16 Now Ehud(A) had made a double-edged sword about a cubit[a] long, which he strapped to his right thigh under his clothing. 17 He presented the tribute(B) to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.(C) 18 After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it. 19 But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.”

The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left.

20 Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace[b](D) and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose(E) from his seat, 21 Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword(F) from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly. 22 Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 3:16 That is, about 18 inches or about 45 centimeters
  2. Judges 3:20 The meaning of the Hebrew for this word is uncertain; also in verse 24.

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