From Assassin to Peace Maker

Judges 3:12-30

Ehud Assassinates the King of Moab

The book of Judges records the immediate period following the Israelites’ settlement in the land of Canaan. In those days, there were no kings in Israel. From time to time, the LORD raised tribal leaders to be “judges”. At the micro level, the judges were entrusted to administer internal affairs. At the macro level, they were tasked to lead the people out of foreign oppression.

In the days of Judges, the Israelites broke the Sinai covenant by assimilating into Canaanite idolatrous culture, which resulted in moral decay. So, God raised Eglon, the king of Moab, to invade and oppressed Israel. And the subjection is worse— “they took possession of the City of Palms” (v13), the city otherwise known as Jericho. This was the place where, supremely, God had given his obedient people victory over their enemies (Joshua 6); now this is the place where God “gave” Eglon victory over them. Further, the subjection is 18 years long (v14).

From Messenger to Assassin

When the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised a deliverer for them. The deliverer was Ehud the son of Gera, from the tribe of Benjamin. “Benjamin” means “son of right hand” but Ehud was left-handed.

If you look up the references in the Bible to “right hand,” you will find that they are all quite positive. God swears by his right hand, he has pleasures by his right hand, and his chosen One sits at his right hand. Why? Since most people were right-handed, the right hand was a symbol of power and ability.

Verse 15 literally says that Ehud was “unable to use his right hand.” It is very possible that Ehud’s right hand was paralyzed or disabled in some way. He is physically handicapped; would he be a successful deliverer? No one would have looked up to him or naturally chosen to follow him. Yet he is God’s choice.

Ehud was entrusted by the Israelites to present a tribute to the king of Moab (v. 15). They did not order him to assassinate Eglon. But this mission gave Ehud an opportunity to assassinate the king of Moab.

Now Ehud had fashioned a two-edged sword. The sword was a cubit (35 cm) long – just long enough to be strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. In general, a weapon is usually strapped to the left side of the body so that the wielder can quickly draw it with the right hand.

But Ehud was left-handed. So, he strapped the sword to his right thigh instead. This way, his concealed weapon went undetected by the king’s guard. As a result, Ehud was given the security clearance for an audience with King Eglon to present Israel’s tribute (vv. 16-17).

Having presented Israel’s tribute, Ehud left the palace together with those who helped him carry the gift. They did not stop until they reached a safe place, that is, the stone images near Gilgal (vv. 18-19). There, he dismissed his companions but he alone returned to Eglon’s palace.

But why did he send his companions away?

Ehud did not inform anyone of his plans in advance. He was prepared to be the only one bearing the risk of assassinating the king of Moab. He went back to King Englon and petitioned, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.”

Eglon does not expect a handicapped man to be in any way dangerous. He was so drawn by the “secret” that he dismissed his attendants, which gave Ehud the opportunity to strike (v. 19).

Ehud said to the king, “I have a message from God for you.”

The king rose from his seat, which made it easier for Ehud to assassinate him (vv. 20-21).

In the blink of an eye, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly (v21). It is the king’s obesity (perhaps he has grown fat on the tribute he has exacted?) which seals his fate (v 22).

The NIV is over-polite here: the end of the verse should read “the dung came out” (ESV). This explains why, as Ehud mounts his escape (v23), the guards say outside, assuming (based on what they can smell) that Eglon “must be relieving himself” (v24). By the time they open the doors and see their lord dead (v25). Ehud has “got away….and escaped” (v26).

From Assassin to General

Ehud passed by the stone images and escaped to Seirah. When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim. This was Israel’s call to arms (v. 27). He led the Israelite army and gave them orders, “Follow me for the LORD has given Moab, your enemy, into your hands.” (v. 28)

The Israelites followed Ehud and descended from the hills. Ehud went from being a messenger to being an assassin and now he became a general!

The Moabite army had just lost their commander-in-chief. Ehud seized the initiative to attack them before they could reorganise their command structure. So, the Israelites followed Ehud down and took possession of the fords of the Jordan.

The Moabite army fled helter-skelter in an attempt to cross the Jordan to go back eastward to the land of Moab. However, the Israelites had set up a blockade to prevent the Moabites from going home. “At that time, they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not one escaped.” (v. 29)

That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for 80 years (v. 30).

Conclusion

By coupling his physical defect with an intricate plan, Ehud deceived King Eglon and his guards, which paved the way for his successful assassination of the king.

Many people are unhappy that the chosen agent of God is an assassin, who kills a man having duped him into meeting him alone. Yet Ehud himself says that God was working through him (v28). Israel would never have followed him into battle (v 28-29) if he had not secured the outcome himself, alone, by killing Eglon.

And it reminds us that God does not always work by what we call “normal” or “obvious” methods. He freed his people, giving them triumph over their enemies and peace for 80 years (v30), through and unexpected leader and an unpredicted means.

