King Eglon was a nasty man. He was big, fat and mean. Israel had done evil in the sight of God again, so God let Moab take over.

Eglon had ruled Israel for 15 years when Israel cried out to God to deliver them.

God answered by sending a man named Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. Israel send him to King Eglon with a gift, but beforehand, Ehud had made a two-edged sword that was about 1 1/2 feet long, and strapped it to his right thigh, and headed for Eglon’s palace.

Ehud had been praying for guidance or what to do when he got to the palace–no one wanted to have Eglon as king until they or he died because of the evil and horror that had happened since he took over Israel.

So when Ehud went to the palace he was ready. He presented the tribute to Eglon, and was appauled at how fat he was! His eyes were buried under a big forehead and greasy hair. Eglon’s teeth were brown as he sneared at Ehud with slobbery lips. His nails were peeling and black, his legs and arms were sticking out of a large blob which was his body. “What do you want, Israelite scum?!” Ehud heard the words and felt the sting of them, but held himself together until the proper time. Instead, he said, “I hve a message for you, o King.” The many attendantes in the room began murmuring to each other. “SILENCE!” shouted Eglon, and all the attendants left and shut the big doors with a thud.

Ehud could feel that the time was now. “I have a message from God for you.” Eglon was getting more angry, and stood to his feet. In one swift movement, Ehud pulled out his word and thrust it into Eglon’s stomach. Blood gurgled out as the word came out of his back. Eglon screamed and the sword sunk into his belly and fat closed around it. Ehud left Eglon screaming in his chamber with the doors closed.