A sword in the gut

In the book of Judges, chapter 3, it is filled with some interesting characters.

First, the Israelites once again forget their loyalty to God and start worshipping other gods--again.  Why don't they ever learn, you may ask yourself?  No idea.  They turn away after the Joshua's death and are attacked by the kingdom of Mesopotamia.  Then, they cry out to the Lord who sends a man named Othniel to save them.

Next, after Othniel's death some forty years later, the Israelites sin again and turn against the Lord.  Again.  They remain under the rule of King Eglon for eighteen years before they cry out to the Lord again and he sends Ehud to save them.

The tale of Ehud reads like a thriller Dan Brown or Brad Meltzer would fictionalize.

Ehud is a left-handed man who has a double-edged sword, which is only a foot and a half long.  He wears it on his right side, underneath his clothes.  One day, he visits King Eglon--who is described as a very fat man.  Ehud gave Eglon gifts, then advised him that he had a secret message for him.

Eglon ordered his servants to leave them.

After they left, Ehud said he had a message from God.  He removed the hidden sword and stabbed Eglon right into the gut, all the way and through his back side.  Ehud left the sword, exited, and locked the doors behind him.  Only when he was safely away did the servants find their king was dead.

Ehud then blew a horn and ordered the attack on King Eglon's people.  They achieved victory.