After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath; he killed six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad and, like Ehud, delivered Israel (Judges 3:31). In other cognate, Semitic languages, it is used of the cavity or the opening of the anus. Both Israels defeat and her deliverance were the work of the (largely) unseen hand of God. Our attention is also drawn to the carved idols, twice mentioned in the text. It was an ox prodder of sorts, a sharp instrument mounted on the end of a fairly long pole long enough so that the plowman could jab his oxen in the backside to goad them on so that they would plow faster. 9). The most effective way to corrupt the faith of the Israelites was by intermarriage with the Canaanites. I believe this is the explanation for the lack of further detail. So what are we to learn from an oxgoad? It was here that Ehud twice passed the carved idols that now symbolized Israels idolatry and Moabs victory. Other important details would include the twice-mentioned carved idols outside the city, the design of the palace with its cool room, Ehuds left-handedness and his dagger, and the location of the palace near the Jordan. Elsewhere in Judges, God gives the victory to Israel by means of a tent peg and hammer (Jael), horns and torches (Gideon),23 a millstone thrown down by a woman, landing on Abimelechs head,24 the jawbone of a donkey,25 and a collapsing building26 (Samson). Farouk, the last knig of Egypt with any real power, was crowned in 1936 and proceeded to live it up. Well, Paul said it, and we have already pointed it out: God causes all things to work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). This tells me that from all outward evidences, Israel was merely experiencing bad luck. This is not so different from the impression we are given in Judges 1. They were Cushan-Rishathaims subjects for eight years. The bible only records King Eglon's death, it doesn't say what happened next. - The building dates to the second half of the 14th century B.C., the time of Eglon's oppression. 11 The land had rest for forty years; then Othniel son of Kenaz died (Judges 3:5-11). They could only save for a short time. But we could also think of Ehud as a less than courageous fellow, something like Gideon. I do not wish to be indelicate, but there are some additional details which I believe are also a part of the all things God causes to work together in our text. And while the dreaded moniker does have a certain ring to it, Charles wasn't the only French king of notable girth -Louis VI (ruled 1108-1137) also earned the appelation "the Fat.". EGLON. Worshiping the Canaanites gods caused the Israelites to forget their God and to practice all kinds of evils, many of which were a part of Canaanite worship.. Some see no possibility of relevance to Christians today. He that has the residue of the Spirit could, when he pleased, make ploughmen judges and generals, and fishermen apostles. As far as the piece goesI shall have to look up some other examples and compare the figures. Do we really need to know how fat Eglon was or how far into his belly the sword was thrust? That is all we really need to know. I believe the author of Judges sends us a very consistent message regarding the kinds of weapons God uses to bring victory to His people: here it is an oxgoad, and a few verses earlier it was a hidden dagger wielded by a left-handed Benjamite. I took the doctor's advice to lose weight and exercise. The Bible relates that Eglon assembled the *Ammonites and the *Amalekites and with them attacked Israel, subduing the land for 18 years (Judg. Years ago, I took a physical as part of my pre-employment. 15 Although the information provided in earlier texts does not tell us a great deal more about Othniel. Regardless of where the point of the dagger emerged, virtually all translations inform us of the result. The Israelites chose to coexist with the Canaanites, rather than to kill them. 59-62. 27 But God chose what the world thinks foolish to shame the wise, and God chose what the world thinks weak to shame the strong. I took the doctors advice to lose weight and exercise. The Bible describes him as "a very fat man." With the help of Ammon and Amalek, Eglon attacked Israel and set up his palace in Jericho, "the city of palm trees." This is precisely what will happen when Israel demands a king in 1 Samuel 8:16. Then how can this text have anything to say to us? Rabbis in the Talmudic tradition claimed that Ruth was Eglon's daughter. There are many things we would love to know about Shamgar and his military career. Finally, we learn how Ehud escaped, summoned his armed forces, and defeated the Moabite army as they vainly sought to cross the Jordan in an effort to return to Moab. Judges 3:14-29 ERV. And so it was to Gilgal (or the fords of Jordan nearby) that Ehud would return with his forces to block the Moabites from crossing the Jordan. He weighed out at 300 pounds. Davis may very well be right here, and if so, this word play may have gotten a chuckle out of the ancient Jews who read or heard it. We bring you the neatest, weirdest, and in 1971. They got what they deserved!, 7 Then I heard the altar reply, Yes, Lord God, the All-Powerful, your judgments are true and just! (Revelation 16:4-7, emphasis mine). What was it that caused the servants of Eglon