Ehud the Left-Handed Judge
A left-handed Benjamite delivers Israel from Moab's oppression through a daring assassination of the enemy king.
Judges 3:12-30
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The Story
Once again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, and because of this evil the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. Eglon got the Ammonites and Amalekites to join him, and they attacked Israel and took possession of the City of Palms. The Israelites were subject to Eglon for eighteen years.
Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and He gave them a deliverer—Ehud son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The Israelites sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Ehud had made a double-edged sword about a cubit long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing.
Ehud presented the tribute to Eglon, who was a very fat man. After sending away those who had carried the tribute, Ehud turned back at the stone images near Gilgal and said, 'Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.' The king said, 'Quiet!' and all his attendants left him.
Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace. 'I have a message from God for you,' Ehud said. As the king rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king's belly. Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it.
Then Ehud went out onto the porch, shutting the doors of the upper room behind him and locking them. After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, 'He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the palace.' They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors, they took a key and opened them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead.
While they waited, Ehud got away. He blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills. 'Follow me,' he ordered, 'for the Lord has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands.' They took possession of the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab and did not allow anyone to cross. That day they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong men. Not one escaped. So Moab was subdued under Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years.
Ehud the Brave Left-Handed Hero
Kids Version
The Israelites were in trouble again. Because they disobeyed God, a mean king named Eglon ruled over them for eighteen years. King Eglon was very fat and very cruel. The people of Israel cried out to God for help.
God sent them a hero named Ehud. Ehud was left-handed, which was unusual—but God would use that in a special way! Ehud was chosen to bring a gift (called tribute) to King Eglon.
But Ehud had a secret plan. He made a short, sharp sword and hid it on his right leg under his clothes. Why the right leg? Because everyone else wore swords on their left side! The guards would never think to check there. Being left-handed meant Ehud could reach it easily.
Ehud brought the gift to King Eglon. Then he sent his helpers away and came back alone. 'Your Majesty,' Ehud said, 'I have a secret message for you!' The king got excited and sent all his servants out of the room.
'I have a message from God for you,' Ehud said. The king stood up eagerly. Quick as lightning, Ehud reached with his left hand, grabbed his hidden sword, and struck the wicked king!
Ehud locked the doors behind him and walked out calmly. The king's servants waited and waited outside. 'He must be busy in there,' they said, too embarrassed to check. Finally they got a key and opened the doors—but it was too late. Ehud was long gone!
Ehud blew a trumpet and called the Israelites together. 'Follow me! God has given us victory!' That day, Israel defeated their enemies completely. Because of Ehud's bravery, the land had peace for eighty years!
God used something that made Ehud different—being left-handed—to save His people. God can use what makes you different too!
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Scripture — Judges 3:12-30 (KJV)
12And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
13And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees .
14So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
15But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded : and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. a Benjamite: or, the son of Jemini lefthanded: Heb. shut of his right hand
16But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
17And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
18And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
19But 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. quarries: or, graven images
20And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. a summer: Heb. a parlour of cooling
21And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
22And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. the dirt: or, it came out at the buttocks
23Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
24When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. covereth: or, doeth his easement
25And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.
26And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped unto Seirath.
27And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.
28And he said unto them, Follow after me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over.
29And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man. lusty: Heb. fat
30So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.
Memory Verse
“And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.”
— Judges 3:12 (KJV)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the story of “Ehud the Left-Handed Judge” in the Bible?
A left-handed Benjamite delivers Israel from Moab's oppression through a daring assassination of the enemy king. This story is found in Judges 3:12-30.
Where is “Ehud the Left-Handed Judge” found in the Bible?
“Ehud the Left-Handed Judge” is found in Judges 3:12-30, in the book of Judges.
What can children learn from “Ehud the Left-Handed Judge”?
This story teaches children about Deliverance, Courage, Using What You Have, Unexpected Heroes. Ehud was left-handed, which helped him hide a secret sword where no one would look. He bravely defeated the mean king who was hurting Israel, and saved God's people.