Tuesday, April 14, 2020

A Lefty, A Dagger, and a Second Cousin-Judges 3:15-30


This week we are reentering a series that we took a brief break from a few weeks ago when all of the mitigation efforts to curb the spread of this pandemic hit. The truth is, times are tough for so many people in the present situation and most of us are left wondering how we ought to respond as God’s people. The Book of Judges gives us lesson after lesson of what NOT to do and yet, today, as we look at Judges 3:15-30, there is a surprising and unexpected lesson God’s people can learn from a peculiarly-equipped hero and his victory over a fat second-cousin. Today we are going to look at FIVE STAGES of the Saga of Ehud and Eglon and learn how executing God’s will is not always a neat and clean proposition. Let’s dive in!



1. STAGE #1: The Call-3:15

Let’s briefly remind ourselves of where we are in the journey of Israel at this point in Judges. At this point the people of God have already traversed through their first judge experience. At the beginning of chapter 3, the Israelites found themselves under the oppressive rule of a powerful emperor in a faraway land. They landed themselves in this situation because of their gross idolatry and stubborn sin against God. That said, after crying out to their Lord (not in repentance, but as a complaint) God raised up Othniel (a humble leader) to lead a successful campaign against the far more powerful Mesopotamia. After proving successful, God’s people enjoyed forty years of relative rest. However, once these forty years was up, Israel was back to her idolatrous and sinful habits and she was overrun by a fat Moabite second cousin named Eglon (whose very name means something to the effect of “fat cow”). With a base in a newly-conquered Jericho, Eglon ruled God’s people for 18 years and by the time we reach our text here in verse 15, the Israelites had reached their limit. The “sons of Israel cried to the Lord (again, not out of contrition/repentance as much as out of agonizing annoyance), (and) the Lord raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man” (3:15a).
While Othniel was the undeserved protagonist in the first phase of the judges, Ehud will prove to be the same in this second iteration of the story. Ehud’s name helps describe the nature of the times in which he lived as it means “where is the majesty?” (Block, Judges, Ruth, 160). At this point in Israel’s history, things were not very glorious or majestic; but even still God reaches out in love and raises up this leader to provide relief from oppression. There are several special characteristics of Ehud that render him uniquely equipped for what he would be used to do. Of particular interest is his being “left-handed.” This is most ironic given that he is a “Benjamite” (which means “son of my right hand”)! Talk about not living up to your family name!  Some suggest that “left-handedness” actually alluded to a practice among those in the tribe of Benjamin of teaching sons an ambidextrous use of weapons. Either way, while the left-hander might be an oddity with a less-than-inspiring name, he will prove to be the right man for the task at hand (pun intended).

Next, the writer reveals that Ehud would be tasked with delivering the tribute that was owed to Eglon—one of the many causes of annoyance among the people of God during this time. Already, one can sense that the combination of Ehud’s unique characteristics and his being tapped for this errand will be working together to set in motion God’s unusual plan for Eglon’s demise. This is carried along into the next stage of the passage—the scheme.

2. STAGE #2: The Scheme-3:16-23

The tension builds as the details of the saga are revealed—“Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length, and he bound it on his right thigh under his cloak,” (3:16). This special weapon fashioned for the occasion was probably eighteen inches in length (1 cubit) so that it could be easily concealed, rendering it especially dangerous. Adding to the capacities of this weapon is it being double-edged so that it might prove useful in a straight stabbing action, slicing easily through the victim’s flesh. The detail of it being carried “on his right thigh under his cloak” is important because that would have been the very last place anyone would have suspected it (as most people would wear such weapons on their left side so that they might easily retrieved with the dominate right hand). That said, because Ehud was left-handed, this position was exactly where he could have easily drawn his dagger and used it for its purpose (see Walton, Matthews, Chavalas, IVPBBC, 248).
By this time the reader can already expect what is coming and now is made to wait and watch for everything to unfold. Like a dramatic movie with an unsurprising but no-less compelling climax, readers in verses 17-20 are made to watch expectantly and with every passing phrase the tension rises more and more. Ehud “presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man” (3:17). Living up to his name (fat cow), Eglon, the text says, was morbidly obese (a fact that makes what is about to happen all the more grotesque).

The writer continues with the story by saying, “It came about when he had finished presenting the tribute, that he sent away the people who had carried the tribute” (3:18). Obviously, the custom must have involved a parade of conquered people sending some of their very best to this pagan ruler only to then be escorted away with the festivities were over and sent on their way until next time. Once this was finished Ehud sends away the party that accompanied him and he returns back to Eglon alone.

“But he himself turned back from the idols which were at Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.’ And He said, ‘Keep silence.’ And all who attended him left him. Ehud came to him while he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, ‘I have a message from God for you.’ and He arose from his seat,…” (3:19-20). Taking advantage of the report that he had built during his recent encounter with Eglon (when he offered tribute) Ehud requests a private audience to convey a mysterious and secret message. Ehud takes the bait. The original audience would not doubt have held its collective breath as this was read especially given that “message” in “I have a secret message for you” can also be translated “object” or “experience.” While Eglon must have expected a secret correspondence, the audience listening to this account knows that a concealed weapon and experience of death awaits him. Eglon dismisses his entourage—“keep silence”—and he and Ehud make their way to the privacy of a special chamber—“cool roof chamber”—adjacent to the more public meeting space. The tension mounts even further when Ehud approaches the king, now alone, again reiterating “I have a message/object/experience from God for you.” Eglon rises from his chair, making himself an even easier target than before, and then it happens.

