Ehud

Ehud
Illustration by Ford Madox Brown of Ehud assassinating Eglon
Born	13th century BCE
Died	12th century BCE
Occupation	Second Judge of Israel
Predecessor	Othniel
Successor	Shamgar

Ehud ben‑Gera (Hebrew: אֵהוּד בֶּן־גֵּרָא‎, Standard Ehud ben‑Gera Tiberian ʾĒhûḏ ben‑Gērāʾ) is described in the biblical Book of Judges as a judge who was sent by God to deliver the Israelites from Moabite domination. He is described as being left-handed and a member of the Tribe of Benjamin.

According to Judges 3:12-30, Ehud was sent to the Moabite King Eglon on the pretext of delivering the Israelites' annual tribute. He made a double-edged shortsword about a cubit (eighteen inches) long, useful for a stabbing thrust. Being left-handed, he could conceal the sword on his right thigh, where it was not expected. Once they met, Ehud told Eglon he had a secret message for him. Eglon dismissed his attendants and allowed Ehud to meet him in private. Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you", drew his sword, and stabbed the king in his abdomen. After Ehud stabbed the king, the end of Judges 3:22 reads in Hebrew vayyetze hap-parshedonah, a phrase of uncertain meaning. The sword disappeared into the wound and Ehud left it there. He locked the doors to the king's chamber and left.

Eglon's assistants returned when too much time had elapsed and found the doors locked. Assuming that he was relieving himself, they waited "to the point of embarrassment" before unlocking the door and finding their king dead.

Ehud escaped to the town of Seraiah in Ephraim. He sounded the shofar and rallied the Israelite tribes, who killed the Moabites, cutting off the fords of the Jordan River, and invaded Moab itself, killing about 10,000 Moabite soldiers.