Dagger
Ehud’s story in Judges 3 is a tale of nerve and cunning. He makes himself a dagger with two edges, a cubit long, and straps it under his clothes on his right thigh. He brings a present to Eglon, king of Moab, then returns to say, “I have a message from God unto thee.” The weapon is used in a single stroke, and the account does not soften it. Read in context, it follows years of Moab’s rule over Israel. The whole account is brief, so read Judges 3:12-30 to see how it ends.
7 verses
Judges
But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.
And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.
And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
And the haft also went in 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.