Judg 3:12-30 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Judg 3:12-30: 3:12-30 In this epic account of intrigue and cunning, Ehud manifested heroic qualities when a coalition of nations from east of the Jordan penetrated the hill country of Ephraim and Benjamin. The cycle follows formulaic language and highlights the repeated apostasy of the people once again . Summary for Judg 3:12-13: 3:12-13 The people of Moab and the Ammonites were descendants of Lot’s incestuous relationship with his daughters (Gen 19:30-38 ). Despite their kinship with Israel, both nations were Israel’s enemies. • The Amalekites were nomads who had attacked Israel in the desert, and toward whom unbroken hostility had been commanded (Num 24:20 ; Deut 25:17-19 ). That the three nations joined in coalition probably reflected their growing fear of Israelite expansion.

Summary for Judg 3:12-30: 3:12-30 ^a In this epic account of intrigue and cunning, Ehud manifested heroic qualities when a coalition of nations from east of the Jordan penetrated the hill country of Ephraim and Benjamin. The cycle follows formulaic language and highlights the repeated apostasy of the people once again.
Summary for Judg 3:12-13: 3:12-13 ^b The people of Moab and the Ammonites were descendants of Lot’s incestuous relationship with his daughters (Gen 19:30-38 ^c). Despite their kinship with Israel, both nations were Israel’s enemies.

• The Amalekites were nomads who had attacked Israel in the desert, and toward whom unbroken hostility had been commanded (Num 24:20 ^d; Deut 25:17-19 ^e). That the three nations joined in coalition probably reflected their growing fear of Israelite expansion.
3:15 ^f left-handed (literally restricted in the right hand): This characteristic enabled Ehud to hide his weapon on the right hip. The Greek Old Testament translates this phrase to mean “ambidextrous.” The term used here is associated with the tribe of Benjamin (“son of my right hand,” Gen 35:18 ^g; see Judg 20:16 ^h) and was connected with heroic military skills (cp. 1 Chr 12:1-2 ⁱ).

• The tribute money was either pieces of metal or, more likely, agricultural goods requiring a team of bearers (Judg 3:18 ^j).
3:16 ^k A knife for cutting would have a single blade. This doubled-edged dagger was fashioned to facilitate driving it into a victim.
Summary for Judg 3:19-21: 3:19-21 ^l The message had to be secret to ensure that Ehud would be left alone with the king; it had to be from God to guarantee that the ploy would be effective. Eglon probably stood up because he expected some kind of message from the Lord, which is precisely what he received. 3:19 ^m Gilgal became the Israelites’ initial base of operations after they crossed the Jordan and was the site of important events associated with the conquest (Josh 4–6 ⁿ). The stone idols may have been a pagan shrine created from the twelve stones that Joshua set up (Josh 4:20 ^o). Later, Gilgal was still an important center for the faithful (1 Sam 7:16 ^p) and for idolators (Hos 4:15 ^q; 9:15 ^r; 12:11 ^s; Amos 4:4 ^t; 5:5 ^u).
3:20 ^v The cool upstairs room was probably some kind of rooftop chamber, a common summer meeting place in hot countries.
3:23 ^w and escaped down the latrine: The latrine might have been similar to those in medieval Europe, where it was not uncommon for a latrine to extend out from the wall of a building, with an external chute not unlike today’s laundry or chimney ash chutes.
Summary for Judg 3:24-25: 3:24-25 ^x While the king’s servants, perhaps reacting to familiar odors, dithered over protocol for a king with bowel problems, Ehud made his escape.
3:26 ^y Seirah is unknown, but it was accessible to the hill country, from which Ephraim and Benjamin could be rallied.
Summary for Judg 3:27-28: 3:27-28 ^z sounded a call to arms (literally blew a trumpet): The trumpet blast and the call “Follow me” were accompanied by the assurance of divine victory through the God-appointed rescuer.