Keraia
People

Ehud

Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, was a judge who delivered Israel from Moabite oppression by assassinating King Eglon and leading a victory over Moab.

The name Ehud means “he that praises”

MaleTribe of BenjaminOld Testament2 books16 verses

Summary

A Judge from the tribe of Benjamin living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Judges 3:15; referred to as Ehud (אֵהוּד, אֵחוּד); a son of Gera; father of Naaman, Ahijah, Gera, Uzza and Ahihud.

Events

Dates are approximate

Glossary entries

Ehud

Family members

Father

Gera

Children

Ahihud Ahijah Gera Naaman Uzza

Alternative names

Mentions

Includes 8 verses that refer to Ehud without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.

  1. Judges 3:15
    And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.
  2. Judges 3:16
    Now Ehud had made for himself a double-edged sword a cubit long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his cloak
  3. Judges 3:17Referred to, not named
    …and brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an obese man.
  4. Judges 3:18Referred to, not named
    After Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he ushered out those who had carried it.
  5. Judges 3:19Referred to, not named
    But upon reaching the idols near Gilgal, he himself turned back and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” “Silence,” said the king, and all his attendants left him.
  6. Judges 3:20
    Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room. “I have a word from God for you,” Ehud said, and the king rose from his seat.
  7. Judges 3:21
    And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.
  8. Judges 3:22Referred to, not named
    Even the handle sank in after the blade, and Eglon’s fat closed in over it, so that Ehud did not withdraw the sword from his belly. And Eglon’s bowels emptied.
  9. Judges 3:23
    Then Ehud went out through the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upper room behind him.
  10. Judges 3:24Referred to, not named
    After Ehud was gone, Eglon’s servants came in and found the doors of the upper room locked. “He must be relieving himself in the cool room,” they said.
  11. Judges 3:26
    Ehud, however, had escaped while the servants waited. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.
  12. Judges 3:27Referred to, not named
    On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader.
  13. Judges 3:28Referred to, not named
    “Follow me,” he told them, “for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and they did not allow anyone to cross over.
  14. Judges 3:31Referred to, not named
    After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath. And he too saved Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.
  15. Judges 4:1
    After Ehud died, the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD.
  16. 1 Chronicles 8:6
    These were the descendants of Ehud who were the heads of the families living in Geba and were exiled to Manahath: