From the Quarries - Judges 3:19

In the book of Judges we learned how, “the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years. But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man. And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present”, and in chapter three and verse nineteen of Judges, we learn how Ehud, “turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal” where we read,

But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto you, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.

The verse reads, “But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, …” The writer began with the words, “but he himself” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover he, Ehud, his own self” “turned again” or “returned, came back and went backward” “from the quarries” which means “separate and apart from the idols and graven images” “that were by Gilgal” or “that existed near, among and close to Gilgal whose name means ‘a wheel or rolling’ and was the first site of an Israelite camp west of the Jordan, east of Jericho, here Samuel was judge, and Saul was made king; later used for illicit worship”, “and said” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed the following words”. The writer shared how “Ehud” went back to “Eglon” from the idols and graven images in the midst of “Gilgal” and made the following proclamation. 

The verse goes on to say, “… I have a secret errand unto you, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him.” The writer continued with the words, “I have a secret errand unto you” which means “I, Ehud, possess a covert, disguised and sheltered speech, word or utterance toward you, Eglon”, “O king” or “O royal ruler and leader”: “who said” which means “Eglon uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “keep silence” or “leave us and be quiet”. “And all that stood by him” which means “and each, the whole and everyone who beside and along with him, Eglon” “went out from him” or “exited, departed and proceeded separate and apart from him, Eglon”. The writer shared how “Ehud” told “Eglon the king” that he had a covert word for him, so “Eglon” instructed all this assistants to be quiet and those who were near him departed. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover more to the plan “Ehud” had for freeing the people of “Israel” from the oppression of “Eglon”. After presenting their offering to “Eglon”, the people of Israel who accompanied “Ehud” departed while he told “Eglon” that he possessed a covert message to give him. At this “Eglon” told all his assistants to be quiet, and they left him. The plot thickens, and there is more to this story in our next verses. Step by step and plan by plan God’s will for the rescue of the people of Israel was being fulfilled, and in the same manner, God intentionally sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and empower us to live in keeping with His plan and purpose for our lives in the “Kingdom of God”. (See John 3:16; Matthew 6:33)

Next time we learn how, “Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlor”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".