14. And the Israelites served Eglon king of Moab eighteen years.
15. And the Israelites cried out to Yahweh, and Yahweh raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud son of Gera, a Benjaminite and a left-handed man. And the Israelites sent a tribute to Eglon king of Moab through him.
16. Ehud made for himself a short, two-edged sword (a cubit in length), and he fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh.
17. Then he presented the tribute to Eglon king of Moab. Now Eglon was a very fat man.
18. When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute.
19. But he turned back from the sculptured stones that were near Gilgal, and he said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” And he said, “Silence!” So all those standing in his presence went out,
20. and Ehud came to him while he was sitting alone in his cool upper room. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” So he got up from his seat.
21. Then Ehud reached with his left hand for the sword on his right thigh, and he thrust it into his stomach.
22. And the handle also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade because he did not draw back the sword from his stomach; and it went protruding out the back.
23. And Ehud went out the vestibule, and he closed the doors of the upper room and locked them behind him.