¹⁵ Again the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he gave them a deliverer^(A)—Ehud^(B), a left-handed^(C) man, the son of Gera the Benjamite. The Israelites sent him with tribute^(D) to Eglon king of Moab.

¹⁷ He presented the tribute^(A) to Eglon king of Moab, who was a very fat man.^{(B) 18} After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it. ¹⁹ But on reaching the stone images near Gilgal he himself went back to Eglon and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.”

The king said to his attendants, “Leave us!” And they all left.

²⁰ Ehud then approached him while he was sitting alone in the upper room of his palace^[a](C) and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose^(D) from his seat,