V. THE SECOND CYCLE OF OPPRESSION. OPPRESSION BY THE MOABITES & DELIVERANCE BY EHUD. JUDGES 3:12-30:

A. As in the case of all these cycles of oppression in Judges this second cycle began with sin by the Israelites: Verse 12,

1. The phrase "did evil again" could also be translated "added to". The scriptural inference is that the Israelites returned to the very same sins that brought about the first period of bondage and oppression, and that they sinned more the second time than the first.

2. These were the children of the first cycle Israelites, and the indication is that they hadn't learned a thing from the mistakes of their parents and God's severe discipline which resulted. They added to the intensity and degree of their parent's besetting sins. Remember that the prime sins of their parents were idolatry (Judges 2:12) and intermarriages with the wrong people, Judges 3:16.

B. The result of Israel's sin was bondage and oppression at the hand of Eglon and the Moabites, Judges 3:12-14:

1. Eglon was King of Moab. The Moabite kingdom covered basically the area between Arnon and Zered rivers (see map).

2. To launch his attack on Israel, Eglon formed an alliance with The Ammonites, whose kingdom extended to the north and northeast of Moab (see map); and with the Amalekites, who were the Nomadic Bedouin peoples south of Beersheba in the Sinai peninsula area. (See map.) See Judges 3:13.

3. Remember that Moab was Lot's son as a result of incest with his oldest daughter. Ben-ammi, the progenitor of the Ammonites, was Lot's son as a result of incest with his younger daughter. Both pregnancies occurred while Lot was drunk, and as a direct result of the homosexual influence of Sodom and Gomorrah on these girls, Gen. 19:30-38. What a vivid picture of the long-range effects of sin. Right at 500 years had passed since Lot's sin, yet the effect of his sin was still around, and now had become full blown. Let each of us think long about what we do, and the long-range effects thereof.

4. Though Israel had defeated the Amalekites at Rephidim (Ex. 17:8-13), they continued to hate Israel, attacking and harassing them whenever possible, Deut. 25:17-19.

5. Note well that God used a wicked and foreign king to chastise his people. God has ways of using people to serve his purposes, who do not want to be used of God, and who have no idea they are being used. It was actually the Lord, who "strengthened Eglon the King of Moab against Israel". In this age of wicked, humanistic thinking and staggering military might in the hands of evil nations, it is comforting to know God is still sovereign and in control. "The heart of the King is still "in the hand of the Lord Prov. 21:1. Also note that when his people sin against God, he has limitless means of dealing with them over their sin.

6. Eglon and his forces moved into the Jordan river valley just north of the Dead Sea and crossed to the west banks of Jordan a few miles north of where Joshua and Israel had earlier crossed. They moved into the Gilgal-Jericho region and established residence and headquarters there.

Remember that this was a very strategic location. Three major passes led up into the central highlands of Israel from this area. It was an ideal place from which Eglon could subjugate the Israelites. Also, there was a very prolific spring at Jericho, thus creating an oasis effect in the area.

7. Although Eglon's efforts to reestablish Jericho is a foreshadow of his impending doom. Joshua had cursed the man who tried to rebuild Jericho in Joshua 6:26 saying, "cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho." Eglon kept Israel captive for 18 years; and apparently during that time, Eglon did considerable building at Jericho. His summer parlor was there, us. 20. A summer parlor was usually an elaborate room built on top a roof. It has lattice work and windows on all sides so as to offer a commanding view and catch all breezes.

C. Israel cried unto the Lord, and he raised up Ehud to deliver them:

1. Only after repentance and confession did help come. Such is still the case.

2. Ehud was a left-handed Benjamite. The Hebrew word for "left-handed" carries the meaning "shut of his right-hand, " It does not necessarily mean he was deformed in his left hand. What it does mean is that Israel regarded left-handedness as a defect. The fact that God would use a left-handed man to deliver them made the deliverance even more spectacular.

3. Ehud went to Eglon at Jericho to deliver a present sent by the children of Israel, verse 15. The word "present " comes from the Hebrew word which also means "tribute". As conqueror, Eglon exacted tribute from the Israelites: and Ehud on this occasion was delivering the tribute. It was probably agricultural products as indicated by the fact that Ehud had several men with him to bear the load, verse 18. It was common for a conquering king to require a famous man or leader of the conquered people to deliver the tribute since the humble bowing of the leader to the king would further accentuate the dominance and power of the conquering king.

4. Ehud, knowing his mission before-hand, planned carefully and well. He made a dagger of one cubit long, verse 16. A cubit is the distance from the elbow to the finger tips. A standard cubit was 18 to 23 inches. Ehud's dagger was double edged, and apparently without a cross shaft so as to make it easier to conceal. He strapped it to his right thigh. Normally a left-handed person would strap a dagger to his left thigh. Thus, if Ehud should be searched, his right thigh under the long flowing clothing of the day would not be checked.

5. Ehud came to Eglon at Jericho and delivered the tribute. He then sent those, who bore the tribute, away, verse 18. But, he turned back from the quarries which were at Gilgal, and requested a private audience from the king to give him a message from God. "The quarries" from the Hebrew "Pesilim" means "sculptured stones" or "graven images". There is debate as to whether the reference to the quarries is a reference to the stone landmarks Joshua set up when Israel crossed the river or a reference to some false images of gods erected by the Moabites.

