A son of Gera from the tribe of Benjamin who was judge of Israel when Eglon was king of Moab.
About Ehud
1. Judge of Israel from Benjamin’s tribe who delivered Israel from Eglon, king of the Moabites (Jgs 3:12–30). He was notable because he was left-handed (Hebrew “hindered in the right hand”). Before taking Israelite tribute to Eglon, he made an iron dagger, with which he assassinated the unsuspecting Eglon during a private audience. He then rallied the Israelites west of the Jordan to encircle the Moabite troops before they could return south to Moab. When the 18-year rule of Eglon over the Israelites ended, an 80-year period of peace began.
Family Relationships
- Parents
- Gera
- Children 5
- Naaman (1 Chronicles 8:7), Ahijah (1 Chronicles 8:7), Gera (1 Chronicles 8:7), Uzza, Ahihud (1 Chronicles 8:7)
- Uncles 11
- Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, Ard, Ahiram, Jediael
- Cousins 22
- Ard (Numbers 26:40), Naaman (Numbers 26:40), Ezbon (1 Chronicles 7:7), Uzzi (1 Chronicles 7:7), Uzziel (1 Chronicles 7:7), Jerimoth, Iri, Addar, Gera (1 Chronicles 8:3), Abihud, Abishua (1 Chronicles 8:4), Ahoah, Zemirah, Joash (1 Chronicles 7:8), Eliezer (1 Chronicles 7:8), Elioenai (1 Chronicles 7:8), Omri (1 Chronicles 7:8), Jeremoth, Abijah (1 Chronicles 7:8), Anathoth, Alemeth, Bilhan (1 Chronicles 7:10)
Key References
And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.
And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.
These were the descendants of Ehud who were the heads of the families living in Geba and were exiled to Manahath:
All Scripture References (8)
Judges (7)
And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.
Now Ehud had made for himself a double-edged sword a cubit long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his cloak
Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in the coolness of his upper room. “I have a word from God for you,” Ehud said, and the king rose from his seat.
And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.
Then Ehud went out through the porch, closing and locking the doors of the upper room behind him.
Ehud, however, had escaped while the servants waited. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.
After Ehud died, the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD.
1 Chronicles (1)
These were the descendants of Ehud who were the heads of the families living in Geba and were exiled to Manahath: