And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present. Judges 3:18 (KJV)
This verse belongs to the narrative of Judges, a book that records Israel’s history after they entered the Promised Land and before a monarchy was established. During this era the nation was led by a succession of judges whom God raised up to rescue the people from oppression. In Judges 3:12‑30 the focus is on the judge Ehud. The Israelites had fallen into idolatry and had been subjugated by Eglon, king of Moab, for eighteen years. In their distress they cried out to God, and He raised Ehud as their deliverer.
Ehud was a member of the tribe of Benjamin and was left‑handed. The text highlights this detail because it became crucial to the plan that followed. He fashioned a double‑edged sword and concealed it on his right thigh beneath his garment, since weapons were normally inspected on the left side and his left‑handedness would escape notice.
Ehud went to Moab with a present for King Eglon, a very fat man, using the gift as a cover for his true purpose: to assassinate the king and free Israel. After presenting the gift, he dismissed the attendants who had accompanied him, leaving himself alone with Eglon. He then told the king he had a secret message. As the king rose to receive it, Ehud drew the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into Eglon’s belly. The blade sank so deep that the hilt disappeared, and the king’s fat closed around the weapon.
The assassination resulted in Eglon’s death and delivered Israel from Moabite oppression for a time. From this passage we learn several principles. First, God uses unlikely individuals; Ehud’s left‑handedness, a perceived weakness, became an advantage. Second, God’s deliverance often works through human agents, reminding us to be open to God’s call and willing to act courageously. Third, deliverance may require boldness; Ehud’s daring act shows that God sometimes calls us to step beyond our comfort zones for righteousness and justice. Overall, the passage underscores God’s faithfulness in answering prayer, the importance of trusting His sovereignty, and the need to respond boldly when He invites us to participate in His purposes.
