Judges 3:17 kjv
And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
Judges 3:17 nkjv
So he brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.)
Judges 3:17 niv
He presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.
Judges 3:17 esv
And he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.
Judges 3:17 nlt
He brought the tribute money to Eglon, who was very fat.
Judges 3 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 2:4-7 | But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them… and she had said… | Deception used by God's people for a purpose. |
| Josh 8:26 | For Joshua did not draw back his hand, with which he stretched out… | Divine enablement for victory against enemies. |
| Judg 1:19 | And the LORD was with Judah; and he drove out the inhabitants of the mountain… | God's presence and enabling for His people. |
| Judg 3:15 | But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up… | Israel's cry leading to God raising a deliverer. |
| Judg 4:21 | Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer… | Cunning action by a woman to defeat an enemy. |
| 1 Sam 2:3 | Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth… | God exalts the humble and casts down the proud. |
| 1 Sam 17:38-39 | And Saul armed David with his armor… David tried to go… | God uses unconventional or unlikely means/weapons. |
| 2 Sam 8:2 | And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line… | Moab as a subjugated nation in Israel's history. |
| 1 Kings 4:21 | And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river unto the land… | Example of nations bringing tribute/gifts. |
| 2 Kings 16:8 | And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD… | Kings sending tribute, sometimes forced. |
| Ps 78:69-70 | And he built his sanctuary like high palaces… He chose David also… | God choosing unlikely individuals for leadership. |
| Ps 144:1 | Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war… | God empowering individuals for conflict. |
| Prov 21:1 | The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, as the rivers of water… | God's sovereign control over rulers' decisions. |
| Rom 13:6-7 | For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers… | Tribute as a political and social obligation. |
| 2 Cor 11:3 | But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty… | Caution regarding cunning and deception, though here used differently. |
| Heb 11:32-34 | And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barac, and of Samson, and of Jepthae… | God's people achieving victory through faith, often unconventionally. |
| Exo 22:21-27 | Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him… | Background on the vulnerability of the weak, here Eglon being vulnerable. |
| Jer 48:7-8 | For because thou hast trusted in thy works and in thy treasures… | God's judgment upon Moab and its pride. |
| Luke 10:3 | Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves. | Dispatching agents with a purpose, in a dangerous setting. |
| Rev 2:18 | And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God… | Divine knowledge of hidden actions. |
Judges 3 verses
Judges 3 17 Meaning
Judges 3:17 describes Ehud, the left-handed deliverer, concluding his public presentation of tribute (a gift or offering) to King Eglon of Moab. Immediately after this formal act, Ehud shrewdly dismisses his accompanying escorts who carried the tribute, ensuring he would be alone with the king for his covert mission. This verse sets the stage for Ehud's planned assassination, revealing his meticulous and deceptive strategy to gain private access to Eglon.
Judges 3 17 Context
Judges chapter 3 details the beginning of Israel's recurring cycle of sin, servitude, and salvation under the Judges. After forty years of peace following Othniel's deliverance, the Israelites again did "evil in the sight of the Lord." Consequently, God allowed Eglon, the King of Moab, to oppress them for eighteen years. Eglon, with the help of the Ammonites and Amalekites, established control, even taking over Jericho. When Israel cried out to the Lord, He raised up Ehud, a Benjamite, who was "left-handed" (or "bound/shut of his right hand"). This verse (3:17) directly follows Ehud's secret preparation (making a double-edged dagger) and his initial approach to Eglon to deliver Israel's required tribute, setting the stage for the dramatic, clandestine assassination of the oppressive king.
Judges 3 17 Word analysis
- And when he had presented: This phrase emphasizes the completion of a specific, formal action. In Hebrew, it can imply a carrying or lifting of the gift. The completion of the public ritual is crucial for Ehud's next, secret step.
- the present: Hebrew: minchah (מִנְחָה). While often referring to a grain offering to God (Lev 2:1-16), here it clearly signifies a tribute or gift to a superior, demonstrating subjugation or seeking favor (Gen 32:13, 1 Sam 10:27). Its presentation signifies a diplomatic, and seemingly submissive, act.
- unto Eglon king of Moab: Eglon (עֶגְלוֹן, ‘eglon) means "little calf" or "calf-like," often associated with fatness. This descriptive name is ironic and fitting given his physical description later (Judg 3:22). Moab was Israel's historical enemy (Num 22:1-6, Deut 23:3-6), located east of the Dead Sea, notorious for oppressing Israel and leading them into idolatry (Num 25:1-3).
- and when he had made an end of presenting the present: This reiteration stresses the conclusion of the public, official act. Ehud ensured there was no remaining business that would require the presence of his attendants. This detail highlights Ehud's deliberate and calculated execution of his plan.
- he sent away the people that bare the present: Hebrew: shalaḥ (שָׁלַח), "to send away," "dispatch." Ehud dismisses his escorts, his "carriers of the minchah." This act isolates him with Eglon, allowing for the secret assassination. This separation is pivotal, eliminating witnesses and any immediate threat to Ehud after his deed. The public spectacle concludes, paving the way for a private, deadly encounter.
Judges 3 17 Bonus section
Ehud's exceptional 'left-handedness' (literally "bound in his right hand") is repeatedly mentioned (Judg 3:15, 3:21). This seemingly disadvantageous physical trait becomes a significant strategic asset. Most warriors would be right-handed, and therefore, Ehud would have hidden his weapon on his right thigh, which guards would not typically check or expect. This unconventionality would lead to a fatal oversight. Furthermore, the name "Ehud" itself (from אֵהוּד 'ehud) can be linked to a root meaning "unity" or "where is he?" and some scholars consider it to possibly allude to God's intervention, a subtle reminder that despite the human cunning, divine providence guided the deliverer's actions. The precise timing of sending away the men, making sure all eyes were off Ehud and he was alone, is a testament to the detailed, step-by-step nature of the operation planned to perfection.
Judges 3 17 Commentary
Judges 3:17 is a pivotal verse, marking the transition from a formal, submissive act to the clandestine execution of a deliverance plan. Ehud's meticulous strategy is on full display. He leverages the expected diplomatic protocol – the presenting of tribute – to gain trusted access to the oppressive king. The public display of homage, the dismissal of his retinue, and the deliberate creation of an isolated encounter all underscore Ehud's calculated cunning and divine enabling. His seemingly deferential behavior is a masterful deception designed to disarm any suspicion. The king's comfort and perhaps arrogance, believing himself safe and in control, would prevent him from seeing the danger hidden behind the tribute bearer's humble facade. This detail about sending the people away is key to the unfolding drama, as it guarantees privacy for Ehud's decisive blow against the symbol of Moabite oppression.