“But Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.”
Judges 3:21 is a verse that comes from the book of Judges in the Old Testament. This particular verse describes an incident involving Ehud, one of the judges of Israel. Ehud was sent by God to deliver the Israelites from the oppression of the Moabites.
To provide some context, during this time, the Israelites had a cycle of disobedience to God, followed by oppression from foreign nations, and then deliverance by God through the judges. In this particular story, the Israelites had been oppressed by Eglon, the king of Moab, for 18 years.
In verse 15, it is mentioned that God raised up Ehud as a deliverer for Israel. Ehud, who was left-handed, devised a plan to assassinate King Eglon and bring an end to the Moabite oppression. Ehud crafted a double-edged dagger, which he concealed on his right thigh, under his clothing.
Verse 20 tells us that Ehud came to Eglon, who was a very fat man, and presented a tribute to him. After delivering the tribute, Ehud requested a private audience with the king. As the king dismissed his attendants, Ehud revealed his true intention and used his left hand to draw the dagger from his right thigh and thrust it into the king’s belly.
The act of Ehud thrusting the dagger into King Eglon’s belly was a swift and decisive action, which led to the death of the king. The following verses describe the aftermath of this event, including Ehud’s escape and the subsequent defeat of the Moabites by the Israelites.
This account in Judges 3:21 showcases God’s faithfulness in raising up deliverers to rescue His people when they turned back to Him. Ehud’s bravery and resourcefulness, combined with God’s guidance and power, brought about the liberation of the Israelites from Moabite oppression.
It is important to note that while the Bible records various events and actions of individuals, it does not necessarily endorse or promote all of their actions. The passage in Judges 3:21 is a historical account of Ehud’s role in the deliverance of Israel and is meant to depict the events that transpired during that time.
Overall, this verse highlights the theme of deliverance and shows God’s ability to use unexpected individuals to accomplish His purposes.