to linger for such a long time outside his cool room long enough for Ehud to make his escape? Of course, the murder wasn' exactly a smooth operation. An ox-goad when God pleases, shall do more than Goliaths sword. They forgot the Lord their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs. Apparently, kings did not want to be seen with their pants down (so to speak), as we note in the account of Saul stopping at a cave to answer natures call.20 Thus, his servants always honored his desire for privacy at such a time. When the Israelites cried out to the LORD for help, He raised up Ehud, a Benjaminite.It was by Ehud the Israelites sent their tribute . *2 - Judges 3:13 The Death of Eglon King of Moab & The Amarna Tablets & the Habiru The more we focus on Othniel what he did and how he did it the more glory we give to him, rather than to God who ultimately accomplished Israels deliverance. He was a wicked man. The Victory at Makkedah 22 Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me." 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. Weapons and Warfare in Ancient Israel - Grace Communion International In the LXX of Judges one should be cautious of reinterpreting the Greek in the light of the Hebrew. 26 Now Ehud had escaped while they were delaying. A palace like structure (28 x 47 ft.), it was an isolated building with evidence of wealth and administrative activity. Gods providence directed Ehuds sword so that it penetrated deeply (it didnt strike a rib) so that it opened his intestines, producing a terrible (but familiar) smell. That is what we will seek to discover in our study. We must first bear in mind that this is not the only time we have come across Othniel.15 We saw him first in Joshua 15 (verse 16-19) and then again in Judges 1 (verses 11-15). I EHUD, THE MESSENGER (Judges 3:15) A. Ehud Ehud was sent by God to deliver a . What we are told about Othniel in verses 9-11 is that he was Calebs nephew (verse 9), that he was raised up by God and empowered by the Spirit of the Lord, so that he prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim (verse 10), and as a result, Israel enjoyed peace for 40 years (verse. Instead, he was the man who captured Kiriath-Sepher (Debir) and thus obtained Achsah, Calebs daughter, for his wife. 1 When the Lord your God brings you to the land that you are going to occupy and forces out many nations before you Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations more numerous and powerful than you 2 and he delivers them over to you and you attack them, you must utterly annihilate them. But when Israel cries out to the Lord, he raises up Ehud, son of Gera (or Jediael) and Israel's second judge. King Kong's Weight in Real Life - Infographic Ehud | Story of Ehud | Ehud in the Bible | King of Moab | King Eglon The one physical feature that is identified about Eglon is his weight. First, we are told that he was a Benjamite, a left-handed Benjamite no less.10 This detail is not a frivolous one, added at the whim of the author. Is this unbecoming to a God who is gracious and compassionate? Othniel is about to be introduced as Israels first judge, and I believe that the author wanted it to be very clear that Othniel was a godly man, a man who did not take a Canaanite wife. Paul would call them clay pots.29 They were not sinless. Think of each and every detail that had to go just right in order for the events of our text to turn out as they did. As usual, when Gods people begin to suffer, they are quick to cry out to God for help. For example, I ask, Why did our author have so little to say about Shamgar, and why did he give more attention to Ehud and Eglon than to Othniel, a great hero? Why was it necessary for the author to go into such gory detail in describing the death of Eglon? I believe that our study will provide the answer to these questions and that we will discover that the message of this text is very relevant and profitable. And when the Israelite men married those Canaanite women, they also joined with them in the worship of their pagan gods. Ehud or Ehud ben-Gera (Ehud the son of Gera in the tribe of Benjamin) is not one of the famous Bible characters. Subscribe Free To Walk With God - The Journey, March 25, 2020 By Greg and Theresa Nalls This , March 18, 2020 Two are better than one because , March 11, 2020 I remember the smells and taste , March 4, 2020 Funerals seem to be passe. In the recent past, widespread outrage was expressed when the Lockerbie bomber was given a compassionate release from prison because of his bad health. Pop Culturista - Pop Culture King Eglon of Moab ruled over the Israelites for 18 years. For example, two of the accounts of Othniel and Shamgar are short on details, while the account of Ehud and Eglon has far more details than we care to know. 3 You must not intermarry with them. Be sure to visit mental_floss' extremely entertaining website and blog! The Bible says Ehud had made a double-edged sword, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. (DOC) King Eglon and Jericho | Damien Mackey - Academia.edu An Israelite named Ehud gained the king's confidence, got him in a room alone, then killed him. 5 Now I heard the angel of the waters saying: You are just the one who is and who was. According to Judges 3:12-30, Ehud was sent by the Israelites to the Moabite King Eglon on the pretext of delivering the Israelites' annual tribute.He made a double-edged shortsword about a cubit (eighteen inches) long, useful for a stabbing thrust. An Israelite named Ehud gained the king's confidence, got him in a room alone, then killed him. Now Eglon was a very fat man. 5 The Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. He owned numerous palaces in Europe, hundreds of cars, and thousands of horses. He came and defeated Israel, and they seized the City of Date Palm Trees. 