The reader and Eglon are put out of their misery in verse 21 when“Ehud stretched out his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly. The handle also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly; and the refuse came out…”(3:21). Ehund thrusts the blade in with such force that the entire weapon enters the fat rolls of Eglon’s massive body. The whole dagger (probably bereft of a hilt) is swallowed up in the ruler’s fatty flesh. Eglon soils himself and dies. It is a gross and pitiful end to this pagan ruler from Moab.
However, the job is not finished. Ehud must escape without the court noticing that its leader is dead. The text continues, “then Ehud went out into the vestibule and shut the doors of the roof chamber behind him, and locked them,…” (3:23). The scheme now complete, the story moves to its next stage—the discovery.

3. STAGE #3: The Discovery-3:24-25

“When he had gone out, his servants came and looked, and behold, the doors of the roof chamber were locked; and they said, ‘He is only relieving himself in the cool room” (2:24). Ehud quietly slips out of the private room by himself and Eglon’s entourage attempts to return to king’s side only to meet a locked door and a stench. They conclude that Eglon is relieving himself behind the closed door and decide not to disturb him.

They wait, wait some more, and wait even longer. “They waited until they became anxious; but behold, he did not open the doors of the roof chamber. Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold, their master had fallen to the floor dead,…” (2:25). What an awful and humiliating sight that must have been for them!

4. STAGE #4: The Aftermath-3:26-29

The account kicks into overdrive in the fourth stage as the aftermath of the scheme is detailed. First, “Ehud escaped while they were delaying, and he passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah” (3:26). This is the second time “idols” has been mentioned in the passage (the first occurred when Ehud left his company behind to return back to Eglon solo in verse 19). These idols were probably sculpted images of the Canaanite gods the Israelites were openly worshiping during this period—idols championed by leaders like Eglon and unfortunately adopted by God’s own people. The repetition of their presence before and after Eglon’s gross demise suggests that a similarly despairing fate ultimately awaits those who place their trust in such things. Instead of embracing idols, one should, as Ehud is shown to do here “pass by the idols.”

The story continues in verse 27 with “it came about when he had arrived, that he blew the trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim; and the sons of Israel went down with him from the hill country, and he was in front of them” (3:27). Taking full advantage of the Moabites who were fresh without a leader and in the frenzy of responding to this assassination, Ehud leads an army into the capitol city with great confidence, serving in the formal role of God’s appointed judge.

Confident of their coming victory, Ehud inspires his troops with the following message in verse 28—“Pursue them, for the Lord has given your enemies the Moabites into your hands” (3:28a). Notice here to whom the credit is given. Ehud does not draw attention to his own cleverness or cunning actions that paved the way for this victory. He doesn’t remark on his leadership skills or bravery. He bestows all credit to the Lord for making it possible for this successful campaign. After all, God had made him left-handed (or had trained him to be ambidextrous). God had lined up all the particulars so that he would be there offering tribute. God has seen to it that Eglon would entertain a private audience with him. God had seen to it that Ehud could escape without question. God had made the way and Ehud rightly celebrates that fact.

“So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan opposite Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross. They struck down at that time about ten thousand Moabites, all robust and valiant men; and no one escaped,…” (3:28a-29). But cutting off the city from the fords of the Jordan near the river’s entrance to the Dead Sea, Ehud’s men kept the Moabites from retreating into their own land and cut off any opportunity to receive reinforcements. With no possibility of escape and no help, the text reveals that “about ten thousand” Moabites perished. In other words, Israel received total victory (Block, Judges, Ruth, 170). The nature of the victory God gave Israel is accentuated by the kind of warriors that were vanquished—“robust and valiant men” (i.e. these Moabites were no slouches). Not only that, the text goes on to say, “and no one escaped.” The implication given by these added details is that “when Yahweh delivers, he delivers!” (Block, Judges, Ruth, 170).

5. STAGE #5: The Consequence-3:30

The final stage of the passage concludes the saga of Ehud with a description of the consequence of his victory—“So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land was undisturbed for eighty years” (3:30). Following Othniel, the people of God enjoyed relative peace for 40 years (one generation). Following Ehud, the people of God enjoyed relative peace for 80 years (two generations). Mind you, this is undeserved peace offered by a gracious and merciful God.

So What?

A fascinating story to say the least, but what, if any application might this have for us today? After all, I’m fairly confident that none of us have been tapped to assassinate a grossly overweight and oppressive second cousin. That said, the New Testament reveals that everyone of God’s people is uniquely gifted for special tasks that are used to carry the mission of God forward into its next phase. (1 Peter 4:10-“As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”). Just as God’s sovereignty over Ehud’s life saw to it that he was left-handed, proving instrumental to accomplish God’s will, so too has God’s sovereignty seen to it that you, yes even you, are uniquely equipped to do special things in his service! Sometimes what God calls us to might be unusual or messy, but all of us play a special role in carrying his plan forward. However, also like those in this bizarre story, when/if God calls us and appoints us for special use, it isn’t because we deserve it or have earned it in any way. Instead, it is a grace bestowed on us out of the Lord’s great mercy. This undeserved expression of love ought to propel us to action and obedience in every season and return back to the Lord all the glory that is due his name.
KNOW today that if you are a child of God, you are uniquely gifted for use in his great mission.
GROW in your appreciation of God’s grace and mercy in your life that has called and equipped you for service.

SHOW those around you how great and awesome your God is by putting those gifts to good use in the services of the Lord and others.  

No comments:

Post a Comment