Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version After he had gone, the servants came and found the doors of the upper room locked. They said, “He must be relieving himself in the inner room of the palace.” New Living Translation After Ehud was gone, the king’s servants returned and found the doors to the upstairs room locked. They thought he might be using the latrine in the room, English Standard Version When he had gone, the servants came, and when they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “Surely he is relieving himself in the closet of the cool chamber.” Berean Standard Bible After Ehud was gone, Eglon’s servants came in and found the doors of the upper room locked. “He must be relieving himself in the cool room,” they said. Berean Literal Bible And he had gone out, and Eglon’s servants came and looked. And behold, the doors of the upper room were locked. And they said, “He is only covering his feet in the cool inner chamber.” King James Bible When he was 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. New King James Version When he had gone out, Eglon’s servants came to look, and to their surprise, the doors of the upper room were locked. So they said, “He is probably attending to his needs in the cool chamber.” New American Standard Bible When he had left, the king’s servants came and looked, and behold, the doors of the roof chamber were locked; and they said, “Undoubtedly he is relieving himself in the cool room.” NASB 1995 When he had gone out, his servants came and looked, and behold, the doors of the roof chamber were locked; and they said, “He is only relieving himself in the cool room.” NASB 1977 When he had gone out, his servants came and looked, and behold, the doors of the roof chamber were locked; and they said, “He is only relieving himself in the cool room.” Legacy Standard Bible Now he went out, and his servants came in and looked, and behold, the doors of the roof chamber were locked; and they said, “He is surely relieving himself in the cool room.” Amplified Bible When Ehud departed, Eglon’s servants came. And when they saw that the doors of the upper room were locked, they said, “He is only relieving himself in the cool room.” Berean Annotated Bible After Ehud was gone, Eglon’s servants came in and found the doors of the upper room locked. “He must be relieving himself in the cool room, they said. Christian Standard Bible Ehud was gone when Eglon’s servants came in. They looked and found the doors of the upstairs room locked and thought he was relieving himself in the cool room. Holman Christian Standard Bible Ehud was gone when Eglon’s servants came in. They looked and found the doors of the upstairs room locked and thought he was relieving himself in the cool room. American Standard Version Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and, behold, the doors of the upper room were locked; and they said, Surely he is covering his feet in the upper chamber. Contemporary English Version and left. When the king's officials came back and saw that the doors were locked, they said, "The king is probably inside relieving himself." English Revised Version Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and, behold, the doors of the parlour were locked; and they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer chamber. GOD'S WORD® Translation After Ehud went out, Eglon's advisers came in. They were surprised that the doors were locked. "He must be using the toilet," they said. Good News Translation and left. The servants came and saw that the doors were locked, but they only thought that the king was inside, relieving himself. International Standard Version After he left, Eglon's attendants came to look, but the doors to the cool chamber were locked! So they said, "He must be relieving himself in the inner part of the cool chamber." NET Bible When Ehud had left, Eglon's servants came and saw the locked doors of the upper room. They said, "He must be relieving himself in the well-ventilated inner room." New Heart English Bible Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and look, the doors of the upper room were locked; and they said, "Surely he is covering his feet in the upper room." Webster's Bible Translation When he had gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlor were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet in his summer-chamber. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleAfter Ehud was gone, Eglon’s servants came in and found the doors of the upper room locked. “He must be relieving himself in the cool room,” they said. World English Bible After he had gone, his servants came and saw that the doors of the upper room were locked. They said, “Surely he is covering his feet in the upper room.” Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand he has gone out, and his servants have come in, and look, and behold, the doors of the upper chamber are bolted, and they say, “He is surely covering his feet, [relieving himself,] in the cool inner chamber.” Berean Literal Bible And he had gone out, and Eglon’s servants came and looked. And behold, the doors of the upper room were locked. And they said, “He is only covering his feet in the cool inner chamber.” Young's Literal Translation and he hath gone out, and his servants have come in, and look, and lo, the doors of the upper chamber are bolted, and they say, 'He is only covering his feet in the inner chamber of the wall.' Smith's Literal Translation And he went forth, and his servants came in, and saw, and behold, the doors of the upper chamber were fastened; and they will say, Surely he is covering his feet in the chamber of cooling. