Judges 3 25

Judges 3:25 kjv

And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlor; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

Judges 3:25 nkjv

So they waited till they were embarrassed, and still he had not opened the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them. And there was their master, fallen dead on the floor.

Judges 3:25 niv

They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead.

Judges 3:25 esv

And they waited till they were embarrassed. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor.

Judges 3:25 nlt

so they waited. But when the king didn't come out after a long delay, they became concerned and got a key. And when they opened the doors, they found their master dead on the floor.

Judges 3 verses

Judges 3 25 Meaning

Judges chapter 3 verse 25 narrates the moment Eglon's attendants discover his lifeless body. After waiting respectfully and then impatiently for their king to emerge from his private chamber, they grew embarrassed by his prolonged absence, fearing they might be interrupting a private moment or that something was amiss. When the chamber remained closed, they took decisive action, opened it with a key, and were met with the shocking sight of their corpulent monarch, Eglon king of Moab, fallen on the ground, dead. This discovery confirms Ehud's success in assassinating the oppressor of Israel and marks the turning point for Israel's deliverance from Moabite servitude.

Judges 3 25 Context

Verse Context: This verse provides the dramatic culmination of Ehud's assassination of Eglon. Ehud had just struck Eglon down with a hidden dagger in the privacy of Eglon's "parlour" and then ingeniously locked the doors from the outside, creating the illusion that Eglon was merely relieving himself. Ehud then calmly exited, leaving Eglon's servants waiting outside, leading directly to the events described in verse 25.

Chapter Context: Judges Chapter 3 introduces Ehud, the left-handed Benjamite judge raised by God to deliver Israel from 18 years of Moabite oppression under King Eglon. The chapter begins with Israel's familiar cycle of apostasy (forgetting the Lord), subsequent foreign domination as divine discipline, and then their cry for help to which God graciously responds by raising a deliverer. Ehud's mission is presented as a covert operation, culminating in the bold and cunning assassination of the oppressor, Eglon, in his very throne room. The discovery of Eglon's body signals the beginning of Israel's reassertion of freedom and eventual victory.

Historical Context: The period of the Judges (approximately 14th to 11th century BC) was a turbulent time for Israel after their entry into Canaan. Without a unified monarchy, local tribes struggled with internal disunity and external threats. Eglon, King of Moab, ruling from east of the Dead Sea, had extended his control over Israel, likely requiring tribute and subjection. The ʾalliyyāh (upper room or parlor) would have been a common feature in ancient Near Eastern palaces for privacy and possibly for its coolness, providing a strategic setting for Ehud's audacious act. Kings in this era were often seen as representatives of their gods or even divine themselves, making Eglon's ignominious death a potent theological statement about the powerlessness of pagan deities before Yahweh.

