05: Deceit, Assassination, and Deliverance: Ehud (Judges 3:12 – 31)

Because the Judges were also human, they had weaknesses and flaws. However, God’s power is sufficient to deliver Israel through imperfect human leaders.

👉 Read Judges 3:12 - 31

Q1. The Israelites did (        ) in the Lord’s (            ). The Lord gave (             ) control over Israel because they had done evil in the (                 ).

The Israelites did ( evil  ) in the Lord’s ( sight  ). The Lord gave ( King Eglon of Moab ) control over Israel because they had done evil in the ( Lord’s sight ).

This introduction is repeated in nearly every episode in the Book of Judges: Israel’s troubles arose because they did evil in the Lord’s sight, even though they were merely conforming to the practices of the surrounding nations. It is also important to note that the afflictions they faced typically came at the hands of neighboring nations, not directly from the Lord.

When we engage in idolatry and rely on something other than God, He allows suffering to come upon us through the very thing we depended on and pursued. It is only then that we realize the true nature of what we had been relying on.

Q2. They served Eglon, the king of Moab, for (         ) years. Ehud was the representative of the people who delivered the (        ) to Eglon. The only comment about Eglon was that he was (      ). Ehud hid an (       ) long sword under his coat. It seems Ehud had planned to assassinate Eglon by preparing the sword. However, he didn’t act at their first meeting and withdrew from Eglon’s presence.

On his way back, Ehud saw the (        ) at Gilgal, likely a Moabite idol placed by Eglon. This prompted him to return. Through deception, he managed to meet Eglon alone. He claimed to have a secret message from (       ) for Eglon. As Eglon stood up to listen, Ehud stabbed him in his (       ). The Bible describes this scene in vivid detail.

After the assassination, Ehud didn’t seem to have a clear escape plan, but he could flee while Eglon’s servants delayed, unsure of what had happened. Ehud had no immediate plan to attack the Moabite army; his only goal had been to assassinate Eglon. However, as he passed the place of the (             ), he fled to Seirah, where he gathered an army from the (          ). He then boldly led them to victory over the Moabites. They secured the Jordan fords and killed  (        ) Moabites. The land had (       ) for eighty years.

They served Eglon, the king of Moab, for ( eighteen ) years. Ehud was the representative of the people who delivered the ( tribute payment ) to Eglon. The only comment about Eglon was that he was ( very fat ). Ehud hid an ( eight-inch ) long sword under his coat. It seems Ehud had planned to assassinate Eglon by preparing the sword. However, he didn’t act at their first meeting and withdrew from Eglon’s presence.

On his way back, Ehud saw the ( carved image ) at Gilgal, likely a Moabite idol placed by Eglon. This prompted him to return. Through deception, he managed to meet Eglon alone. He claimed to have a secret message from ( God ) for Eglon. As Eglon stood up to listen, Ehud stabbed him in his ( fat belly ). The Bible describes this scene in vivid detail.

After the assassination, Ehud didn’t seem to have a clear escape plan, but he could flee while Eglon’s servants delayed, unsure of what had happened. Ehud had no immediate plan to attack the Moabite army; his only goal had been to assassinate Eglon. However, as he passed the place of the ( carved image ), he fled to Seirah, where he gathered an army from the ( Ephraimite hill country ). He then boldly led them to victory over the Moabites. They secured the Jordan fords and killed  ( 10,000 ) Moabites. The land had ( rest ) for eighty years.

The Hebrew name Eglon (עֶגְלוֹן) is derived from the root word "עֵגֶל" (egel), which means "calf" or "young bull" in Hebrew. The name Eglon can be interpreted to mean "little calf" or "young bull." This is a fitting name for a Moabite king, as bulls and calves were often symbols of strength, fertility, and wealth in ancient Near Eastern cultures. 

The calf was one of the most common images used for idols in those days. The author narrates the assassination scene in vivid detail to mock the foolishness of worshiping gods represented by animal images, like calves. Ehud is portrayed as the butcher who slaughtered a fattened calf.

Also, the image of the dead Eglon reflects the nature of the gods they served—disgusting and stinky in the Lord’s sight, just as their worshippers' deeds were. Verse 22 reads, “And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out.” (Jdg 3:22 ESV) 

“The land had rest for eighty years.” This is a temporary peace without war while the judge is alive.

The following map shows the movements of Ehud and his soldiers.

Why does God use people who are weak or flawed? To show that true power comes from the Lord. Meanwhile, the warrior Samson had great potential to deliver Israel. However, despite his God-given strength, he didn’t achieve much. His story illustrates that failure in one's mission often stems from inner desires, not a lack of outward power.

Open your eyes and see that idolatry and a life of indulgence are disgusting in the Lord’s sight. However, when you are under the power of desire, you fear it and submit to it, indulging in the fleeting satisfaction it offers. Only when you behold the victory of our Judge, Christ, and the defeat of the indulgent slave master—the ancient foe—will you realize how disgusting it is to pursue fleshly desires and become lost in worldly satisfaction.