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleWent out by a postern door. And the king's servants going in, saw the doors of the parlour shut, and they said: Perhaps he is easing nature in his summer parlour. Catholic Public Domain Version he departed by a back exit. And the servants of the king, entering, saw that the doors of the upper room were closed, and they said, “Perhaps he is emptying his bowels in the summer room.” New American Bible When Ehud had left and the servants had come, they saw that the doors of the upper room were locked, and thought, “He must be easing himself in the cool chamber.” New Revised Standard Version After he had gone, the servants came. When they saw that the doors of the roof chamber were locked, they thought, “He must be relieving himself in the cool chamber.” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleWhen he had gone out, the king's servants came in; and when they saw that the doors of the upper chamber were locked, they said, Perhaps he has gone to the toilet in the closet of the upper chamber. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he went out, and his Servants entered and saw the doors of the upper room were shut and they were saying, “Doubtless, he went out to the urinal in the closet of the upper room” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Now when he was gone out, his servants came; and they saw, and, behold, the doors of the upper chamber were locked; and they, said: 'Surely he is covering his feet in the cabinet of the cool chamber.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And he went out: and Eglom's servants came, and saw, and behold, the doors of the upper chamber were locked; and they said, Does he not uncover his feet in the summer-chamber? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Ehud…23Then Ehud went out through the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upper room behind him. 24After Ehud was gone, Eglon’s servants came in and found the doors of the upper room locked. “ He must be relieving himself in the cool room,” they said. 25So they waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upper room. Then they took the key and opened the doors—and there was their lord lying dead on the floor.… Cross References After Ehud was gone, 2 Kings 2:11-18 As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire with horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up into heaven in a whirlwind. / As Elisha watched, he cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And he saw Elijah no more. So taking hold of his own clothes, he tore them in two. / Elisha also picked up the cloak that had fallen from Elijah, and he went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. … Luke 24:31-32 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight. / They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us as He spoke with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Eglon’s servants came in 1 Samuel 19:15-17 But Saul sent the messengers back to see David and told them, “Bring him up to me in his bed so I can kill him.” / And when the messengers entered, there was the idol in the bed with the goat hair on its head. / And Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!” Michal replied, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away, or I will kill you!’” 2 Samuel 4:5-7 Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while the king was taking his midday nap. / They entered the interior of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away. / They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed, and having stabbed and killed him, they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled all night by way of the Arabah. and found the doors of the upper room locked. John 20:19-26 It was the first day of the week, and that very evening, while the disciples were together with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you!” He said to them. / After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. / Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, so also I am sending you.” … 2 Kings 4:33 So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. Acts 12:13-16 He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. / When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!” / “You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” … “He must be relieving himself in the cool room,” they said. 1 Samuel 24:3-4 Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave. / So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Amos 3:15 I will tear down the winter house along with the summer house; the houses of ivory will also perish, and the great houses will come to an end,” declares the LORD. 1 Kings 22:25 Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.” 