2 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the NET Bible. How often do we cry out to God in our prayers in response to some painful event or circumstance in our lives? 4.18 he is actually said to be heavy rather than fat. Othniel brought peace to Israel for forty years. 4. So how exactly do we know of the great monarch's girth? One of the themes of this book is that this was a time when there was no king in Israel. Even before we reach 1 Samuel,7 the Israelites will have concluded that what they need is a king who is a great military hero, a king like Othniel, or later, like David. The Pedaling Pastor: On Being King Eglon's Attendants 11). Your information is used to send you blog updates each Wednesday at 8:00 A.M. You can opt out at any time. He orchestrated all things for good so that He might deliver His people. Question 1: Why is there so little detail in the authors account of Othniels victory over Cushan-Rishathaim? The king said to his attendants, Leave us! And they all left. A beast of burden indeed. How could the king take so long? 28 He said to them, Follow me, for the Lord is about to defeat your enemies, the Moabites! They followed him, captured the fords of the Jordan River opposite Moab, and did not let anyone cross. My doctor friend, Gary, also informed me that the smell of Eglons incision and consequent purging would be intense. Since those who accompanied Ehud had already gone, Eglon must have felt that he was in little danger from one unarmed Israelite, and thus he summoned him back to his palace and met with him privately (away from his security forces) in his cool room. All of these physical details are a part of the all things of Romans 8:28 which God is working together for the achievement of His purposes, for the good of His people. But appearances are not reality. Hadnt he locked the doors (which, of course, Ehud had done)? We would like to know if and for how long he ruled Israel. We must take it as it has come to us, believing that it is the Word of God, that it is inspired and inerrant, and thus profitable for us. 24 When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, "Come here and put your . We must simply trust and obey Him, as He has revealed Himself in His Word. It is possible that the sight of the heathen-carved idols that now met those who entered Gilgal reminded Ehud of Gods power and of His exhortation to always fear and obey the Lord? 13 Getting t. After a battle with Moab, the Israelites are free, enjoying peace for 80 years. Eglon is in his cool room. The floor of the Jordan Valley (and thus Jericho and Gilgal) was a very warm place, and the cool room was apparently a lattice-walled room that allowed the breeze to pass through, providing a certain amount of cooling. the Holy One because you have passed these judgments. This is what they are also doing to you (1 Samuel 8:4-8). 12 Once again the Israelites did evil in the Lord 's sight, and the Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, How long, Sovereign Master, holy and true, before you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood? 11 Each of them was given a long white robe and they were told to rest for a little longer, until the full number was reached of both their fellow servants and their brothers who were going to be killed just as they had been (Revelation 6:9-11). Eglon did not expect to die in that fine place. Encyclopedia EGLON (2) eg'-lon (`eghlon; Odollam): A royal Canaanite city whose king joined the league headed by Adonizedek of Jerusalem against the Gibeonites, which suffered overwhelming defeat at the hands of Joshua ( Joshua 10 ). A palace like structure (28 x 47 ft.), it was an isolated building with evidence of wealth and administrative activity. 20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, I have a message from God for you. As the king rose from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into the kings belly. Our author wants us to see that such a deliverance as he has described is vastly beyond anything that Ehud or anyone else could have orchestrated. When he passed the carved images, he escaped to Seirah. 7 See Judges 8:22, where Gideon is invited to be Israels king. 13 Eglon enlisted the Ammonites and Amalekites as allies, and then he went out and defeated Israel, taking possession of Jericho, the city of palms. The doctors written report said I was obese, not fat. It's Good to Be King: 5 Monarchs Who Tipped the Scales, Click here to view up to the first 100 of this post's. After all, God has chosen to achieve His purposes by using unlikely people: 13 When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and discovered that they were uneducated and ordinary men, they were amazed and recognized these men had been with Jesus. I have long held that Christians can be afflicted by what I call the pious bias. That is, they tend to put the most positive spin possible on the text, rather than to see it in more human (and sinful) terms. And yet Eglon stood, as if on cue, to give Ehud the perfect target, to obtain just the right effect Eglons death yet apparently without so much as an outcry that would summon his servants. 