“But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.”
Context:The book of Judges is a historical account of the time when Israel was governed by a series of judges who were raised up by God to deliver the Israelites from their oppressors. This verse is part of a larger narrative that describes the oppression of the Israelites by Eglon, the king of Moab, and their subsequent deliverance by Ehud, one of the judges.
Ehud’s secret errand:Ehud was from the tribe of Benjamin and was chosen by God to deliver Israel from the oppression of Moab. In this verse, Ehud approaches Eglon, the king of Moab, under the pretext of having a secret errand for him. Ehud had crafted a double‑edged sword, which he had hidden on his right thigh, and he intended to use it to assassinate Eglon.
The quarries by Gilgal:Gilgal was a place near the Jordan River where the Israelites camped after crossing over into the Promised Land. The quarries mentioned in the verse refer to stone quarries near Gilgal. Ehud had used this as an excuse to leave the presence of the king, making it appear that he had an urgent matter to attend to in the quarries.
Silence in the king’s presence:When Ehud approached Eglon with his secret errand, the king commanded silence, and everyone who was present left the room. This shows that Eglon considered Ehud’s message to be of great importance and wanted to hear it privately.
Symbolism and fulfillment:Ehud’s secret errand and subsequent assassination of Eglon can be seen as symbolic of God’s deliverance of the Israelites from their oppressors. Ehud’s act of killing the king brought a period of peace and rest for the Israelites. Additionally, this event foreshadows the ultimate deliverance that would come through Jesus Christ, who would defeat the spiritual oppressor and bring salvation to all who believe in Him.
Lessons for us:The story of Ehud reminds us that God can use unlikely individuals to accomplish His purposes. Ehud was a left‑handed man from the smallest tribe, yet God empowered him to deliver Israel. It also teaches us the importance of obedience to God’s call and the need to be willing to take bold and decisive action when required.
In summary:Judges 3:19 recounts Ehud’s approach to Eglon with a secret errand, leading to the assassination of the Moabite king. This event served as a turning point in Israel’s struggle against their oppressors and demonstrates God’s faithfulness in raising up deliverers for His people.
