Judges 3 20

Judges 3:20 kjv

And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlor, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat.

Judges 3:20 nkjv

So Ehud came to him (now he was sitting upstairs in his cool private chamber). Then Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." So he arose from his seat.

Judges 3:20 niv

Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace and said, "I have a message from God for you." As the king rose from his seat,

Judges 3:20 esv

And Ehud came to him as he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber. And Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." And he arose from his seat.

Judges 3:20 nlt

Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you!" As King Eglon rose from his seat,

Judges 3 verses

Judges 3 20 Meaning

Judges 3:20 describes the crucial moment when Ehud, the Israelite deliverer, obtains a private audience with Eglon, the King of Moab. Ehud shrewdly requests this encounter under the pretext of delivering a confidential "message from God." Eglon, honoring the perceived divine authority, rises from his seat to receive this message. This specific interaction sets the stage for the swift and decisive act of judgment and deliverance that follows.

Judges 3 20 Context

Judges 3:20 is pivotal within the broader narrative of Ehud's deliverance of Israel from Moabite oppression. Israel, having fallen into idolatry, endured 18 years under King Eglon (Judges 3:12-14). After their repentance and crying out to God, Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, was raised up as their deliverer (Judges 3:15). Ehud brings tribute to Eglon, concealing a sword on his right thigh to exploit Eglon's guards' expectation of a right-handed man. Having presented the tribute, Ehud dismisses his escort, only to return to Eglon with the deceptive claim of a "secret message from God" (Judges 3:19). This verse marks the moment Ehud achieves his desired private, vulnerable access to the king, initiating the specific, divinely-ordained act of judgment against the oppressor.

Judges 3 20 Word analysis

• And Ehud came unto him:

  • Ehud (אֵהוּד, ’Ēhûḏ): Meaning "united" or "praise of God." Ironically, this name aligns with his role in uniting Israel against its oppressor and bringing praise to God through deliverance. His left-handedness (Jdg 3:15) is a significant detail, hinting at an unexpected or unorthodox method.
  • came unto him (בָּא אֵלָיו, ba’ ’elayv): Denotes a direct, purposeful approach, establishing intimate proximity with the king.

• and he was sitting in a cool parlor:

  • sitting (יוֹשֵׁב הוּא, yoshēv hû’): Implies a relaxed, comfortable, and potentially vulnerable posture. It suggests the king felt secure and was off guard.
  • cool parlor (הַמַּקֵּרָה, hammaqqērāh): Derived from the root meaning "to cool." This refers to an "upper room" or "roof chamber" (עֲלִיָּה, ‘aliyyah), designed to catch breezes for relief from the heat. This specific location emphasizes privacy and isolation, as these chambers were often secluded from public view and general access. The luxury of such a room also speaks to Eglon's indulgent lifestyle as an oppressive king.

• which he had for himself alone:

  • for himself alone (לְבַדּוֹ, levaddo): This critical detail highlights Eglon's absolute solitude, ensuring no witnesses or guards would interfere with Ehud's mission. It underscores Eglon's misplaced trust and security in his private comfort.

• And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee:

  • message (דְּבַר, devart): "Word," "matter," or "affair." Here, it specifically means a divine revelation or command.
  • from God (אֱלֹהִים, ’ĕlōhîm): This is a powerful, generic term for God. Even a pagan king like Eglon would have respected the concept of a divine message, regardless of which deity was referenced. Ehud leverages this universal reverence for the sacred. The phrase devar-Elohim implies weighty, urgent communication. It functions as a spiritual "access pass."

• And he arose out of his seat:

  • arose (וַיָּקָם, wayyāqom): A posture of honor and respect for what is considered sacred or a person delivering a divine word. It indicates reverence and submission to perceived higher authority.
  • out of his seat (מֵעַל הַכִּסֵּא, me‘al hak-kisse’): Rising from his throne or chair. This act, driven by reverence, inadvertently makes Eglon stand, putting him in a vulnerable, upright position, perfectly exposed for Ehud's concealed blade.

Words-group analysis:

• "cool parlor... for himself alone": This phrase precisely sets the isolated and intimate scene. The king's choice of such a private and comfortable space inadvertently becomes his execution chamber. It highlights Eglon's indulgence and sense of impregnable security.
• "I have a message from God unto thee": This declaration is the tactical genius of Ehud. It is a calculated spiritual ploy that commands immediate reverence from a king, despite his pagan beliefs, and opens the door for the act of judgment. It demonstrates Ehud's understanding of both human and spiritual dynamics.
• "And he arose out of his seat": This signifies the success of Ehud's deception. Eglon's respect for a divine message leads him to adopt a position that makes him physically vulnerable, illustrating the hand of God at work, bringing judgment through human weakness and cunning.

Judges 3 20 Bonus section

• The irony is profound: King Eglon, who oppressed God's people for nearly two decades, unwittingly rises to honor a "message from God" delivered by the very person chosen by that God to execute divine judgment upon him.
• The detail of the "cool parlor" also points to Eglon's lifestyle of luxury and self-absorption, further contrasting him with Ehud, a man of action focused on Israel's deliverance. His physical comfort led to his spiritual and physical undoing.
• While Ehud's actions involve deception, it is framed within the specific context of God's direct commission to bring about national deliverance from tyrannical oppression, an act consistent with other Old Testament narratives of divine judgment against enemies of Israel. This is not presented as a general moral principle for believers to practice deceit.

Judges 3 20 Commentary

Judges 3:20 is the critical turning point in Ehud's mission. It showcases the strategic brilliance employed by God's chosen deliverer against the oppressive King Eglon. Ehud's careful stagecraft—securing an utterly private meeting in a "cool parlor" which suggests the king's self-indulgence and isolation—is key. The core of his tactic, however, lies in declaring a "message from God." This proclamation cleverly exploits a universal, innate reverence for the divine, even within a pagan ruler like Eglon. By appealing to this spiritual dimension, Ehud compels Eglon to rise from his throne, a customary gesture of respect for divine communication. This seemingly innocent act of reverence immediately shifts Eglon into a physically exposed and vulnerable position, fulfilling Ehud's calculated plan. The entire scene, though executed with human cunning, implicitly points to God's hand in orchestrating the circumstances, preparing Eglon for his divine judgment, and paving the way for Israel's deliverance. This demonstrates God's sovereignty over kings and His readiness to deliver His people, even through unconventional means.