10. The Spirit of the Lord entered Othniel. And he became Israel’s judge and went to war. The Lord helped him to defeat Cushan-Rishathaim king of Northwest Mesopotamia.
11. So the land was at peace for 40 years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
12. Again the people of Israel did what the Lord said was wrong. So the Lord gave Eglon king of Moab power to defeat Israel. This was because of the evil Israel did.
13. Eglon got the Ammonite people and the Amalekite people to join him. Then he attacked Israel and took Jericho, the city of palm trees.
14. The people of Israel were under the rule of Eglon king of Moab for 18 years.
15. So the people cried to the Lord. And he sent a man to save them. That man was Ehud, who was left-handed. Ehud was the son of Gera from the people of Benjamin. Israel sent Ehud to give Eglon king of Moab the payment he demanded.
16. Ehud made a sword for himself. The sword had two edges and was about 18 inches long. He tied the sword to his right upper leg under his clothes.
17. So Ehud came to Eglon king of Moab and gave him the payment he demanded. Eglon was a very fat man.
18. After he had given Eglon the payment, Ehud sent home the men who had carried it.
19. When he passed the statues near the city Gilgal, he turned around. Ehud said to Eglon, “I have a secret message for you, King Eglon.”The king said, “Be quiet!” Then he sent all of his servants out of the room.
20. Ehud went to King Eglon. Eglon was now sitting alone in the room on top of his summer palace.Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king stood up from his chair,
21. Ehud reached with his left hand. He took out the sword that was tied to his right upper leg. Then he stabbed the sword deep into the king’s belly!