13. After Eglon convinced the Ammonites and the Amalekites to join forces with him, he attacked and defeated Israel and took possession of the City of Palms.
14. The Israelites served Eglon king of Moab 18 years.
15. Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjaminite, as a deliverer for them. The Israelites sent him to Eglon king of Moab with tribute money.
16. Ehud made himself a double-edged sword 18 inches long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his clothes
17. and brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an extremely fat man.
18. When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he dismissed the people who had carried it.
19. At the carved images near Gilgal he returned and said, “King Eglon, I have a secret message for you.” The king called for silence, and all his attendants left him.
20. Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in his room upstairs where it was cool. Ehud said, “I have a word from God for you,” and the king stood up from his throne.