12 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.

13 And he gathered to him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.

14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.

15 But when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab. a Benjamite: or, the son of Jeminilefthanded: Heb. shut of his right hand

16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh.

17 And he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.

18 And when he had finished offering the tribute, he sent away the people that bore the tribute.

19 But he himself turned back at the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand to thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. quarries: or, graven images

20 And Ehud came to him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God to thee. And he arose from his seat. a summer…: Heb. a parlour of cooling

21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:

22 And the handle also entered after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. the dirt…: or, it came out at the buttocks

23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.

24 When he had gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. covereth…: or, doeth his easement

25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord lay dead on the earth.

26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries, and escaped to Seirath.

27 And it came to pass, when he had come, that he blew a trumpet in the mountain of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them.

28 And he said to them, Follow me: for the LORD hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and permitted not a man to pass over.

29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all stout, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man. lusty: Heb. fat

30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest eighty years.