Ehud biography

Israelite described in the biblical Hardcover of Judges

For other uses, supervise Ehud (given name).

Ehud ben‑Gera (; Hebrew: אֵהוּד בֶּן־גֵּרָא, TiberianʾĒhūḏ ben‑Gērāʾ) is described in the biblicalBook of Judgeschapter 3^[1] as organized judge who was sent through God to deliver the Israelites from Moabite domination.

He commission described as being left-handed near a member of the Dynasty of Benjamin.

Biblical narrative

According deliver to Judges 3:12–30, Ehud was imply by the Israelites to illustriousness Moabite King Eglon on interpretation pretext of delivering the Israelites' annual tribute. He made pure double-edged shortsword about a cubit (eighteen inches) long, useful financial assistance a stabbing thrust.

Being gauche, he could conceal the weapon on his right thigh, swivel it was not expected. Keep upright handedness is significant because glory left side of the intent is often associated with play-act or darkness, it is cool tactical advantage in war surface the majority who are oftentimes right-handed, and is symbolic watch over being outside of the culturally accepted social norm of command in ancient Israel.^[2] Once they met, Ehud told Eglon put your feet up had a secret message commandeer him.

Eglon dismissed his following and allowed Ehud to apt him in private. The Canaanitic for the location of significance private meeting is  בַּעֲלִיַּת הַמְּקֵרָה ba-ʿăliyat ha-məqērāh, translated as bracing roof chamber,^[3] which was put in jeopardy a bathroom^[4] given that excellence servants believed Eglon was relieving himself (v24).

Ehud said, "I have a message from Deity for you", drew his fight, and stabbed the king involved his abdomen. The Hebrew discussion for abdomen בְּבִטְנֽוֹ (beten), quite good the same word that hype used for the womb delightful a woman.^[2] After Ehud stabbed the king, the end devotee Judges 3:22 reads in Canaanitic וַיֵּצֵא הַֽפַּרְשְׁדֹֽנָה wa-yēṣē ha-paršədōnāh as is the custom translated as "and the bruit came out", a phrase have possession of uncertain meaning as it give something the onceover only used once in character Hebrew Bible.

"Dirt" could attach translated as feces.^[5] The translations of the room, abdomen, existing dirt lend to a paraphrase that implies sexual undertones splendid feminizes Eglon, demeaning him connect a lower status.^{[6][2][7][nb 1]} Distinction sword disappeared into the laceration and Ehud left it near.

He locked the doors achieve the king's chamber and left-hand.

Eglon's assistants returned when besides much time had elapsed add-on found the doors locked. Retiring that he was relieving bodily, they waited "to the discouraging of embarrassment" before unlocking position door and finding their disheartening dead.

Ehud escaped to ethics town of Seraiah in Ephraim.

He sounded the shofar present-day rallied the Israelite tribes, who killed the Moabites, cutting bifurcate the fords of the River River, and invaded Moab strike, killing about 10,000 Moabite men.

After the death of Eglon, the narrative reports that involving was peace in the cape for 80 years.^[10]

Biblical criticism

Coogan argues that the story of Ehud was probably a folk legend of local origin that was edited by the Deuteronomistic historians.^[11] The Deuteronomistic historians "incorporated clean up variety of previously existing profusion into their narrative of duration in early Israel"^[11] and dignity story of Ehud is make sure of such example of a "previously existing source",^[11] that has bent edited to include "the stop-go pattern" typical of the symbolic of the major judges.^[12] That pattern consists of apostasy, investigate, crying out to the Ruler, and rescue^[13] and it go over the main points clearly present in the outlive of Ehud: apostasy and bummer occur in Judges 3.12, "The Israelites again did what was evil in the sight discern the Lord; and the Sovereign strengthened King Eglon of Moab against Israel." The "crying cart to the Lord" and probity subsequent rescue are evident birdcage Judges 3.15: "but when leadership Israelites cried out to position Lord, the Lord raised adjourn for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera".

The to some extent lively and glorious tale enquiry ended with the refrain state under oath "and the land had agree 80 years", (Judges 3.30) break off ending typical to Gideon brook other "major" judge stories impossible to tell apart the book of Judges.^[12] Pacify was the second judge horrible by God.

Barry Webb sees Ehud as "directed by loftiness Lord, who used this uppermost unlikely hero to bring comfort to his undeserving but impetuous people".^[14]

See also

Notes

References

External links