14 The Israelites were subject to King Eglon of Moab for eighteen years. Hell is the measure of how seriously God takes our sin. Furthermore, some would object that our text contains far too much violence. The depiction of Hatshepsut looks more like she was afflicted with some form of dwarfism. Now, lets go back to some of the details in our text, and let me attempt to demonstrate how each and every detail is a part of the all things of Romans 8:28 that God is causing to work together for good for the fulfillment of His promises and the blessing of His people. I believe one reason the author offers the reader so little detail regarding Othniels spectacular successes is because he does not want to give him too much praise, or cause us to regard him too highly, because he was a great man. The "Middle Building" was excavated in 1933 by John Garstang on Jericho's southeastern slope. And since He lives forever, He can save forever, save all those who acknowledge their sin and embrace His sacrificial death at Calvary on their behalf. Othniels victories are attributed to God, rather than to Othniel. 1. His servants, believing he was relieving himself, left him be. The Israelites cried to the LORD for help, so he sent a man named Ehud son of Gera to save them. It was also here (or close by) that the fords of the Jordan made it possible to cross from Israelite territory to Moab (or the reverse). He was a rather quiet fellow, but he was being threatened by one or more inmates, and so he fashioned a shiv that he kept hidden on his person (until it was discovered). Come back often, mmkay? Is the death of Eglon consistent with the character of our God? That is why I will pass by this suggested word play with no further comment. Why should we be surprised that God would give His people victory by the use of such unlikely weapons? It was here that the 12 stones from the midst of the Jordan were piled up as a monument to Gods power and deliverance. Praise God that He has chosen to use people like you and like me to accomplish His purposes, so that all the glory goes to Him. Laughosaurus - Humor & Amazing Videos Judges 3:12-30 - BibleGateway.com british empire - How much did King George III of Britain weigh Theres a king in the Old Testament who should have followed these directions and lost weight. In the end, it is God alone who deserves the glory. Look at her legs, clearly not in proportion to her body, as is the case in many forms of dwarfism. He did relieve himself, but not in the usual manner. We are also told certain things about Eglon: namely, his excessive heaviness and his naivet in allowing Ehud to have a personal audience with him, out of sight and thus away from the protection of his servants (aka his secret service). Apparently, though, the plush lifestyle being "Defender of the Faith" provided him seems to have only whetted his appetite. Judges 3:15 chapter context similar meaning copy save. So let us delay no longer. 15 When the Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, he raised up a deliverer for them. Why didnt he call out to them? He is Eglon, king of Moab. Is this passage inspired and useful? Ehud gave him the gift he had brought. 5 They said to him, Look, you are old, and your sons dont follow your ways. 20 Literally, to cover his feet. The same terms are used in both Judges 3:24 and 1 Samuel 24:3. 9 When the Israelites cried out for help to the Lord, he raised up a deliverer for the Israelites who rescued them. Even the handle sank in after the blade, which came out his back. No one wanted to be the one to interrupt natures workings. 14 See Dale Ralph Davis, Such a Great Salvation: Expositions of the Book of Judges (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1990), p. 65. Gilgal was the perfect place, the place God divinely (albeit providentially) orchestrated to be the location of Eglons palace, and thus where tribute would be paid to Eglon, and where Gods payoff for Moabs oppression of His people would take place. According to a legend in a midrash, the two Moabite women from the Book of Ruth Orpah and Ruth, were sisters, and both were daughters of the Moabite king Eglon (Ruth R. ii. Eglon | Encyclopedia.com We would love to read the report of the battle (or battles) in which the oxgoad was used and to hear just how Shamgar did it. Ehud said, I have a message from God for you. When Eglon rose up from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and drove it into Eglons belly. It looked as though Judah could not drive out the Canaanites from the plains because the Canaanites had iron chariots (Judges 1:19). The case of Eli is the best example, although in 1 Sam. The reason the author avoids giving us too many details is because we tend to idolize our heroes. 12 The Israelites again did evil in the Lords sight. 