Judges 3 23

Judges 3:23 kjv

Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlor upon him, and locked them.

Judges 3:23 nkjv

Then Ehud went out through the porch and shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

Judges 3:23 niv

Then Ehud went out to the porch; he shut the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

Judges 3:23 esv

Then Ehud went out into the porch and closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them.

Judges 3:23 nlt

Then Ehud closed and locked the doors of the room and escaped down the latrine.

Judges 3 verses

Judges 3 23 Meaning

Judges 3:23 describes the swift, decisive, and covert actions of Ehud immediately following his assassination of King Eglon of Moab. It details Ehud's method of exit from the upper chamber, ensuring delay in the discovery of Eglon's body by creating the impression that Eglon was merely attending to private needs. This verse underscores Ehud's cunning and calculated execution of divine judgment, pivotal for Israel's deliverance from Moabite oppression.

Judges 3 23 Context

Judges Chapter 3 initiates the first major cycle of Israel's apostasy, oppression, and deliverance following the death of Joshua. After a period of peace, the Israelites "did evil in the sight of the Lord" (Judg 3:7), leading to oppression under Cushan-Rishathaim (Mesopotamia) for eight years, then deliverance by Othniel. Following Othniel's death, Israel again fell into sin (Judg 3:12), leading to eighteen years of severe subjugation under King Eglon of Moab, who allied with Ammon and Amalek.

In response to Israel's cry, God raised Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, as a deliverer. Ehud ingeniously crafted a short, double-edged sword and concealed it on his right thigh, which was unconventional for a left-handed man. The context leading to verse 23 describes Ehud's presentation of tribute to Eglon, his dismissal of the entourage, and his cunning return to Eglon with a claim of a "secret message from God." This "secret message" resulted in the private audience where Ehud fatally stabbed the obese Eglon. Verse 23 details Ehud's critical actions post-assassination, ensuring his escape and delaying the discovery of Eglon's body by his unsuspecting servants, who believed the king was using the latrine due to the locked door and his private nature. This action secured Ehud's egress, enabling him to rally Israel against the now leaderless Moabites, leading to Israel's deliverance and eighty years of peace.

Judges 3 23 Word analysis

• Then Ehud (וְאֵהוּד): "Ehud" means "strong" or "unity." His name contrasts with the disunity of Israel. "Then" signifies immediate action, a critical, quick transition from the act of assassination to securing his escape and preparing for the next phase of the mission.
• went out (יָצָא - yatsa'): A verb indicating a deliberate, strategic departure. Ehud did not linger or hesitate. His exit was part of a larger, well-thought-out plan, implying stealth and swiftness.
• into the porch (הַפְּרוֹזְדוֹן - happerōzdon): This unique Hebrew word is likely a Persian or Greek loanword (prozdoon or prozdomos), referring to a portico, vestibule, or an antechamber connecting an inner room to the outside. It was a space designed for awaiting audiences or transitions, providing a measure of seclusion for the king and his visitors. Its use emphasizes Ehud's careful movement within the palace, exiting the immediate private killing area into a less sensitive but still transitional zone. This allowed him to create the illusion of privacy around Eglon.
• shut (וְסָגַר - v'sagar): A strong verb meaning to close, to bolt, to lock. This implies a deliberate and firm action. It highlights Ehud's intentionality in sealing off the chamber, preventing immediate access or view. This action, coupled with locking, signals the desired delay.
• the doors (דַּלְתֵי - daltei): Refers specifically to the doors, likely dual leaves, of the upper chamber. Emphasizes the thoroughness of Ehud's action in sealing off the room completely.
• of the upper chamber (הָעֲלִיָּה - ha'aliyah): The "upper chamber" was a common architectural feature in wealthy ancient Near Eastern homes and palaces, often used as a private, cool, and quiet room. This privacy was critical for Ehud's plan, both for the assassination itself and for creating the impression of Eglon's desire for solitude.
• on him (בַּעֲדוֹ - ba'ado): This literally means "behind him" or "upon him," indicating that Ehud shut the doors from the outside, making it appear as if Eglon had locked himself in from the inside for privacy. This subtle detail contributes significantly to the deception.
• and locked them (וְנָעַל - v'na'al): To secure with a lock or bolt. This action concretely confirms Ehud's intent to delay discovery. The common locking mechanism would have been a large bar across the doors or a bolt requiring time and effort to dislodge from the outside, further supporting the idea that Eglon desired absolute privacy.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "went out into the porch, shut the doors...": This sequence of actions highlights Ehud's precision and forethought. His egress was not frantic but controlled, transitioning him from the site of the deed to a position of safety and further action. The spatial detail of the "porch" marks the transition point between the private act and his public reappearance outside.
• "...shut the doors of the upper chamber on him, and locked them": This phrase meticulously details Ehud's deliberate engineering of the delayed discovery. The shutting and locking, done from the outside, cleverly manufactured the perception among Eglon's servants that their king was privately engaged, thus buying Ehud critical time for escape and mobilization. This shows Ehud's strategic genius, not just as an assassin but as a military planner who understood the psychology of his adversaries.

Judges 3 23 Bonus section

The sophisticated ruse engineered by Ehud through these actions ensured the element of surprise for the subsequent attack on Moab. Had the discovery been immediate, Eglon's guards might have captured Ehud and reinforced their positions before Israel could gather. Ehud’s actions illustrate divine providence working through human resourcefulness and strategic intelligence, emphasizing that God’s deliverance often involves active and intelligent participation from His chosen agents. The delay created here—servants waiting long enough to overcome their reverence for the king's privacy (Judg 3:24-25)—was pivotal for the success of Ehud's entire mission. This passage subtly demonstrates that true leadership, even in challenging and dangerous situations, involves careful planning and consideration of psychological factors in addition to brute force.

Judges 3 23 Commentary

Judges 3:23 succinctly describes Ehud's masterful execution of a critical post-assassination maneuver. His deliberate exit from the upper chamber, coupled with the meticulous act of shutting and locking the doors from the outside, demonstrates remarkable foresight and cunning. This was not mere escape; it was a calculated tactical move designed to delay discovery of Eglon's body. The servants' subsequent assumption that Eglon was "attending to his needs" (Judg 3:24) played directly into Ehud's ruse, granting him crucial time to escape and sound the alarm for Israel to rise against a leaderless enemy. This act, while violent, is portrayed in scripture as divinely ordained judgment against Eglon's oppression of Israel, highlighting God's method of using a chosen deliverer, even through unconventional means, to restore His people.