Ehud's request to deliver a message from God (Elohim) got the attention and curiosity of Eglon. Since Ehud had just humbly bowed and submitted the tribute, and since Ehud was alone, there was no reason for suspicion. Eglon shouted that everyone leave, and he took Ehud alone into his summer palace. Ehud came near him as to deliver the message, and Eglon stood to hear it. Ehud reached to his right thigh, drew the dagger, and swiftly sank it into Eglon's stomach.

The whole dagger went into Eglon. He was very fat, and handle and all buried in him. Ehud could not draw The dagger out, Apparently his bowels were severed, and he died instantly. Listen to verse 22 "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. "

6. Ehud very calmly left the room, closing and locking the doors behind him. When Eglon's servants came and found the doors locked, they thought Eglon was using the restroom ("covereth his feet"). Although, after a long time, they became alarmed, opened the doors with a key, and found Eglon dead. By that time Ehud had escaped past the quarries on his way to Ephraim, verse 26.

7. The Moabites were confused and shaken by the loss of their king. Ehud capitalized on this. He quickly blew the trumpet in Ephraim and raised an army. Ephraim being very close to Eglon's headquarters had doubtless felt the heavy sting of the Moabites, and were happy to respond.

Ehud and his army came down quickly and seized the fords on the Jordan river. As the Moabites tried to flee across the river to Moab, Ehud and his men slew about 10,000 "all lusty, and all men of valour.," verse 29. Probably when Ehud slew Eglon, most of these men weren't in camp, but were fanned out on raids in the Israeli countryside.

8. After Ehud's deliverance, the land had rest for 80 years or two generations, verse 30

D. Do not miss the spiritual lesson of this story of deliverance:

1. Remember that the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Amalekites were all cousins of the Israelites. These were people who were outwardly connected with God's people, but who had no vital connection. Moab, and particularly Eglon, is typical of those who profess to be christians, but who have really never been born again. Here is a picture of professors, who are not possessors of eternal life.

2. Big, fat Eglon sitting in his worldly summer place of ease is the epitomy of the religious man who claims to be saved, but who wants to hold on to his old worldly ways and life of ease. Jericho was just inside the promised land. Before Jericho fell, it was strong and attractive. That's where Moab's throne was. It was that kind of power and possession that Eglon wanted. Eglon means "a circuit", one who goes around in a circle. He was a take it as it comes man.

3. The danger for God's people is that false professors with their pseudo-religious and basically worldly ways can move into God's territory and take over. God's warning to believers is "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God. as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace," Rom, 1:12-11,

4. Ehud was a Benjamite. Benjamin means "son of my right hand," and speaks of our perfect standing before God as believers. It is striking that while Ehud was a Benjamite, the son of my right hand, he was left-handed. The point is that we are complete in Christ, and he can use us to win great victories; but through no power of our own. Though Ehud is a son of God's right hand, his own right hand is weak. The real power for victory had to come special from the Lord.

5. Ehud means "praise" or "confession". Ehud, by his very physical makeup, was a confessor of his own weakness and the power of God in his life. He came back from Gilgal, which you will remember represents the cross, our base camp, death to the old man.

6. With him, Ehud brought a two-edged sword. 0ur Bible is the sword of the Spirit, Eph. 6:17, And it is a two edged sword. Listen to Heb. 4:12, "For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joint and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." Look who's wielding the sword: God's humble, confessing, weak servant. But what power when a believer, under the control of the power of God, uses the great sword of the Spirit! II Cor. 10:4-5 declares, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal. but might through God to the pulling down of strongholds; Costing down imaginations, and ever high thing, that exalteth itself y against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ ."

7. How can you handle the Eglon's of this world, those worldly people and tendencies which will bring you into captivity, oppress you, and exact a heavy tribute from you? By taking God's word as a yielded servant; not in human might, but in the might and power of God.

 

QUESTIONS ON A LEFTHANDED MAN WITH A TWO-EDGED DAGGER

1. What brought Israel into bondage the second time?

2. How do we know the sins of this generation of Israelites were more intense than the sins of their parents?

3. Name the two main sins of which Israel was guilty.

4. Explain the roots of the Moabites.

5. Explain the roots of the Ammonites.

6. Locate Moab on your map.

7. Locate Ammon on your map.

8. Locate the country of the Amalekites on your map.

9. What evidence is in this story which indicates God uses people to serve his purposes, even though they are not aware he is doing so?

10. Where did Eglon and company set up headquarters on Israeli soil?

11. Why were Eglon's efforts at Jericho do **d?

12. How long did Israel serve Eglon and the Moabites?

13. When did God send help for Israel?

14. Consider a background sketch on Ehud.

15. How did Israel view lefthanded people?

16. Explain the present Ehud delivered to Eglon.

17. How did Ehud prepare for his mission to Eglon?

18. How did Ehud accomplish the death of Eglon without being caught?

19. Of what is Ehud's dagger a symbol?

20. Explain the typology of Ehud and Eglon.