Inspired
Deceiver or Ingenious Deliverer?
Ehud:
An Appreciation
By
Chad L.R. Faubert
November 27, 2000
When
asked to write about my favorite biblical character, my mind immediately whisks
away to the pages of Judges to a not-so-well known hero¾Ehud.
Since I was seven, I have grown up in church, so I have had the
opportunity to hear or read of the adventures of every Bible character, from
Joseph kicking it with the baker and butler to David knocking off Goliath and
the Philistines. While many of these figures hold the potential of being my
favorite, I must admit that Ehud is the
Man!
The
Setting
Since
I always get the who-in-the-world-is-that
look concerning Ehud, here is some background for the Sunday school
story-challenged who roam among us.
In
Judges 3:12-30, Ehud is the second judge to bring deliverance to the children of
Israel once they had entered into the land of Canaan.
The first is Othniel, who is the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz.
Othniel judges Israel from about 1353 to 1313 B.C.
However, after Othniel’s death, the children of Israel do evil in the
sight of God, so the Lord strengthens Eglon,
the king of Moab, against Israel. Eglon
oppresses Israel for 18 years, thus providing the opportunity for a hero to
appear.
The
Story
The children of Israel finally tire of Eglon’s persecution and
cry unto the Lord, who provides a deliverer in the person of Ehud, the son of
Gera of the tribe of Benjamin. The
children of Israel employ Ehud to lead a delegation in presenting a gift to
Eglon. The left-handed Ehud decides to bring along an extra souvenir as well¾his
homemade, two-sided, foot-long dagger, safely concealed on his right thigh
beneath his clothes.
After presenting the gift to Eglon (the gift goes undescribed,
but it probably wasn’t food since the king was one bulging, obese dude and had
most likely eaten Israel’s best veal long before), the entire delegation
leaves. On the trip back, Ehud sends away the others and returns alone to see
the king. Saying he has “A secret
errand unto thee, O king,” Ehud is told to “keep silence” while Eglon
(perhaps hoping to keep all the goodies for himself) instructs his bodyguards to
take a hike.
Eglon then invites Ehud into his summer parlor. (Happily, this
parlor is not fitted with a hi-tech dagger detector!) Ehud proclaims to the
bulging belly dude he has “a message from God unto thee.”
He then pulls out the dagger and thrusts it into the king’s robustness.
Imagine his surprise as the king’s fat envelopes the dagger and covers
even the handle, while all the king’s nasties release. (In a singular turn of
phrase, the King James uses the word “dirt.”) The dagger cannot be removed,
as the fat had completely absorbed the blade.
Ehud then slips out of the summer parlor unnoticed, locks the
doors behind him and takes off for Seirath, having pulled off his successful
assassination attempt.
The king’s servants find the doors locked and assume that Eglon
is relieving himself in the indoor outhouse.
After finally realizing the king had either eaten a lot of cheese and was
in desperate need of Metamucil, or there was a significant problem, the servants
open the door and find their dead king.
Before they can respond, Ehud rallies the troops and slaughters
10,000 lusty men of valor, which subdues Moab and gives the land of Israel rest
for 80 years.
The
Reason
So, Ehud stabbed a bulging king, rallied the children of Israel
to fight against the Moabites and gave the land rest for 80 years. However, his
decisive actions meant more than that.
Scripture reminds us: “Whatsoever
things were written aforetime were written for our learning...” (Romans 15:4) and “All
scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
(II Timothy 3:16) This applies to Ehud the judge.
First, Ehud creates a two-sided dagger and then hides it on his
body where it is easily accessible. By somewhat devious means, he secures
presence alone with the king who has been oppressing the children of Israel. He
then guts him like a pig on a stick.
Just like Ehud, at times we experience oppression, but the Word
is a powerful tool with which we can pierce through problem times. As the
scripture says, “For the word of God is
quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword…”
(Hebrews 4:12)
We should always have our sword, the Word of God, accessible for
use. This requires reading and
learning Scripture that will help us when we are in time of need.
If that’s true, then we need to equip ourselves for that
foreseeable/unforeseeable time.
I can remember times when I have been in a moment of despair only
to have the memorized Word come to mind and fight off that oppression.
As well, by holding the Truth within me, whenever false doctrines come to
sway my beliefs, it is that much easier to ward them off, and show the Light to
those pontificating such doctrines.
Ehud’s use of the dagger not only means that he himself is
delivered from Eglon’s tyranny, but also his family, his tribe and the rest of
the children of Israel. However,
Ehud doesn’t stop there. He goes
back to Israel and encourages others to join him in routing the enemy.
No one seems to have asked, “What had stopped the children of Israel
from defeating the Moabites before?” Nothing
in the situation had changed other than the fact that Eglon was now dead.
This was something they could have achieved all along.
Ehud’s vision of freedom transfers to the people and they take up their
own weapons and kill 10,000 lusty men of valor.
Like Ehud, our choice to be active Christians and live for God
can only encourage our family and the others with whom we come in contact.
We, too, can transfer our vision to others and lead them to their own
work for God. On visits with
friends abroad who have been experiencing difficulties in their walk with God, I
know that relating the growth and vision God is producing in my life edifies and
encourages them into striving harder for greatness in God.
The
End of the Matter
So, to break it down even further, Ehud’s my favorite biblical
character because of the symbolism his life creates for my own.
I can hide the Word in my heart, and I can use it to not only help
myself, but also my family and those around me. I can learn from his leadership techniques to involve others
in a vision and encourage them to be an active part. I can also remember while the land had rest for the next 80
years, the Bible reminds us the people went back to their wicked ways after
Ehud’s death. Unfortunately, his
fervor was not passed on to the next generation.
My favorite part, though, is Ehud’s devious means of killing
Eglon, and the Bible’s mentioning that Ehud could not draw the dagger out of
Eglon’s bulging, fat belly because the fat had closed up over it, and then the
dirt came out. I know that it
sounds tricky and gross, but, hey, it’s in the Bible!
ninetyandnine.com
ã
2000, Chad L.R. Faubert
---------
Chad
L.R. Faubert earned his Bachelor of
Commerce degree in Finance as a Y2K graduate of the University of Ottawa.
Being a dual citizen, he tours freely and often throughout North America
attempting to bring edification and a smile to his friends, while receiving
encouragement in the process. Currently,
he is residing in the greater Ottawa area doing what he can for the Kingdom,
seeking God’s direction and constantly asking “Where art thou, Juliet?”.
Have
an opinion on an article? Let us know how you feel! Click feedback
& fill us in. | 
