Though his name means “united,” ironically, Ehud fought alone. But Israel certainly was united afterward!
Each year, Israel had to send protection money, delicately called “tribute” (Jdg 3:15), to Eglon, king of Moab. After eighteen long years of subjugation, “Ehud the son of Gera, the Benjamite, a left-handed man,” is going with the tribute to Jericho. Here’s some inside information: “(Now Eglon was a very fat man.)” (v 17). Not big-boned. Not a glandular problem. Very fat. Egypt pictures the world system with its slavery. But Moab illustrates the flesh, that self-absorbed and self-indulgent influence encroaching on our souls. Not only is the king called me‘od, or exceedingly fat, but the 10,000 men they later killed (v 29) were all “stout” (Heb, shamen), whose meaning is given as “greasy, i.e. gross:—fat, lusty, plenteous.” You get the picture. Before Ehud took the tribute to the palace where the fat fellow was lounging, he “made himself a dagger (it was double-edged and a cubit in length) and fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh” (v 16). Good idea—if you can’t wield a sword in the situation, a two-edged dagger will do. A few verses well known are better than a rubber sword: “There’s a verse around here somewhere, something like this.” Now you know why people shake with the right hand? To show they have no sword in it. But a left-handed man could shake with his right and still… But I’m getting ahead of myself. Ehud delivered the tribute to Eglon. Then, “I have a secret message for you, O king” (v 19). When the attendants left, Ehud gave to the king “a message from God” (v 20). In went the dagger; out went Ehud through the porch. Lesson? Our flesh doesn’t need to trim down; it must die. “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Rom 8:13).