The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-01-31
E H U d

Ehud, a Benjamite, descended thru
Jediah, was called to judge Israel at
the time of the Moabitish servitude
He was a picturesque character, a
| left-handed man, a great captain, who
inspired confidence in his soldiers.
Ehud often chose to fight alone, sing
ling out the enemy who, for the safety
of Israel, must be destroyed, and max
ing short work of him.
1t should be noted and remembered
that every time the Israelites fell a
prey to their enemies, or became sub
ject to a foreign power, it was always
Immediately following an experience
such as we find recorded in Judges
3:12-14: "And the children of Israel
did evil again in the sight of the Lord:
and the Lord strengthened Eglon, the
King of Moab, against Israel, because
they had done evil in the sight of the
Lord. And he gathered unto him the
children of Ammon and Amalek, and
went and smote Israel, and possessed
the city of palm trees. So the children
of Israel served Eglon the King of
Moab eighteen years."
Should not America fear the conse-
quences of worshipping at the altar of
Bacchus and legalized gambling in the
form of state and national lotteries?
1t is written, "He will not always
chide, neither will He keep His anger
forever"
After eighteen years of oppression
by the Moabites, the people turned
again unto the Lord, and prayed with
tears of penitence for deliverance.
Then the Lord raised up Ehud, the son
of Gera, a Benjamite, man left
handed; and by him the children of
Israel sent a present unto Eglon, the
King of Moab.
ga gift blindeth the WISE" and this
saying was indicated by the result Of
Ehud's mission, whether we can ap-
prove his method of attack or not.
Certainly the manner of his approach
to Eglon smacks Of out and out de-
ception. Eglon may have richly de-
served his fate, but the way of his
taking off could not be approved by
the standards of our day.
Ehud made him two-edged dagger,
eighteen inches long, and girded it
under his cloak, upon his right thigh,
that, being left-handed he might the
more readily unsheathe it. And he
brought the present to Eglon, the
King of Moab: and Eglon was a very
fat man. After formal greetings,
Ehud made an end to offer the present
which was borne by carriers. Then ap-
preaching the KING, he said: II have
secret errand unto thee, o King"
Whereupon Eglon ordered his guard
and such members of his court as
stood by to withdraw. And Ehud ap-
preached near the King and said: Il
have a message from God to thee"
AS the King rose to hear the message
Ehud drew his dagger and drove it
into Eglon's abdomen with such a
mighty thrust that the haft went in
after the blade. Then Ehud closed and
locked the doors of the Kings apart
ment and made his escape. Later when
the servants grew anxious for the
safety of their master and opened the
door they found Eglon dead on the
earth.
Ehud meanwhile had made good his
escape. Going to Mt. Ephraim, he as
sembled the people by the trumpet,
babe them follow him and marched to
the fords of the Jordan, where they
made great slaughter of the Ephra-
mites so that not man escaped. So
complete was the overthrow of Moab
that the land had rest for eighty
years.