(15) Ehud the son of Gera.--In Genesis 46:21 Gera is a son of Benjamin; in 1Chronicles 8:3 he is a son of Bela, son of Benjamin. The name Gera was hereditary in the tribe of Benjamin (see 2Samuel 19:18; 1Chronicles 8:1-7), and the Jews so constantly omit steps in their genealogies that we can never be sure that "son" means more than "descendant." Ehud seems to be another form of Abihud (1Chronicles 8:1-8). St. Jerome explains it to mean "one who praises "or "is praised." Josephus calls him a young man, and even "a youth" (neaniskos).

A Benjamite.--"Ben-ha-jemini," as in Psalm 7:1. The word is generally written undivided, so that here the LXX., Vulgate, and Luther have "son of Jemini." No doubt the Syriac, Arabic, and Chaldee rightly understood it to mean a Benjamite, but still there seems to be an intentional play on words, for "Ben-ha-jemini" may also mean "a son of the right hand, who," as the writer adds, "was helpless with his right hand" (Ben-ha-jemini eesh itter jad-jemini).

Lefthanded--Marg., "Shut of his right hand." Luther also renders it "links" but the LXX. and the Vulgate take it to mean "ambidextrous," i.e., able to use his left hand as well as his right (LXX., amphoterodexion; Vulg., qui utrague manu pro dextera utebatur). Josephus says that he was "best skilled in using his left hand, in which was his whole strength" (Antt. v. 4, ? 2). This rendering is merely an inference, from the fact that in Judges 20:15-16 (comp. 1Chronicles 12:2) there are "700 chosen men left-handed." (See the Note on that verse.) The Hebrew itter, however, is correctly rendered "shut" in the margin of our version (comp. Psalm 69:16, "lest the pit shut her mouth upon me "), and cannot possibly mean "ambidextrous." No doubt Ehud, like other Benjamites, might have been trained to use the sling with the left hand, but it does not follow that he may not have had some accident which maimed the right hand; and if so it would avert all suspicion from him in his dreadful purpose. Ehud in that case was a Hebrew Sc?vola. Stobaeus mentions some African tribes which, like the Benjamites, were "left-hand fighters" (aristeromachoi), and for the same cause an Egyptian tribe was known as the Euonymitae. The Greek Laius has the same meaning.

By him.--Either because he was the chief of one of their houses (1Chronicles 8:6), or perhaps because he had intimated to them his design. The narrative in Judges 20 falls chronologically in the days of Phinehas and, therefore, Ehud's act occurred at a still earlier period after the conquest; for Ehud would hardly have been chosen for this honourable function after the terrible degradation and decimation of the tribe of Benjamin. Possibly Eglon's invasion occurred soon after Joshua's death.

Sent a present.--The Hebrew word is minchah, here euphemistically used for "tribute," as it is elsewhere. (2Samuel 8:6 : "And the Syrians became servants to David, and brought gifts." 1Kings 4:21 : "They [the Philistines] brought presents and served Solomon." Psalm 72:10 : "The kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring gifts.")

Verse 15. - Left-handed. It was a peculiarity of the warriors of the tribe of Benjamin to be left-handed (see Judges 20:16; 1 Chronicles 12:2). A left-handed man wearing no sword or dagger on his left side, and using his right hand for other purposes, would naturally throw a man off his guard. Thus Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him, and then smote him with the sword in his left hand (2 Samuel 20:10). A deliverer. Hebrew, a saviour (ver. 9). A present, i.e. their tribute.

3:12-30 When Israel sins again, God raises up a new oppressor. The Israelites did ill, and the Moabites did worse; yet because God punishes the sins of his own people in this world, Israel is weakened, and Moab strengthened against them. If lesser troubles do not do the work, God will send greater. When Israel prays again, God raises up Ehud. As a judge, or minister of Divine justice, Ehud put to death Eglon, the king of Moab, and thus executed the judgments of God upon him as an enemy to God and Israel. But the law of being subject to principalities and powers in all things lawful, is the rule of our conduct. No such commissions are now given; to pretend to them is to blaspheme God. Notice Ehud's address to Eglon. What message from God but a message of vengeance can a proud rebel expect? Such a message is contained in the word of God; his ministers are boldly to declare it, without fearing the frown, or respecting the persons of sinners. But, blessed be God, they have to deliver a message of mercy and of free salvation; the message of vengeance belongs only to those who neglect the offers of grace. The consequence of this victory was, that the land had rest eighty years. It was a great while for the land to rest; yet what is that to the saints' everlasting rest in the heavenly Canaan.But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord,.... After being long oppressed, and groaning under their burdens, and brought to a sense of their sins, and humiliation for them, they asked forgiveness of God, and deliverance from their bondage; for it is very probable they were until towards the close of those years stupid and hardened, and did not consider what was the reason of their being thus dealt with:

the Lord raised them up a deliverer; another saviour, one that he made use of as an instrument of their deliverance:

Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded; who is described by his parentage, a son of Gera, but who his father was is not known; by his tribe a Benjamite, in which Jericho was, Eglon possessed, and so might be more oppressed than any other part; and therefore the Lord stirred up one of that tribe to be the deliverer; and by his being a lefthanded man, as several of that tribe were, Judges 20:16; though a Benjamite signifies a son of the right hand; and he perhaps was one of those lefthanded Benjamites that fled to the rock Rimmon, as Dr. Lightfoot (u) conjectures, Judges 20:47; for that affair, though there related, was before this: the Septuagint calls him an "ambidexter", one that could use both hands equally alike; but the Hebrew phrase signifies one that is "shut up in his right hand" (w); who has not the true use of it, cannot exercise it as his other hand, being weak and impotent, or contracted through disuse, or some disease; or, as Josephus (x) expresses it, who could use his left hand best, and who also calls him a young man of a courageous mind and strong of body, and says he dwelt at Jericho, and was very familiar with Eglon, and who by his gifts and presents had endeared himself to all about the king:

and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab; either their yearly tribute, or rather a gift unto him, to soften him, and reconcile him to them, and make their bondage easier; or to give him access to him with more confidence and safety, though it does not seem that they knew anything of Ehud's design.

(u) Works, vol. 1. p. 46. (w) "obturatum manu dextera sua", Montanus; "habens manum dexterum obturatum", Munsterus; "erat clausa manu dextera", Tigurine version; "clausum manu dextera", Drusius; "perclusum", Junius & Tremellius; "praaeclusum", Piscator. (x) Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 4.) sect. 2.