Lexical Summary
Ehud: Ehud
Original Word:אֵהוּד
Part of Speech:Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration:Ehuwd
Pronunciation:ay-HOOD
Phonetic Spelling:(ay-hood')
KJV: Ehud
NASB:Ehud
Word Origin:[from the same asH161 (אוֹהַד - Ohad)]
1. united
2. Ehud, the name of two or three Israelites
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
Ehud
From the same as'Ohad; united; Ehud, the name of two or three Israelites -- Ehud.
see HEBREW'Ohad
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Originfrom the same as
OhadDefinitionthe name of several Isr.
NASB TranslationEhud (9).
Brown-Driver-Briggs
, deliverer of Israel from Moab
Judges 3:15,16,20 (twice in verse);
Judges 3:21,23,26;
Judges 4:1.
(= fore-going ?)1 Chronicles 7:10.
Topical Lexicon
Identity and SettingEhud, son of Gera of the tribe of Benjamin, emerges in the era when “the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD” (Judges 3:12). God used Moab, under King Eglon, to oppress Israel for eighteen years. In answer to Israel’s repentance, the LORD raised up Ehud as the second judge, following Othniel.
Left-Handedness and Tribal Significance
Benjamin means “son of the right hand,” yet Ehud is repeatedly described as “left-handed” (Judges 3:15). This detail stresses divine irony: the deliverer from the “right-handed” tribe overcomes the enemy by what appears a weakness. The left-handed skill also allows him to conceal his dagger on the opposite thigh, escaping suspicion during his audience with Eglon. Later Scripture notes that Benjamin produced an entire corps of ambidextrous warriors (Judges 20:16), hinting that Ehud may have begun a martial tradition within the tribe.
Deliverance Narrative (Judges 3:15–30)
1. The Tribute Mission: Israel “sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab” (3:15). Ehud moves within enemy territory under the guise of subservience.
2. The Hidden Weapon: He fashions “a double-edged sword about a cubit long” (3:16) and straps it to his right thigh under his clothing.
3. The Private Audience: After presenting the tribute, Ehud dismisses his escort and returns, saying, “I have a secret message for you, O king” (3:19). Eglon clears the room, underestimating the threat.
4. The Divine Message Delivered: “I have a message from God for you” (3:20). Ehud’s proclamation, followed by the swift thrust of the dagger, frames the assassination as an act of divine judgment, not personal vengeance.
5. Escape and Rally: Ehud locks the doors, slips past the guards, and rallies Israel at Seirah, sounding the ram’s horn (3:26–27).
6. Moab Overthrown: Israel strikes down “about ten thousand Moabites, all robust and valiant men; not a man escaped” (3:29).
7. Eighty Years of Rest: “So Moab was subdued… and the land had rest for eighty years” (3:30), the longest period of peace recorded in Judges.
Theological Themes
• God’s Sovereignty through Weakness: Ehud’s left-handedness symbolizes human limitation transformed by divine empowerment (cf.1 Corinthians 1:27).
• Faith Expressed in Courage: Ehud trusts God’s call enough to risk solitary action behind enemy lines.
• Judgment Leading to Mercy: The execution of Eglon is both punitive—ending Moab’s tyranny—and redemptive—securing national rest.
• Covenant Renewal: The horn blast recalls Sinai’s trumpet (Exodus 19:16) and signals renewed allegiance to the LORD.
Additional Occurrence:1 Chronicles 7:10
Outside Judges the name appears in a Benjamite genealogy: “The sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar” (1 Chronicles 7:10). This Ehud, likely distinct from the judge, illustrates the name’s continued use within the tribe and anchors the historicity of the lineage.
Ministry Lessons and Contemporary Application
• Availability Over Apparent Ability: God deploys servants whose limitations highlight His power. Ministries today flourish not by natural advantage but by surrendered obedience.
• Moral Courage in Cultural Compromise: Ehud infiltrated enemy courts without adopting their values; believers engage society while maintaining allegiance to God’s standards.
• Single-Minded Mission: Ehud’s two-edged dagger pictures the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). Effective ministry wields Scripture with precision against spiritual strongholds.
• Shofar Leadership: The sounding horn gathered Israel into united action. Pastoral leaders rally God’s people through clear, Spirit-led proclamation.
Legacy
Ehud’s account serves as an early Old Testament model of messianic deliverance: an unlikely savior who confronts oppressive power, secures decisive victory, and ushers in rest for God’s covenant people.
Forms and Transliterations
אֵה֔וּד אֵה֖וּד אֵה֜וּד אֵה֤וּד אֵהוּד֙ אהוד וְאֵה֖וּד וְאֵה֣וּד ׀ וְאֵה֤וּד וְאֵה֥וּד ואהוד ’ê·hūḏ ’êhūḏ eHud veeHud wə’êhūḏ wə·’ê·hūḏ
Links
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