Background and Context:
Ehud, the son of Gera, a Benjamite, is a significant figure in the Book of Judges, specifically in Judges 3:12-30. During this period, the Israelites repeatedly fell into cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. After the death of Othniel, the first judge, the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD, leading to their subjugation by Eglon, the king of Moab. Eglon, with the help of the Ammonites and Amalekites, captured the City of Palms, which is identified as Jericho, and oppressed Israel for eighteen years.

Ehud's Mission:
Ehud is described as a left-handed man, a detail that plays a crucial role in his mission. The Israelites cried out to the LORD for deliverance, and He raised up Ehud as their deliverer. Ehud was tasked with bringing tribute to Eglon, a common practice for subjugated peoples. However, Ehud had a plan to free Israel from Moabite oppression.

The Assassination of Eglon:
Ehud crafted a double-edged sword about a cubit in length and strapped it to his right thigh under his clothing, a strategic placement given his left-handedness. After delivering the tribute, Ehud sent away the people who had carried it, but he himself turned back at the idols near Gilgal and approached Eglon with a secret message. Eglon, described as a very fat man, dismissed his attendants to hear the message in private.

Judges 3:20-21 recounts the pivotal moment: "Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the cool upper room and said, 'I have a message from God for you.' As the king rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly." The sword went in so deep that the handle sank in after the blade, and the fat closed over it, leaving the sword unretrievable.

Escape and Victory:
Ehud locked the doors of the upper room and made his escape. Eglon's servants, thinking he was relieving himself, delayed in checking on him, allowing Ehud to flee. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah. Upon reaching the hill country of Ephraim, Ehud sounded the trumpet, rallying the Israelites to follow him. He led them to seize the fords of the Jordan, preventing the Moabites from crossing.

Judges 3:28-29 describes the ensuing victory: "Follow me, for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand. So they followed him down and took control of the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, allowing no one to cross over. At that time they struck down about ten thousand Moabites, all vigorous and strong; not a single man escaped."

Aftermath:
The death of Eglon and the subsequent defeat of the Moabites brought peace to the land for eighty years. Ehud's account is a testament to God's deliverance through unexpected means and individuals. His left-handedness, often seen as a disadvantage, became a tool for divine intervention. Ehud's courage and cunning, under God's guidance, liberated Israel from oppression, demonstrating the LORD's faithfulness to His covenant people despite their recurring unfaithfulness.