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Judges 3:12-30: “Ehud: the Left-Handed Judge”1 by Rev. Brian Cochran

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Judges 3:12-30: “Ehud: the Left-Handed Judge”1 by Rev. Brian Cochran Judges 3:12-30: “Ehud: The Left-Handed Judge”1 By Rev. Brian Cochran Introduction Who can forget those memorable words: “Here is your mission, should you choose to accept it. .” An IMF agent would then receive instructions for an impossible mission and then 5 seconds later the message would self-destruct. This of course is the common beginning of the well- known TV and movie series Mission Impossible. One of the highlights of this plot-driven series was the suspense of how they were going to pull off the mission. In the end they always came up with some clever scheme that caught everyone by surprise. Well if there was ever a mission impossible in the Bible, it can be found in the story of Ehud, the left-handed Judge. The story of Ehud is a story of clever deceit and trickery in order to pull off a stealth assassination mission. It is packed with suspense, satire and a surprising outcome. But unlike most action movies, this story isn’t meant simply to entertain. This is a story with a message for God’s people. And even though it may seem graphic at times, we must remember that this is God’s word and that all scripture is God breathed and useful for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. And so consider with me the following theme and subpoints of our passage: Theme: God’s Surprising Salvation 1. The Idolatrous People (v. 12a) 2. The Pathetic Oppressors (vv. 12b-14; 17b) 3. The Ingenious Plan (vv. 15-31) 1. God’s Surprising Salvation: The Idolatrous People (v. 12a) Israel was an idolatrous people and so they deserved to be oppressed. Judg. 3:12 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD. You see the emphasis in this opening verse is that Israel is suffering oppression because of the consequences of their own sin. Israel was a stubborn and rebellious people, especially when they had no leader. The book of Judges begins where Joshua left off. Things had gone fairly well for Israel when Joshua was leading them. But their leader Joshua has just died at the ripe age of 110 and Israel quickly fails to complete the conquest of the land that had begun with Joshua by failing to drive out the Canaanites from before them. Furthermore, instead of conquering them, Israel began to co-exist with the Canaanites, putting them to forced labor (Judg 1:28). Though this may have seemed like a good idea to Israel, it is the beginning of their downward spiral of sin and apostasy. Shortly thereafter, they would do what is evil in the sight of the Lord by abandoning him and serving the Baals and the Ashtaroth, 1 This sermon may be copied and distributed as long as the content is not changed, due credit is given to the author, and no money is made in the distribution. Copyright 2010, Brian Cochran and Redeemer Reformation Church (URCNA), Regina, SK. More sermon manuscripts and sermon audio can be found at www.redeemerchurch.ca. 2 the false gods of the Canaanites. Though the one true God had saved them and brought them out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, they would go after other gods, and bow down to them. Though God had warned them and sworn to them that they would suffer severe consequences if they turned aside from serving him, they hardened their hearts anyway and worshipped idols. Therefore, God did not drive out the Canaanites from before them, but instead he left the Canaanites in the land as a thorn in Israel's side, and their gods became a snare to Israel (Judg 2:3, 21). And God did this to test Israel's faithfulness to him, their covenant Lord, to whom they had sworn allegiance. And so in their first test they failed and did what was evil in the sight of the Lord (v. 7). And this is the common refrain throughout the book of Judges. Time and again we read, like a broken record: “and the people of Israel again did what was evil in the eyes of the Lord.” And so throughout the book we see the downward spiral of Israel’s national and spiritual life into chaos and apostasy, showing the need for a godly king to lead them. Their sin and apostasy gets worse and worse so that the last verse of the book reads: Judg. 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Well God is a just and holy God who follows through on his promises of blessing and curse. And so it is no surprise then when we read that Israel is under the oppression of Eglon, the king of Moab. Indeed, we see that this is God's judgment on his people. For it is said in our text the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel. (Judg 3:12). God is chastising his people through the Moabites. And not only is it the Moabites who overpower Israel. Eglon gets the Ammonites and the Amalekites to join and assist him in defeating Israel. These three nations are iconic enemies of Israel throughout the OT. You may recall that the Moabites had previously tried to conquer Israel when King Balak hired Balaam to curse them (Num 22-24). The Ammonites, descendants of Lot, Abraham’s nephew, joined with the Moabites back then as well in hiring Balaam. The Amalekites, descendants of Esau, are the ones that Israel faced when Aaron and Hur had to hold up Moses’ arm so that he could keep his staff raised high and Israel could win the battle. None of these nations were able to overcome Israel then, but now they easily overcome the Israelites together, in this evil alliance. This would have been demoralizing for Israel. But once again, it is God who ultimately strengthens Eglon and his forces, who conquer Israel at the “City of Palms.” Israel then has to serve Eglon and the Moabites for eighteen years. The City of Palms is most likely Jericho, and thus the Moabite occupation in Jericho reverses the work of Joshua when he brought down the walls and laid a curse on anyone who would rebuild its walls (Josh 3-6; 6:26). These eighteen years must have been miserable for Israel. And we’ll see just how miserable it would have been when we consider Israel’s pathetic oppressors. 2. God’s Surprising Salvation: The Pathetic Oppressors (vv. 12b-14; 17b) Not only did Israel deserve to be punished, but they were shamed by those whom God chose as instruments of his punishment. Not only were these Israel’s rivals, but the Moabites were a lame bunch of rulers. Eglon and the Moabites were not your typical intimidating force of foes. They could not even conquer the small nation of Israel without the help of other nations. Copyright 2010, Brian Cochran and Redeemer Reformation Church (URCNA), Regina, SK. 3 Furthermore, they are portrayed in the story as fat in physical appearance and as being thick headed. Eglon, the Moabite King serves as the stories prime example of stoutliness and stupidity. He is caricatured as such throughout the narrative. As memorable as Ehud is, Eglon is equally memorable both in his name and in his portrayal. Eglon’s Name. Eglon’s name is taken from two Hebrew words. The first means “calf” or “bull.” The second means “round” or “rotund.” Thus, when put together his name meant something like “fattened calf.” The Israelites would not have missed this comical name. Eglon’s Portrayal. Indeed, notice that Eglon is presented in the narrative as a “very fat man” (Judg 3:17). He is a lazy ruler who would rather spend his time in his vacation home in the “City of Palms” than at his home in Moab managing his Kingdom. He is also dimwitted and he shows his lack of intelligence when he sends his guards away, allowing himself to be alone with a foreigner. Furthermore, the term translated here as fat (v. 17), is a word that has sacrificial overtones (Gen 41:2ff; 1 Kgs 5:3; Ezek 34:3, 26). The irony of the situation is that Ehud brings a tribute offering to Eglon, but Eglon himself becomes the fattened calf, ready to be offered on the altar of poetic justice. He is eventually slaughtered, as it were, when Ehud drives the dagger into his belly. The dagger is enveloped in Eglon's fat (v. 22) which is a term typically used to refer to animal fat. (Exod 23:18; Ezek 34:3; 39:29). Thus, Eglon is portrayed in this story as a pathetic ruler, a very fat man, ready to be sacrificed as a dumb animal. We also find out that his whole army is just as dull and portly. They are dumb enough to allow Ehud to be alone with the King, and when they return, their reaction is comical. First, they sit around clueless as to what has taken place, thinking that Eglon is using the bathroom. Then when they are utterly dumbfounded, they discover him dead on the floor. Finally, they themselves are also described as fat men (v.
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