Ehud אֵהוּד
Left-handed Benjamite judge who delivered Israel from Moabite oppression
Who is Ehud in the Bible?
Ehud was a left-handed judge from the tribe of Benjamin who delivered Israel from Moabite oppression around the time of the judges (Judges 3:15-26). After the Israelites fell into sin and were oppressed by King Eglon of Moab for eighteen years, God raised up Ehud as a deliverer. Ehud assassinated the Moabite king by concealing a double-edged sword on his right thigh, where it would go undetected by guards, then escaped and rallied the Israelites to defeat Moab in battle (Judges 3:20-26). His story illustrates God's faithfulness in raising up unlikely deliverers, and Ehud's cunning and courage became a model of divine deliverance during Israel's cycles of unfaithfulness and restoration.
Biography
Ehud was a left-handed Benjamite who served as a judge and deliverer of Israel during the period of the judges. His story is primarily recorded in Jdg.3.12-30, with brief mentions in Jdg.4.1 and 1Ch.8.6.
After the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord, God allowed Eglon, the king of Moab, to conquer and oppress them for eighteen years. When the Israelites cried out to the Lord for deliverance, God raised up Ehud as their deliverer (Jdg.3.12-15).
Ehud is described as a left-handed man, which is significant because it allowed him to conceal a double-edged sword on his right thigh without arousing suspicion. He was sent to deliver tribute to King Eglon, who is portrayed as a very fat man (Jdg.3.16-17).
After presenting the tribute, Ehud returned to Eglon, claiming to have a secret message for him. When Eglon dismissed his attendants, Ehud approached him and declared, "I have a message from God for you" (Jdg.3.18-20). He then drew his concealed sword with his left hand and thrust it into Eglon's belly, killing him (Jdg.3.21-22).
Ehud escaped, locking the doors of the upper room behind him. He then rallied the Israelites, who seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab and struck down about 10,000 Moabites. This victory brought peace to the land for eighty years (Jdg.3.23-30).
Family
Offspring
- Naaman Tribe of BenjaminSon of EhudA descendant of Benjamin, son of Ehud.View full profile →
- Ahijah MaleDavid's warriorOne of David's mighty men, the PeloniteView full profile →
- Gera Tribe of BenjaminSon of BelaSon of Bela, grandson of Benjamin.View full profile →
- Uzza Tribe of BenjaminSon of EhudBenjamite exile born in MoabView full profile →
- Ahihud Tribe of BenjaminSon of EhudSon of Ehud, from the tribe of BenjaminView full profile →
In Scripture
2 biblical booksJudges 5 verses
- Judges 3:15
"And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab."
- Judges 3:16
"Now Ehud had made for himself a double-edged sword a cubit long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his cloak"
- Judges 3:20
"Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room. “I have a word from God for you,” Ehud said, and the king rose from his seat."
- Judges 3:21
"And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly."
- Judges 3:23
"Then Ehud went out through the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upper room behind him."
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 8:6
"These were the descendants of Ehud who were the heads of the families living in Geba and were exiled to Manahath:"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | אֵהוּד |
| Spelled | Hebrew | אֵחוּד |