9. When Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord sent someone to save them. Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, saved the Israelites.
10. The Spirit of the Lord entered Othniel, and he became Israel’s judge. When he went to war, the Lord handed over to him Cushan-Rishathaim king of Northwest Mesopotamia.
11. So the land was at peace for forty 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 because of the evil Israel did.
13. Eglon got the Ammonites and the Amalekites to join him. Then he attacked Israel and took Jericho, the city of palm trees.
14. So the people of Israel were ruled by Eglon king of Moab for eighteen years.
15. When the people cried to the Lord, he sent someone to save them. He was Ehud, son of Gera from the people of Benjamin, who was left-handed. Israel sent Ehud to give Eglon king of Moab the payment he demanded.
16. Ehud made himself a sword with two edges, about eighteen inches long, and he tied it to his right hip under his clothes.
17. Ehud gave Eglon king of Moab the payment he demanded. Now Eglon was a very fat man.
18. After he had given Eglon the payment, Ehud sent away the people who had carried it.
19. When he passed the statues near Gilgal, he turned around and 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, as he was sitting alone in the room above his summer palace.Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king stood up from his chair,