Judges 3:15

EHUD AND HIS COMPANIONS DELIVER THE TRIBUTE

"But when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised them up a saviour, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a man lefthanded. And the children of Israel sent tribute by him unto Eglon the king of Moab. And Ehud made a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh. And he offered the tribute unto Eglon king of Moab: now Eglon was a very fat man. And when he had made an end of offering the tribute, he sent away the people that bare the tribute."

"Ehud ... the Benjamite, a man lefthanded" (Judges 3:15). "The last word here in the Hebrew is literally, `bound of his right hand,'"[15] indicating that Ehud's right hand might have been crippled or injured. At any rate, it was "tied up" or "bound." However, Ehud was also, as were many of the Benjaminites, lefthanded (Judges 20:16). Dummelow interpreted the literal Hebrew here as, "Lamed in his right hand,"[16] but thought that, in the light of Judges 20:16, "Ambidexterity is all that is meant." Our own opinion is that both meanings are in the passage. Ehud was not merely left-handed (or ambidextrous) but he was also lamed or injured in his right hand, which on the occasion of his bringing the tribute was rendered totally useless by bandages. This, no doubt, greatly aided the deception necessary to enable the assassination of Eglon. As Soggin said, "Everything is in favor of a real physical defect of a kind that would seriously diminish the capability of a fighting man and make him seem to be harmless. This is the only way in which we can explain how Ehud could ever have been admitted into the presence of the king without any search or any precautionary measures."[17]

"He sent away the people that bare the tribute" (Judges 3:18). This reveals that the rich tribute conveyed to Eglon was very substantial. As much of it must have been accumulated in silver and gold, and as it no doubt also included heavy stores of grain, fruits, cattle, and other materials, a group of men were required to carry it. Very likely, the king's bodyguard would have been very cautious and watchful as long as such a company of Israelites was present. By sending the "carriers" away, Ehud completely disarmed all suspicion of himself.

That Ehud's murder of Eglon was premeditated and most skillfully planned is evident. The plan began with the making of a sword with no cross-member at the handle and with the concealment of such a deadly weapon upon his person.