Why Mention that Ehud Was A Lefty?

Hi,

In the Book of Judges, the verse (3:15) says that Ehud was left-handed.

Why was that detail mentioned in the scriptures?

Answer:

The Bible mentions Ehud's left-handedness because that was what enabled him to kill Eglon, the Moabite king. As any king would, Eglon had guards who protected him and searched anyone who wanted to enter his throne room. Yet somehow, Ehud managed to get in with a sharp sword concealed in his clothing.

Normally, a right-handed person wears his sword on his left side, because it's easier and faster to draw his sword from the opposite side of his body.

The guards assumed Ehud was right-handed, and therefore only checked his left side. But as a lefty, Ehud kept his sword on the right side, and so it was overlooked. With the sword that went unnoticed, Ehud killed the king of Moab.1

See The First Judges from our Jewish History section.

Rochel Chein
for The Judaism Website – Chabad.org

FOOTNOTES
1.	Rabbi Dovid Altshuler, in his Metsudot Dovid commentary on Judges 3:15.

By Rochel Chein

Mrs. Rochel Chein is a member of the chabad.org Ask the Rabbi team.

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August 30, 2011

Ehud's handedness

Ehud was a Benjamite. Benjamin apparently trained all of their soldiers to fight using both hands for obvious reasons. And it was something the King of Moab's guards would not have considered in the search. But, could there be a more esoteric meaning? Is there a spiritual significance to 'left' vs 'right' handedness? The word used for 'dagger' is only used in this verse from what I understand. Other very similar words are used to describe a two edged sword but not this exact word. The children of Israel 'sent a present' to Eglon, King of Moab. I"m thinking there's a story there.

Paul Ringo
Junction, La

August 12, 2011

Which Ehud?

Barak or Olmert? Both are clearly lefties....

A600KiloBear
NYC, NY

August 10, 2011

A very popular tactic

It's actually why the Ninjato of Japan developed the ability to be ambidextrous...so they could place their sword in the "peace" position (which was normally on the right side of the body) and make a quick assassination.

Eliyahu
Hickory, NC