three-quarters of a foot. The tribute was delivered, no doubt with many protestations of humility and

allegiance193 on the part of Ehud, and the deputation graciously dismissed.

It was needful for his plan, and probably in accordance with his wish to involve no one else in the risk, that

the rest should be done by Ehud alone. Having seen his fellow- countrymen safely beyond "the quarries

that were by Gilgal," or, rather, as the term implies, beyond "the terminal columns" (always objects of

idolatrous worship), that divided the territory of Eglon from that of Israel, he returned to the king, whose

confidence his former appearance had no doubt secured. The narrative here is exceedingly graphic. The king

is no longer in the palace where the deputation had been received, but in his "upper chamber of cooling,"  194

a delicious summer-retreat built out upon the end of the flat roof. Ehud professes to have "a secret errand,"

which had brought him back when his companions were gone.

All the more that he does not ask for the withdrawal of the king's attendants does Eglon bid him be "Silent!"

in their presence, which, of course, is the signal for their retirement. Alone with the king, Ehud saith, in a

manner not uncommon in the East: "I have a message from God unto thee," on which Eglon, in token of

reverence, rises from his seat.195 This is the favorable moment, and, in an instant, Ehud has plunged his

dagger up to the hilt into the lower part of his body, with such force that the blade came out behind.196 Not

pausing for a moment, Ehud retires, closes and locks the doors upon the murdered king, and escapes

beyond the boundary.

Meanwhile the king's attendants, finding the room locked, have waited, till, at last, they deem it necessary to

break open the doors. The horror and confusion consequent upon the discovery of the murder have given

Ehud still further time. And now the preconcerted signal is heard. The shrill blast of the trumpet in Seirath

(perhaps the "hairy" or "wooded") wakes the echoes of Mount Ephraim. All around from their hiding troop

the men of Israel. The first object is to haste back towards Jericho and take the fords of Jordan, so as to

allow neither help to come, nor fugitives to escape; the next to destroy the garrison of Moab. In both, Israel

are successful, and, "at that time" - of course, not on that precise day - 10,000 of Moab are slain, all of them,

as we should say, fine men and brave soldiers. "And the land had rest fourscore years."

Ancient history, both Greek and Roman, records similar stories,197 and, where the murderer has been a

patriot, elevates him to the highest pinnacle of heroism. Nay, even Christian history records like instances,

as in the murder of Henry III and Henry IV of France, the former, even in its details, so like the deed of Ehud.

But strikingly different from the toleration, and even commendation, of such deeds by the Papacy  198 is the

judgment of the Old Testament. Its silence is here severest condemnation. It needed not cunning and

murder to effect deliverance. Not one word of palliation or excuse is said for this deed. It was not under the

influence of "the Spirit of Jehovah" that such deliverance was wrought, nor is it said of Ehud, as of Othniel,

that he "judged Israel." Even Jewish tradition199 compares Ehud to the "ravening wolf" which had been the

early emblem of his tribe, Benjamin (Genesis 49:27).

It must have been during this period of eighty years' rest,200 that another danger at least threatened

Benjamin. This time it came from an opposite direction - from the west, where the Philistines held

possession. "After" Ehud (3:31), that is, after his example, a notable exploit was performed by Shamgar ("the

name of a stranger"?). Under the impulse of sudden sacred enthusiasm, he seized, as the first weapon to

hand, an ox-goad, commonly used to urge on the oxen in ploughing. The weapon is formidable enough,

being generally about eight feet long, and six inches round at the handle, which is furnished with an iron

horn to loosen the earth off the plough, while the other end is armed with a long iron spike. With this

weapon he slew no fewer than 600 Ph ilistines, whom, probably, panic seized on his appearance.201 The

exploit seems to have been solitary, and we read neither of further war, nor yet of Shamgar's rule, only that

for the time the danger of a Philistine incursion was averted.