Judges 3:17

And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon [was] a very fat man.

And he brought {H7126} the present {H4503} unto Eglon {H5700} king {H4428} of Moab {H4124}: and Eglon {H5700} was a very {H3966} fat {H1277} man {H376}.

Then he presented the tribute to 'Eglon king of Mo'av. Now 'Eglon was a very fat man.

and brought the tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who was an obese man.

And he offered the tribute unto Eglon king of Moab: now Eglon was a very fat man.

Commentary

Context

Judges 3:17 occurs during a period in Israel's history characterized by a recurring cycle: the Israelites would fall into idolatry and sin, God would allow them to be oppressed by surrounding nations, they would cry out to Him, and He would raise up a deliverer, or "judge," to rescue them. Following the death of Othniel, Israel once again did evil in the sight of the Lord, leading to 18 years of subjugation under Eglon, the powerful king of Moab. This verse details the moment when Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite chosen by God, presents the annual tribute or "present" to King Eglon, setting the stage for the dramatic deliverance that follows.

Key Themes

  • Divine Deliverance: Even in their disobedience, God hears Israel's cries and prepares a way for their liberation. Ehud's mission, though seemingly mundane as a tribute bearer, is part of God's larger plan to free His people.
  • The Nature of Oppression: King Eglon's "very fat" physique is not merely a physical description; it can symbolize the indulgence, excess, and perceived security of the oppressor, often at the expense of the subjugated. This detail also serves a crucial narrative purpose in the subsequent events.
  • Strategic Deception: Ehud's approach involves a clever, divinely-guided strategy. Delivering the tribute grants him access, allowing him to execute his plan for Israel's freedom.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "a very fat man" translates the Hebrew `bรขrรฎสผ` (ื‘ึธึผืจึดื™ื), which means "plump," "fat," or "well-fed." In this context, it emphasizes Eglon's considerable corpulence. This detail is highly significant to the plot, as it explains why Ehud's dagger would be completely swallowed by Eglon's flesh (Judges 3:22), preventing its easy detection and giving Ehud time to escape.

Practical Application

This verse, though a small detail in a dramatic narrative, reminds us that God often works through seemingly ordinary or even unconventional means to accomplish His purposes. The seemingly insignificant detail of Eglon's physical state plays a crucial role in the larger story of Israel's deliverance. It teaches us that God can use every circumstance and individual, even those with unique characteristics like Ehud's left-handedness, to bring about His will. For believers today, it underscores the truth that God remains sovereign over all details, great and small, in the ongoing story of redemption and justice.

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Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 5:28 (3 votes)

    They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

  • Ezekiel 34:20 (3 votes)

    Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD unto them; Behold, I, [even] I, will judge between the fat cattle and between the lean cattle.

  • Jeremiah 50:11 (3 votes)

    Because ye were glad, because ye rejoiced, O ye destroyers of mine heritage, because ye are grown fat as the heifer at grass, and bellow as bulls;

  • Psalms 73:19 (3 votes)

    How are they [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.

  • Job 15:27 (3 votes)

    Because he covereth his face with his fatness, and maketh collops of fat on [his] flanks.

  • Judges 3:29 (3 votes)

    And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty, and all men of valour; and there escaped not a man.

  • 1 Samuel 2:29 (2 votes)

    Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded [in my] habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?