13 Eglon joined the Ammonites and the Amalekites; they defeated Israel and captured Jericho, the city of palm trees.
14 The Israelites were subject to Eglon for eighteen years.
15 Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord, and he sent someone to free them. This was Ehud, a left-handed man, who was the son of Gera, from the tribe of Benjamin. The people of Israel sent Ehud to King Eglon of Moab with gifts for him.
16 Ehud had made himself a double-edged sword about a foot and a half long. He had it fastened on his right side under his clothes.
17 Then he took the gifts to Eglon, who was a very fat man.
18 When Ehud had given him the gifts, he told the men who had carried them to go back home.
19 But Ehud himself turned back at the carved stones near Gilgal, went back to Eglon, and said, “Your Majesty, I have a secret message for you.”So the king ordered his servants, “Leave us alone!” And they all went out.