Judges 3:17

17 and he bringeth near the present to Eglon king of Moab, and Eglon [is] a very fat man.

Judges 3:17 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 3:17

And he brought a present unto Eglon king of Moab
Accompanied by two servants, as Josephus says F2, and who doubtless bore the presents; for that there were such with him that did is clear from ( Judges 3:18 ) ; nor can it be thought that so great a personage as a judge in Israel should go alone and carry a present in his own hands; though it is possible, when come to the king of Moab, he might take it from his servants, and deliver it to him with his own hands:

and Eglon [was] a very fat man:
and so the less active, and unable to decline and avoid the stroke, he might see, when about to be given him.


FOOTNOTES:

F2 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 4. sect. 2.

Judges 3:17 In-Context

15 And the sons of Israel cry unto Jehovah, and Jehovah raiseth to them a saviour, Ehud son of Gera, a Benjamite (a man -- shut of his right hand), and the sons of Israel send by his hand a present to Eglon king of Moab;
16 and Ehud maketh for himself a sword, and it hath two mouths (a cubit [is] its length), and he girdeth it under his long robe on his right thigh;
17 and he bringeth near the present to Eglon king of Moab, and Eglon [is] a very fat man.
18 And it cometh to pass, when he hath finished to bring near the present, that he sendeth away the people bearing the present,
19 and he himself hath turned back from the graven images which [are] at Gilgal, and saith, `A secret word I have unto thee, O king;' and he saith, `Hush!' and go out from him do all those standing by him.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.