2 Kings 9:27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!” So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot on the Ascent of Gur, near Ibleam, and he fled to Megiddo and died there. 2 Samuel 18:9-10 Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair. / When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!” 1 Samuel 26:3-5 Saul camped beside the road at the hill of Hachilah opposite Jeshimon, but David was living in the wilderness. When he realized that Saul had followed him there, / David sent out spies to verify that Saul had arrived. / Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw the place where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the inner circle of the camp, with the troops camped around him. 1 Kings 1:50-51 But Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to Solomon: “Behold, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me not to put his servant to the sword.’” 2 Kings 10:25 When he had finished making the burnt offering, Jehu said to the guards and officers, “Go in and kill them. Do not let anyone out.” So the guards and officers put them to the sword, threw the bodies out, and went into the inner room of the temple of Baal. 1 Samuel 19:11-12 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” / So Michal lowered David from the window, and he ran away and escaped. Treasury of Scripture When he was gone out, his servants came; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlor were locked, they said, Surely he covers his feet in his summer chamber. covereth or, doeth his easement 1 Samuel 24:3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave. Jump to Previous Bolted Chamber Closet Cool Covereth Covering Doors House Inner King's Locked Parlor Private Purpose Roof Room Servants Summer Summer-House Surely Thought Upper WallJump to Next Bolted Chamber Closet Cool Covereth Covering Doors House Inner King's Locked Parlor Private Purpose Roof Room Servants Summer Summer-House Surely Thought Upper WallJudges 3 1. The nations which were left to prove Israel5. By communion with them they commit idolatry 8. Othniel delivered them from Chushan-Rishathaim 12. Ehud from Eglon 31. and Shamgar from the Philistines After Ehud was gone Ehud, the left-handed judge of Israel, had just assassinated King Eglon of Moab. This act was part of God's deliverance of Israel from Moabite oppression. Ehud's departure signifies the completion of his mission and the beginning of Israel's liberation. The narrative highlights God's use of unexpected means and people to achieve His purposes, as seen throughout the book of Judges. Eglon’s servants came in and found the doors of the upper room locked “He must be relieving himself in the cool room,” they said Persons / Places / Events 1. EhudA left-handed judge of Israel who delivered the Israelites from Moabite oppression by assassinating King Eglon. 2. Eglon The king of Moab who oppressed the Israelites for eighteen years before being killed by Ehud. 3. Moab A nation east of Israel that subjugated the Israelites during this period. 4. The Servants of Eglon They were responsible for attending to King Eglon and were present during the events of Judges 3:24. 5. The Upper Room The private chamber where King Eglon was killed by Ehud. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in DeliveranceGod raises unlikely heroes to deliver His people, demonstrating His control over history and His ability to use anyone for His purposes. The Importance of Obedience Ehud's willingness to act on God's command shows the importance of obedience in fulfilling God's plans. Perception vs. Reality The servants' misunderstanding of the situation in the upper room reminds us that human perception can be flawed, and we must seek God's wisdom. God's Timing The delay of Eglon's servants in discovering the truth allowed Ehud to escape, illustrating that God's timing is perfect in executing His plans. Courage in Faith Ehud's boldness in confronting Eglon challenges us to act courageously in faith when God calls us to action. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Judges 3:24?2. How does Judges 3:24 illustrate God's deliverance through unexpected means? 3. What can we learn about discernment from the servants' actions in Judges 3:24? 4. How does Judges 3:24 connect to God's sovereignty in other biblical narratives? 5. How can we apply the patience shown by the servants in our lives? 6. What does Judges 3:24 teach about trusting God's timing in difficult situations? 7. What does Judges 3:24 reveal about God's use of unexpected individuals for His purposes? 8. How does Judges 3:24 challenge our understanding of divine justice and human agency? 9. What historical context is essential to fully grasp the events in Judges 3:24? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 3? 11. Who is Ehud in historical or biblical context? 12. Why does Judges 3:12-15 depict God empowering an assassin (Ehud) if murder is condemned elsewhere in scripture? 13. Could the graphic details of King Eglon's death (Judges 3:21-25) be historically accurate or are they exaggerated? 