12. Bnei-Yisrael again did what was evil in Adonai’s eyes. So Adonai strengthened King Eglon of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in Adonai’s eyes.
13. So he gathered to himself the people of Ammon and Amalek, then went and defeated Israel and took possession of the City of Palms.
14. Bnei-Yisrael became subject to King Eglon of Moab for 18 years.
15. But when Bnei-Yisrael cried out to Adonai, Adonai raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud son of Gera the Benjamite—a left-handed man. Now Bnei-Yisrael sent tribute with him to King Eglon of Moab.
16. Ehud made himself a double-edged sword, a cubit in length, which he girded on his right thigh under his cloak.
17. Then he presented the tribute to King Eglon of Moab. Eglon was a very fat man.
18. Now when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he dismissed the people who had carried the tribute,
19. but he himself turned back, at the idols that were near Gilgal, and said, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” “Keep silence!” he replied, so all his attendants left him.
20. Then Ehud approached him while he was sitting alone in a roof chamber where it was cool, and said, “I have a message from God for you,” so he arose from his throne.
21. Then Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and thrust it into his belly.
22. Even the handle went in after the blade and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not withdraw the sword out of his belly—and the filth came out.
23. Then Ehud went out by the porch, shut the doors of the roof chamber on him, and locked them.
24. After he had gone out, his courtiers came and looked, but behold, the doors of the roof chamber were locked. So they said, “He is only relieving himself in the cool chamber.”
25. So they waited till they were embarrassed, but behold, he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber. So they took the key and opened them—and behold, their master was lying dead on the floor.
26. But Ehud escaped while they were lingering, passed beyond the idols and escaped to Seirah.
27. When he arrived, he blew the shofar in the hill country of Ephraim, so Bnei-Yisrael went down with him from the hill country, and he was in front of them.
28. He said to them, “Follow me, for Adonai has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they went down after him and seized the fords of the Jordan opposite Moab, and allowed no one to cross over.
29. Then they struck down at that time about 10,000 men of Moab—all stout men of valor—not a man escaped.
30. So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. Then the land had peace for 80 years.