a sword … of a cubit length The measure, a gômed, does not occur again in the O.T.; Jewish interpreters explain it as a short cubit, i.e. the length from the elbow to the knuckles, about 13½ in. (Gk. πυγμή). This is the measure required; Ehud's weapon was a short two-edged sword, or long dagger, without a cross-piece (to judge from Judges 3:22), such as could be buried, hilt and all, in the belly of the corpulent king.

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