14. Why is a sign-based approach (Genesis 24:14) seemingly approved here, when similar methods are discouraged in other biblical passages? What Does Judges 3:24 Mean After Ehud was gone- The verse picks up immediately after Ehud—Israel’s divinely appointed deliverer—has exited King Eglon’s private chamber. - His departure signals completion of the mission God gave him (Judges 3:15–23). Compare Gideon’s stealthy withdrawal in Judges 7:19–21. - God’s providence is evident: Ehud leaves undetected, fulfilling Psalm 121:7, “The LORD will guard you from all evil.” Eglon’s servants came in - The royal attendants return to their normal duties, unaware that their king is already dead. - Their delayed arrival fulfills the timing God ordained, echoing 1 Samuel 14:27–30, where human hesitation advances divine purposes. - The narrative shows how God can use even routine staff movements to accomplish deliverance (Proverbs 21:30–31). And found the doors of the upper room locked - Locked doors would usually indicate the king’s desire for privacy; Ehud had cleverly secured them (Judges 3:23). - The servants’ inability to enter provides Ehud crucial time to escape and rally Israel (Judges 3:26–27). - Similar divine timing appears in Acts 12:6–10, where a miraculously opened gate enables Peter’s escape. “He must be relieving himself in the cool room,” they said - Ancient palaces often had a summer upper chamber designed for ventilation (2 Samuel 4:5). - Assuming a private bodily function, the servants delay further, respecting royal dignity (1 Samuel 24:3). - God uses their natural assumption to mask Ehud’s deed, illustrating Proverbs 16:9: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps.” - The irony underscores divine judgment: the proud king dies while his own staff imagines an ordinary moment, much like Haman’s downfall in Esther 7:7–10. summary Judges 3:24 captures a divinely orchestrated pause. Ehud’s safe exit, the servants’ respectful delay, and the locked doors all converge to give Israel’s deliverer time to flee and mobilize the nation. The verse reminds us that God’s sovereignty extends to ordinary details—closed doors, human assumptions, and timing—turning them into instruments for His people’s salvation and for judgment on the oppressor. (24) Behold, the doors of the parlour were locked.--It never occurred to them to suppose that they could have been fastened from without. "They were not strictly on the watch, both because of the heat and because they had gone to dinner" (Jos.).Surely he covereth his feet.--They assumed that the king had fastened the door inside for the sake of privacy. The margin correctly explains the phrase "covereth his feet," following the LXX. in both their readings (apokenoi tous podas B. pros diphrous kath?tai. A) and the "Vulgate (purgat alvum), the Chaldee, and the Syriac. Josephus gives the same explanation when alluding to the scene described in 1Samuel 24:4 (Jos., Antt. vi. 13, ? 3), though here (Antt. v. 4, ? 2) he explains it erroneously of "lying down to sleep." It is an Eastern euphemism taken from spreading out the garments while relieving the needs of nature (Bochart, Hierozoicon, i. 677). In his summer chamber.--The word used for "chamber" (cheder) is not the same as in Judges 3:20. It may mean either gyn?ceum, i.e., "women's apartments," or some "retiring place," as rendered by the Alexandrian Codex of the LXX. Verse 24.- Covereth his feet, i.e. is asleep (see 1 Samuel 24:3). The servants, finding the door locked, and all quiet within, coneluded that he was taking his sieParallel Commentaries ... Hebrew After Ehudוְה֤וּא (wə·hū) Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are was gone, יָצָא֙ (yā·ṣā) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim Eglon’s servants וַעֲבָדָ֣יו (wa·‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 5650: Slave, servant came in בָּ֔אוּ (bā·’ū) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go and found וְהִנֵּ֛ה (wə·hin·nêh) Conjunctive waw | Interjection Strong's 2009: Lo! behold! the doors דַּלְת֥וֹת (dal·ṯō·wṯ) Noun - feminine plural construct Strong's 1817: Something swinging, the valve of a, door of the upstairs room הָעֲלִיָּ֖ה (hā·‘ă·lî·yāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 5944: Something lofty, a stair-way, a second-story room, the sky locked. נְעֻל֑וֹת (nə·‘u·lō·wṯ) Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine plural Strong's 5274: To fasten up, with a, bar, cord, to sandal, furnish with slippers “He must be ה֛וּא (hū) Pronoun - third person masculine singular Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are relieving מֵסִ֥יךְ (mê·sîḵ) Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 5526: To entwine as a, screen, to fence in, cover over, protect himself in the cool הַמְּקֵרָֽה׃ (ham·mə·qê·rāh) Article | Noun - feminine singular Strong's 4747: A cooling off room,” בַּחֲדַ֥ר (ba·ḥă·ḏar) Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 2315: A chamber, room they said. וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say Links Judges 3:24 NIVJudges 3:24 NLT Judges 3:24 ESV Judges 3:24 NASB Judges 3:24 KJV Judges 3:24 BibleApps.com Judges 3:24 Biblia Paralela Judges 3:24 Chinese Bible Judges 3:24 French Bible Judges 3:24 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 3:24 Now when he was gone out his (Jd Judg. 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