12. Again the Israelites did things the Lord considered evil, and the Lord saw them doing these things. So the Lord gave King Eglon of Moab power to defeat the Israelites.
13. Eglon got help from the Ammonites and the Amalekites. They joined him and attacked the Israelites. Eglon and his army defeated the Israelites and forced them to leave the City of Palm Trees.
14. King Eglon of Moab ruled over the Israelites for 18 years.
15. The Israelites cried to the Lord for help, so he sent a man named Ehud son of Gera to save them. Ehud was from the tribe of Benjamin and was trained to fight with his left hand. The Israelites sent Ehud with a gift to King Eglon of Moab.
16. Ehud made himself a sword with two sharp edges that was about 12 inches long. He tied the sword to his right thigh and hid it under his uniform.
17. So Ehud brought the gift to King Eglon of Moab. Eglon was a very fat man.
18. After offering the gift, Ehud left the palace with the men who had carried the gift.
19. When Ehud reached the statues near Gilgal, he turned and went back to King Eglon and said, “King, I have a secret message for you.” The king told him to be quiet and then sent all the servants out of the room.
20. Ehud went to King Eglon. The king was sitting all alone in the upper room of his palace. Then Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” The king stood up from his throne. He was very close to Ehud.
21. As the king was getting up from his throne, Ehud reached with his left hand and took out the sword that was tied to his right thigh. Then he pushed the sword into the king’s belly.