CHARACTER STUDY ~ EHUD

The name Ehud is a Hebrew name for males which means love, pleasant, and united. Biblically, three people were mentioned as Ehud - a descendant of Benjamin, the son of Bilhan, and a deliverer of Israel. The first Ehud mentioned who was a descendant of Benjamin, is believed to have been given other names such as Ehi, Ahiram, Aharah, Ahoah, Ahiah, and Aher. The second person called Ehud was the son of Bilhad whose father was Jediael. The third Ehud existed in the days when Judges were used to deliver Israel from its oppressors. Although much has not been written about them all, the latter shall be our focus for study. 

Some Characteristics of Ehud the Judge:

✔ The Lord raised Ehud to deliver Israel after the death of Othniel the son of Kenaz who delivered Israel from the tyranny of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Mesopotamia. God's deliverance knows no boundary for He uses whomever He desires. Avail yourself and God can use you to deliver your family and society.  

✔ Ehud was the son of Gera, the Benjamite. Let us learn to keep family records so that we can easily trace down our ancestry. 

✔ He was a left-handed man. This should be a good reference to us not to discriminate against left-handed children insisting they must make use of their right hand. God used Ehud a left-handed man to save Israel meaning the left hand is equally useful like the right hand. 

✔ By him the children of Israel sent tribute to Eglon king of Moab. At the time God raised Ehud to deliver Israel, they were under the oppressive rule of Eglon, the king of Moab. He was like a messenger and he did his work diligently to win the trust of Eglon. We must be diligent in whatever we do.

✔ He was focus-driven and did not give room for distraction. Although he brought the tribute with others to Moab, when he had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried the tribute. But he turned back from the stone images that were at Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” We must avoid careless speech; some of us are quick to disclose what God intends us to do thereby attracting unnecessary rivalry.

✔ Ehud must have been a smooth talker because when he told the servants of the king that he had a “secret message” for him, they left Ehud all alone with the king on a private rooftop. Ehud’s “secret message” was a sword, and the “special delivery” was a fatal stab to the belly of the overweight king! To overpower the enemy, we need to ask the Holy Spirit to give us the rightful utterance.   

✔ He was wise and very discerning. After killing Eglon, Ehud quietly locked the doors to the roof to keep the guards out and made a quick getaway. 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.” This gave Ehud more time not to be noticed for the crime he committed. By the time the servants opened the door, Ehud's mission to escape to Seirah had been accomplished. 

✔ He was a good leader who knew how to mobilize others. When he arrived in the hill country of Ephraim, Ehud sounded a call to arms. Then he led a band of Israelites down from the hills to defeat the Moabites. 

✔ Much has not been said of the death of Ehud. 

Supporting Scriptures: Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:38; Judges 3:12-30; 1 Chronicles 7:10-12; 8:1-7