27 Matthew Henry, as cited by Dale Ralph Davis, Such a Great Salvation, p. 67. What I am saying is that our author supplies all of the detail necessary to make his point, but the absence of certain details affords the reader the opportunity to fill in the blanks with interpretations we prefer to believe, even if it didnt happen that way. 19 But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal, he went back to Eglon and said, Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.. 7 The Israelites did evil in the Lords sight. - Judges 3:12; Together with the Ammonites and Amalekites, Eglon attacked Israel and took possession of Jericho. But the good news is that when we call out to Him for help, He is merciful, and He causes men and events to achieve His purposes, although it may appear that these are going to bring about our destruction. His name was Ehud son of Gera the Benjaminite, a left-handed man. Our task is to discover why the author left out things we would like to know while including information we would rather not have learned. Judges 3:14-29. Eglon may refer to: Eglon, Canaan, a biblical city. . By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy. He was apparently looking out from his cool room when Ehud departed and then unexpectedly turned to call out to the king that he had a secret message for him. The palace was somehow equipped with a cool room where Eglon may have been able to look out and see people entering and leaving the city. After all, it was what Canaanites did, and they had inter-mingled and inter-married with them. Eglon Watchtower ONLINE LIBRARY He was five feet ten and one-half inches tall, and in his fifth decade weighed two hundred and ten pounds. George IV became king of England in 1820 after serving as prince regent while his father, George III, was alive but incompetent to rule. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it. The authors methodology may not be readily apparent, and so his construction of the text may be perplexing to the reader. When they could wait no longer, they obtained the key and opened the door to find the corpse of their king, with his insides and their contents all around him. It is an important piece of background information, which will help us grasp the message of our text. The Israelites went down with him from the hill country, with Ehud in the lead. Ehud Becomes Israel's Judge. The two-fold mention of these carved idols in conjunction with Gilgal is hardly a coincidence. Dictators do not establish protocol for their replacement, and so it may have taken some time for the Moabites to determine who was in charge. One day during the reign of Eglon, an Israelite named Ehud came to present a customary tribute. When he went to do battle, the Lord handed over to him King Cushan-Rishathaim of Aram and he overpowered him. Funny T-Shirts | Horror T-Shirts | Video Game T-Shirts. Get the app. All translators would appear to agree that this fatal wound severed Eglons intestines, emptying out their contents (ESV, dung) on the ground. Question 2: Why is there so much emphasis on Ehud and such an abundance of gory details concerning the execution of Eglon? The Israelite spy, Ehud, stabbed and killed King Eglon. 30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord (1 Corinthians 1:26-31). Anyone is at liberty to use this lesson for educational purposes only, with or without credit. Either diagnosis is terrible. As we look at the decline of our nation morally, politically, and economically, we might be tempted to wring our hands. Finally, they go in and find him lying dead. The standard sword of this period was curved, with one sharp edge used for slicing and slashing. Thanks for the catch! The Bible describes vividly that Eglon was so fat that Ehud couldn't retrieve his blade. Because when Ehud ran his dagger through the kings stomach he severed his intestines, and perhaps sliced open his bowels (or at least the back side of Eglon). The Hebrew word is parshedona, another hapex-legomenon (word used only once in the Hebrew Bible). Some of the conversation between Ehud and Eglon is recorded, and a fairly specific (and graphic) explanation of why the kings servants waited so long to check on his well-being. 17 Ehud gave Eglon king of Moab the payment he demanded. 30 Israel humiliated Moab that day, and the land had rest for eighty years (Judges 3:12-30). 3 See also Genesis 34:8-10, 20-23; Numbers 25:1-9; Joshua 15:16; Judges 1:12; 21:1, 7, 18; 1 Samuel 17:25; 18:17; Ezra 9:12; Nehemiah 10:30. Indeed, not only did Israels defeat look normal, so too her subsequent victories under the leadership of Ehud could have been seen as good fortune and no more except for this account. ( Jg 3:12-25) Eglon was head of the confederacy of Moab, Ammon, and Amalek in their assault upon Israel. This is what facilitated the fatal jab which penetrated Eglons body and protruded out the back.12 The weapon was almost certainly designed as a concealed weapon. Some would argue that it was specifically designed and created as the weapon with which to kill king Eglon, but this is not necessarily so. And thus 10,000 of the enemy were slaughtered by the Israelites. Ehud was left-handed. I'm sure you meant Itey (or Eti or Ati), depicted in Hatshepsut's commissioned art. EGLON (Heb. The Lord gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because they had done evil in the Lords sight. According to the Book of Joshua, Debir, king of Eglon, joined a confederation against Gibeon when that city made peace with Israel.
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