the one who strengthened Eglon. He had no power of his own.
- Eglon rules from the “city of Palms” which would be Jericho. Jericho was the first city that Joshua took when he came into the land.
- They serve Eglon for 18 years. In numerology, 18 can represent bondage. Jesus healed the woman who had an evil spirit that kept her bent over for 18 years. The word itself appears 18 times.
3. The Lord’s (Judges 3:15)
- Ehud is a Benjamite. They are known to be skilled warriors, often ambidextrous.
- Ehud is called “lefted handed” but is better translated, “his right hand was shut.” Meaning something is wrong with his right hand; he’s disabled.
- Unlike other Judges, the nation does not gather around Ehud to lead them to war, but simply sends him to pay their tribute. They have no confidence in his ability to lead them in battle.
How Does the Lord Work In My Life?
1. God
- Eglon means “cow.”
- Like a cow, he is eating Israel’s inheritance. (It only serve the analogy that much more that he is actually very fat.)
- Judges 3:19, he turns back at the “idols” (Hebrew, Pasil. Strongs #6456)
2. God (Judges 3:19)
- Jericho is hot and muggy. The cooling chamber would be the roof, where lattice is erected to allow the evening breeze through.
- Judges 3:19, he says he has a secret message for the king. He seems to be suggesting a secret message from the gods. (He did just pass the idols.) However, the message he has is not from an idol, but from the Almighty.
- Eglon is like a dumb cow in this story.
3. God
- 1 Corinthians 1:28
- Judges 3:22, the blaze cut his bowls open. (KJV, “his entrails came out.”) Ehud shut the door and left; on a hot day.
- The servants say he is “covering his feet.” A Hebrew euphemism for going to the bathroom. (Go to the game or public restroom, how does a guy know if a stall is occupied? He walks along and if he can see a mans feet covered, he knows it’s occupied.)
Eglon himself becomes the sacrifice.
- Eglon means “young calf” or “bull.” Eglon is a fattened calf prepared for the slaughter.
- The term translated “fat” (heleb), is a sacrificial term. Used for choices parts of the sacrifice.
- Ehud prepares a sacrificial knife. (He will disembowel the “animal.”)
- Gullibly, like dumb animal, Eglon taken in by wily Ehud.
4. He (Judges 3:27-30)
- God does not just want us to fight the war and go home, he demands we lead others.
- Judges 3:29, Eglons warriors are described as “samen” meaning fat or stout. Like their master. In this case, it probably means more that they are vigorous or strong.
- The land had rest for eighty years. That’s a long shadow! Double the impact of Othniel or Barrack.