We also note that the king of Moab’s assassination was the retribution of his wickedness. Those who do evil in the sight of the LORD will attract tragic consequences. God judged both the Israelites and the Gentiles. God’s judgment upon King Eglon of Moab shows that He is against oppressive and repressive regimes of the world.

Ehud’s accomplishment of his mission was not merely due to his brilliance. The will of the LORD was to deliver His people out from being in bondage to their enemy. Ehud’s actions were in line with God’s will and, thereby, received God’s approval. This was the main reason for Ehud’s success.

If anyone repents, seeks for God’s help, and marches to God’s cadence, God will lend a helping hand.

Application

Ehud was handicapped, yet God used his weakness to accomplish the mission. Through Ehud’s weakness, God displayed strength. The LORD was the One who did the fighting. The LORD God can use ordinary, disadvantaged people.

Today, regardless of what pressure we are placed under, or what danger we are facing, or how desperate our situation may seem to be, how disadvantaged we are, God is always our way out. Nothing is too difficult for God!

The whole episode of assassination showed that Ehud made extensive preparations. If we are to serve God, then we must fashion our spiritual swords (Heb. 10:12), which is to have God’s word planted deep in our minds (Col. 3:16).

As servants of God, especially as leaders, we must be equipped and have the clarity of vision to evaluate current events and circumstances, so that we may seize the opportunity to accomplish the work that God has entrusted to us.

Ehud’s killing of Eglon was only a small victory. He did not lose perspective in the euphoria of this small victory. His real goal was to end the oppression of Israel. He displayed the spirit of leadership by calling the people to arms to attack the enemy.

Ehud took advantage of the situation. He gathered Israelite troops to attack the Moabites while the enemy were in disarray due to the loss of their king. He also exhibited mastery of strategy by sending troops to occupy the fords of the Jordan River.

The outcome was, Ehud led the whole body of the Israelite army to rise up and together, they annihilated ten thousand Moabite elite warriors. This was a wonderful display of team work. Ehud had great leadership skills and was adept in integrating manpower. He took charge and led the troops to accomplish the goal.

A good leader must be able to integrate the team and harness its strength, and then the whole will be greater than the sum of its parts. It does not matter how capable a leader is as an individual. He is to mobilise the people and delegate the tasks to them.

Ehud did everything well and so the nation had peace for 80 years. 18 years under Moabite oppression was short-lived but 80 years signified prosperity under God’s presence, enjoying the peace, blessing, and freedom to worship God for a very long period. This is the meaning of shalom.

Finally, Ehud did resort to trickery. He was not an ideal and perfect judge, yet an imperfect person can still be used by God to accomplish His will. In fact, all the judges are less than ideal. This all points the way to the most unexpected and “left-handed” person of all.

When the Judge came, “he had…nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men” (Isaiah 53:2-3). He achieved his victory all alone, on behalf of his people but not helped in any way by them, and he crushed his people’s enemies through his own weakness, like Ehud.

All of the judges point us to Christ, the perfect and righteous “Judge”—deliverer. Unlike them, he did not use deception (Ehud), need assistance (Deborah/Barak), or display selfish ambition (Gideon), rashness (Jephthah) or sexual weakness (Samson). And yet, like them, Jesus was an outsider, someone the world could not believe was either God’s chosen Ruler or his Deliverer.

But He indeed delivered his people not through great triumph, but through crushing defeat, where He was crucified on the cross. By these instances, God is showing the world that his salvation will not come in a “Hollywood” way at all. It will come from an outsider born in a manger; through weakness, not what the world calls strength; through defeat, not what the world calls victory; through folly, not what the world calls wisdom.

We are not to make the mistake Eglon did as he looked at God’s chosen deliverer, and “esteem him not” (Isaiah 53:3); we look at Christ and see “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24)

Jesus has already saved us and blessed us in the most unexpected way—through a “left-hander,” and that we are the most unexpected recipients of his grace, “left-handed” as we are. That means we can’t do deals with God like doing deal with idols, because we have nothing to offer God to trade for salvation. We can only totally depend on God, and we love to do that.

And now, as Christ’s redeemed people with absolute free grace, our lives belong to Him. it is only right that we will response by rising up to reap the harvest of His victory. Despite our shortcomings and limitations, we are to be equipped and make proper plans in the service of the church and in the service of society, so that lost souls are won for the Lord; the environment is transformed, ushering in an era of peace and well-being –shalom.

On a personal level, let’s serve God in a way that is pleasing to Him, that is to seek and do His will wholeheartedly. Let’s read the Bible every day, meditate upon God’s truth, pray unceasingly, and draw near to Him.

Then in everything that we do, God will guide our way. He will help us to overcome difficulties and temptations, so that we may experience His long-lasting blessing— shalom!