In the Book of Judges, we encounter many rulers—some righteous, others wicked—who played pivotal roles in shaping Israel’s early history. Among these figures stands Eglon, a king of Moab, whose story is dramatic, symbolic, and spiritually significant.
Though his reign was marked by oppression and arrogance, Eglon’s life and death reveal deeper lessons about God‘s justice, Israel’s deliverance, and the danger of sin.
The Historical Context of the Book of Judges
Israel’s Cycle of Rebellion and Redemption
The story of Eglon is found in Judges 3:12–30, during a period in Israel’s history when the nation lacked centralized leadership. After entering the Promised Land, Israel often fell into a cycle:
Sin – Israel turned from God and worshipped idols.
Servitude – God allowed foreign nations to oppress them.
Supplication – Israel cried out to God in repentance.
Salvation – God raised up a judge to deliver them.
Silence – A period of peace followed until the cycle repeated.
Eglon fits into this pattern as the foreign oppressor used by God to discipline Israel.
Who Was Eglon in the Bible?
King of Moab
Eglon was the king of Moab, a nation located east of the Dead Sea. The Moabites were descendants of Lot, the nephew of Abraham (Genesis 19:37), and were long-time rivals of Israel.
During the time of the judges, Eglon rose to power and formed a coalition with the Ammonites and Amalekites. Together, they launched a campaign against Israel and conquered the city of Jericho, a strategic and symbolic city also known as the “city of palms” (Judges 3:13).
“So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.” —Judges 3:14 (KJV)
A Powerful and Arrogant Ruler
Eglon is portrayed as a tyrannical and self-indulgent monarch. He oppressed the Israelites for 18 long years, subjecting them to heavy tribute and humiliation. The Bible paints him as a very fat man (Judges 3:17), symbolizing excess, corruption, and pride.
His rule was marked by dominance and cruelty, and he positioned himself in a cool upper chamber—a luxury suite of sorts—likely as a throne room, reflecting his arrogance and comfort in oppression.
God Raises a Deliverer: Ehud
Israel Cries Out
After 18 years of suffering under Eglon, Israel cried out to the Lord. In His mercy, God raised up a judge named Ehud, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, to deliver them.
“But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man left-handed.” —Judges 3:15 (KJV)
Ehud’s Left-Handed Strategy
Ehud is described as left-handed, a rare detail in Scripture that becomes key to his strategy. In ancient times, left-handedness was often considered a weakness or anomaly, but God used it for a specific purpose.
Ehud crafted a double-edged dagger about 18 inches long and strapped it to his right thigh, where guards would not typically check for weapons (since right-handed people would carry swords on their left side).
The Assassination of Eglon
Ehud delivered the tribute to King Eglon but had a hidden agenda. After presenting the gift, Ehud returned under the pretense of a secret message from God. Eglon, intrigued, dismissed his servants, granting Ehud a private audience.
Then, in a shocking moment of divine deliverance:
“And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.” —Judges 3:20–21 (KJV)
The Bible vividly describes how the dagger was swallowed by Eglon’s fat, and Ehud escaped before anyone discovered the assassination.
Aftermath and Israel’s Victory
Escape and Mobilization
Ehud locked the doors behind him and escaped while the king’s servants assumed Eglon was relieving himself in private. By the time they realized something was wrong, Ehud was long gone.
He returned to Israel, blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and rallied the people. With God’s help, they attacked the Moabites and killed about 10,000 of their soldiers.
80 Years of Peace
With Moab defeated and Eglon dead, Israel enjoyed eighty years of peace, one of the longest periods of rest during the time of the judges.
“So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.” —Judges 3:30 (KJV)
Symbolic Significance of Eglon
Representation of Sin and Oppression
Eglon serves as a symbol of sinful oppression and pride. His physical appearance—obesity and sloth—is a metaphor for spiritual decay. His arrogance in dismissing his guards and trusting Ehud illustrates how pride blinds the wicked to danger.
Contrast with God’s Deliverer
Eglon’s story is a powerful contrast between human tyranny and divine deliverance. While Eglon lived in luxury and cruelty, Ehud acted with humility, boldness, and obedience to God’s call.
Eglon trusted in political alliances and wealth; Ehud trusted in the Lord.
Spiritual Lessons from Eglon’s Story
1. God Uses Unlikely People
Ehud was left-handed—a quality that made him unusual and underestimated. Yet God used that very trait to bring deliverance.
“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise.” —1 Corinthians 1:27 (KJV)
This reminds believers that God often works through unexpected people and means.
2. Sin Leads to Oppression
Eglon’s domination was a consequence of Israel’s sin. When the people turned from God, He allowed foreign kings like Eglon to oppress them as a form of judgment and correction.
“Whom the Lord loves He disciplines.” —Hebrews 12:6 (ESV)
God’s discipline is not meant to destroy but to bring repentance and restoration.
3. God Responds to Repentance
When Israel cried out to the Lord, He responded with compassion. This pattern shows the grace and mercy of God, who never abandons His people when they truly repent.
“Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.” —Psalm 107:13 (KJV)
4. Pride Comes Before a Fall
Eglon’s overconfidence and self-importance blinded him to danger. His story illustrates Proverbs 16:18:
“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.”
As Christians, we must remain humble and vigilant, trusting in God rather than our own strength or position.
5. Deliverance Is God’s Work
Though Ehud was the instrument, it was ultimately God who delivered Israel. The victory belonged to the Lord, and the peace that followed was a result of divine intervention.
“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.” —Proverbs 21:31 (KJV)
Eglon in Jewish and Christian Tradition
Jewish View
In Jewish tradition, the story of Eglon is often seen as a warning against idolatry, foreign oppression, and pride. Some rabbinic sources also note that Eglon’s daughter may have been the mother of Ruth, making him an ancestor of David. However, this is not confirmed in Scripture and is more a part of Jewish legend.
Christian Application
Christians can view the story of Eglon as a representation of how Christ delivers us from the bondage of sin. Just as Israel was helpless under Eglon until a deliverer arose, humanity was in bondage until Jesus Christ came to set us free.
“If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.” —John 8:36 (KJV)
Ehud’s victory was temporary and political, but Christ’s victory is eternal and spiritual.
Conclusion
Eglon, king of Moab, was a powerful and oppressive ruler whose story serves as a dark chapter in Israel’s history. Yet his tale is not merely one of domination and death—it is a story of God’s justice, mercy, and the power of deliverance.
Eglon reminds us of the consequences of sin and the futility of pride, while Ehud reminds us that God can use anyone, even the unexpected, to accomplish His purposes.
As believers, we can take comfort in knowing that God still hears the cries of His people and responds with grace, raising up deliverance in His perfect time.
Let us turn from sin, remain humble before God, and trust Him to fight our battles and bring us into peace.
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