Judges 3:21

21 Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly.

Judges 3:21 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 3:21

And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from
his right thigh
Being, as before observed, a lefthanded man; ( Judges 3:15 ) , and this he could the better do, without being taken notice of by the king, who, if he saw him move his left hand, would have no suspicion of his going to draw a dagger with it, and which also was hidden under his raiment, ( Judges 3:16 ) ;

and thrust it into his belly;
Josephus ^F4 says into his heart; it is certain the wound was mortal, and must have been in a part on which, life depended.

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FOOTNOTES:

F4 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 2.

Judges 3:21 In-Context

19 But when Ehud reached the stone idols near Gilgal, he turned back. He came to Eglon and said, “I have a secret message for you.” So the king commanded his servants, “Be quiet!” and he sent them all out of the room.

20 Ehud walked over to Eglon, who was sitting alone in a cool upstairs room. And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you!” As King Eglon rose from his seat,

21 Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king’s belly.

22 The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king’s fat. So Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king’s bowels emptied.

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