• Ehud: Judges 3

    Shortly after Joshua died, the people of Israel began following the gods of the pagan nations around them. God was displeased with this, so He would allow other nations to gain control over Israel for periods of time. After the people would repent and cry out to the Lord, He would provide a deliverer, or “judge,” to save them out of their oppression. Then they would have peace. So the cycle would continue, as recorded throughout the book of Judges.

    One of the kings who gained control over Israel was Eglon, the king of Moab. He, along with the Ammonites and Amalekites, defeated Israel and made them serve him for eighteen years. Israel finally cried to God for help, and the Lord raised up Ehud as a deliverer.

    Ehud, a left-handed man, made a double-edged sword and bound it on his right thigh under a cloak. He presented Israel’s tribute to Eglon, then asked to see Eglon in private to deliver a secret message. Ehud met Eglon alone, drew his sword and thrust it into Eglon. Eglon was “very fat,” and the sword was engulfed in Eglon’s belly. Ehud left the room and locked the door. Eglon’s servants waited outside the room for a while, but then became anxious and unlocked the door to find their king dead. Meanwhile, Ehud escaped.

    When Ehud arrived at Seirah, he blew a trumpet and charged the Israelites to pursue the Moabites. “So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land was undisturbed for eighty years.”

    Discussion
    1. Why did God allow Israel to fall into the hands of pagan nations around them?

    2. What sins did the children of Israel commit? What was so wrong with it all?

    3. What were the “judges” God raised up? Why did He raise them up?

    4. After being severely distressed, what would the people generally do?

    5. Who is Ehud? Who were the enemies at his time? How did he conquer them?