Judges 3 25 Word analysis

• And they waited (וַיְיַחֲלוּ - vayyalalhu): This Hebrew verb denotes patient endurance, looking expectantly, or hoping. Here, it suggests the initial respectful pause of Eglon's servants, awaiting his emergence. Their wait gradually transforms into anxiety, then shame.
• till they were ashamed (עַד בּוֹשׁ - ʿad bōš): The word bōš (בוש) implies more than just being uncomfortable; it refers to disgrace, confusion, disappointment, or feeling humiliated. They were ashamed both culturally (it was disrespectful to interrupt or to have the king delay so long, potentially causing a perceived slight to their presence) and personally (their patience or deference was being tried beyond normal bounds, leading to embarrassment for their lack of proper judgment or a situation they couldn't control). This feeling compelled them to act.
• and, behold, (וְהִנֵּה - vəhinneh): An interjection that demands attention, used to indicate surprise or to introduce something significant. Its first use here builds suspense as the initial state of the locked room is presented.
• he opened not the doors (לֹא פּוֹתֵחַ דַּלְתוֹת - lōʾ pôṯeaḥ dalṯōwṯ): A clear statement of fact that fueled their growing concern. The emphasis is on the king's inaction, contrary to expectation.
• of the parlour; (הַעַלִּיָּה - haʿalliyyāh): Refers to an "upper chamber," a private room or apartment, often on the roof or upper floor, known for seclusion and often used for retreat, rest, or sensitive meetings. The locked door to this specific, private space further amplified their trepidation.
• therefore they took a key, (וַיִּקְחוּ אֶת הַמַּפְתֵּחַ - vayyiqḥū ʾeṯ hammafṯeaḥ): This signifies a decisive, albeit unusual, action for royal attendants to take. Access to the key implies an urgent situation demanding immediate attention, overriding normal protocol.
• and opened them: (וַיִּפְתְּחוּ - vayyipṯĕḥū): The direct action. This literal unlocking and opening represents the breaching of royal privacy, necessitated by extreme circumstance.
• and, behold, (וְהִנֵּה - vəhinneh): Used a second time in this verse, underscoring the dramatic, sudden, and shocking revelation that awaits them as the doors swing open. It heightens the tension and impacts the reader.
• their lord (אֲדֹנֵיהֶם - ʾăḏōnehem): This term highlights Eglon's supreme status, authority, and their subservience. The discovery of their lord in such a state would be especially jarring due to his royal dignity and power.
• was fallen down dead on the earth. (נֹפֵל אַרְצָה מֵת - nōp̄ēl ʾarṣāh mêṯ): The Hebrew order literally is "falling to the earth, dead." Nōp̄ēl (נופל - falling) implies a prostrate, prone position, lacking all power. The added mêṯ (מת - dead) explicitly confirms his state. The image conveys complete lack of control, humiliation, and finality. It is a striking contrast to the dignity and authority of a living king, underscoring the completeness of his defeat and divine judgment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And they waited till they were ashamed": This phrase paints a picture of growing tension and discomfort. It highlights the cultural expectation of proper conduct and reverence for royalty. The servants' adherence to protocol (waiting) gradually dissolves into an inescapable feeling of dishonor (bosh) due to the king's abnormal prolonged absence, forcing their hand.
• "and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour": This is the direct confirmation of their suspicion. The hinneh here serves as an exclamation of realization. The sealed privacy of the alliyyāh (private room) which Eglon likely intended for his comfort and safety became, through divine providence, his death trap, secured from both within (by Ehud's device) and without (by Eglon's presumed instruction for privacy).
• "therefore they took a key, and opened them": This is the pivot point where their deference ends and practical necessity takes over. The action signifies a violation of established protocol born out of mounting desperation and a desperate need to restore order or understand the unusual circumstance. The king's chamber, meant to be secure, is breached by his own staff using his own key, setting the stage for the dramatic revelation.
• "and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth": The ultimate climax. The second hinneh emphasizes the dramatic, horrific impact of the discovery. Their high-status "lord" is utterly undignified and motionless, "fallen to the earth, dead." This image is powerful: a once proud and powerful king brought low in shame and weakness, confirming the sovereignty of Israel's God over human pride and foreign oppression. It signifies the end of a tyrannical rule and the beginning of Israel's liberation.

Judges 3 25 Bonus section

• The Irony of Security: Eglon sought security and privacy in his upper room, a place of retreat. Yet, this very room, and the custom of privacy within it, became the setting for his vulnerability and demise, ultimately securing Ehud's escape and his own destruction.
• The Power of Waiting: The extended wait by Eglon’s servants serves a crucial narrative purpose. It gives Ehud ample time to escape unnoticed and assemble the Israelite forces, turning the private assassination into a public act of divine judgment and liberation. This period of suspense allows for a dramatic revelation and sets up the successful war against Moab.
• Polemics against Moabite Royalty/Deity: In the ancient Near East, kings were often considered divine or divinely protected. Eglon's inglorious death, killed secretly by a single Israelite in his private space, severely undermines any such perception for Eglon or his Moabite god, Chemosh. It powerfully demonstrates the supreme authority and effective judgment of the God of Israel.

Judges 3 25 Commentary

Judges 3:25 vividly details the precise moment Eglon’s men discover the king’s fate. The initial wait reflects the expected reverence and protocol surrounding a king's private time, especially for a function like "covering his feet" (a euphemism for relieving himself). However, the duration of the wait turns to "shame" (bosh), signifying embarrassment or even confusion that could lead to disciplinary action for such an unprecedented delay from the monarch. This pressure, amplified by the locked, soundless chamber, compels them to overcome their hesitancy.

The detail of taking a "key" and opening the doors underscores both Eglon’s perceived need for privacy (perhaps locking the door himself as he entered) and the unexpected, undignified end to his powerful reign. Ehud’s meticulous plan included this locking action, buying him crucial time for escape. The double use of "behold" (hinneh) intensifies the dramatic unveiling, first highlighting the stubbornly closed doors, then emphasizing the horrifying, final state of the king.

Eglon’s massive frame "fallen down dead on the earth" in his private chamber symbolizes the total overthrow of a powerful oppressor. The king, who likely sat in arrogant authority over Israel, is now reduced to a humiliating corpse. This event is a clear demonstration of Yahweh’s active involvement in history, working through unusual and cunning means (a left-handed Benjamite, a cleverly crafted dagger, a locked room, and Eglon’s own attendants) to humble the proud and deliver His people, even against seemingly insurmountable odds. It reasserts God's ultimate sovereignty over kings and nations, delivering judgment against the wicked and demonstrating faithfulness to His covenant people.