Deliverance by Ehud

3:15But when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a savior for them: Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man. The children of Israel sent tribute by him to Eglon the king of Moab.

3:16Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he wore it under his clothing on his right thigh.

3:17He offered the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.

3:18When Ehud had finished offering the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute.

3:19But he himself turned back from the stone idols that were by Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” The king said, “Keep silence!” All who stood by him left him.

3:20Ehud came to him; and he was sitting by himself alone in the cool upper room. Ehud said, “I have a message from God to you.” He arose out of his seat.

3:21Ehud put out his left hand, and took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his body.

3:22The handle also went in after the blade; and the fat closed on the blade, for he didn’t draw the sword out of his body; and it came out behind.

3:23Then Ehud went out onto the porch, and shut the doors of the upper room on him, and locked them.

3:24After he had gone, his servants came and saw that the doors of the upper room were locked. They said, “Surely he is covering his feet in the upper room.”

3:25They waited until they were ashamed; and behold, he didn’t open the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold, their lord had fallen down dead on the floor.

3:26Ehud escaped while they waited, passed beyond the stone idols, and escaped to Seirah.