09/02/2008
Judges 3:12 - 15 (HCSB) 12The Israelites again did what was evil in the LORD’s sight. He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel, because they had done what was evil in the LORD’s sight. 13After Eglon convinced the Ammonites and the Amalekites to join forces with him, he attacked and defeated Israel and took possession of the City of Palms. 14The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab 18 years.
15Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjaminite, as a deliverer for them. The Israelites sent him to Eglon king of Moab with tribute [money].
===
It is said that the modern military salute developed from a tradition of Roman soldiers raising their right hands to show that they had no weapon in that hand. Today’s military salute varies from culture to culture, but still involves the extension of the right arm with an empty, open hand.
When we read about the Israelites, it becomes so easy for us to wag our fingers at them for straying from the ways they had been instructed; however, they are not so different from us. Over our lifetimes, we have had times of closeness with God and times of wandering.
There are many fascinating stories in the Bible that few people ever come across. This is one of those stories. Israel had fallen under the dominion of Moab (in treaty with other kings). But God is faithful and when Israel cried out to God, He raised up for them a leader. Why does it matter if this man was left-handed? Was that such an unusual thing that it deserved mention?
As we shall see, this condition was specifically planned by God for the deliverance of the people.
Judges 3:16 - 22 (HCSB) 16Ehud made himself a double-edged sword 18 inches long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his clothes 17and brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an extremely fat man. 18When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he dismissed the people who had carried it. 19At the carved images near Gilgal he returned and said, “King [Eglon], I have a secret message for you.” The king called for silence, and all his attendants left him. 20Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in his room upstairs [where it was] cool. Ehud said, “I have a word from God for you,” and the king stood up from his throne. 21Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly. 22Even the handle went in after the blade, and Eglon’s fat closed in over it, so that Ehud did not withdraw the sword from his belly. And Eglon’s insides came out.
Just as in the days of the Romans (still in the future of this event), persons with an open right hand were considered no threat. Ehud, made a sword and strapped it to his right thigh. Warriors would reach across to retrieve a weapon, thus, right handed warriors would have the swords strapped to the left side. We can assume however that this double-edged broadsword was concealed under garments. Guards would have instinctively checked Ehud for weapons on his left side and easily neglected to check the right side.
Ehud offered tribute to the obese king, feigning allegiance and once he had garnered the king’s trust, claimed he had a secret message. Once the room was cleared, Ehud easily killed the king. It presents a gruesome picture of the sword trust so deeply into the king’s fat that the skin closed up around it. Ehud left the sword and escaped locking the king’s doors behind him. The attendants did not enter the king’s chamber thinking that he was “relieving himself.” They only found him later.
From this event, Israel was able to win back its independence and Moab was then subject to Israel for 80 years.
We too, must remember that when we are in trouble or oppressed by things of this world, that we must call out to God, who is faithful. He will help us to overcome these things and live in the freedom and peace that He has promised.
Jeff Justus
Cleff Publishing
www.cleffpublishing.com
©2008 Cleff Publishing, all rights reserved.
Terms of Usage: This devotional may be copied or forwarded for personal use without permission, but must include the author, publisher, web link, and copyright notice. Use in another published work must obtain permission first.