Judges 3:20

_AND EHUD CAME UNTO HIM; AND HE WAS SITTING IN A SUMMER PARLOUR, WHICH HE HAD FOR HIMSELF ALONE. AND EHUD SAID, I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM GOD UNTO THEE. AND HE AROSE OUT OF HIS SEAT._ A summer parlour - Hebrew, 'chamber of cooling:' one of those retired edifices which Oriental grandees usually have in their gardens, built close to the walls of the outer court, or over the gate, and accessible by private stairs, and in which they repose during the heat of the day....

12-30 When Israel sins again, God raises up a new oppressor. The Israelites did ill, and the Moabites did worse; yet because God punishes the sins of his own people in this world, Israel is weakened, and Moab strengthened against them. If lesser troubles do not do the work, God will send greater. When Israel prays again, God raises up Ehud. As a judge, or minister of Divine justice, Ehud put to death Eglon, the king of Moab, and thus executed the judgments of God upon him as an enemy to God and Israel. But the law of being subject to principalities and powers in all things lawful, is the rule of our conduct. No such commissions are now given; to pretend to them is to blaspheme God. Notice Ehud's address to Eglon. What message from God but a message of vengeance can a proud rebel expect? Such a message is contained in the word of God; his ministers are boldly to declare it, without feari...

Verse Judges 3:20. _HE WAS SITTING IN A SUMMER PARLOUR_] Besides the platforms, says Dr. Shaw, which were upon the ancient houses of the East, and which are found there to this day, it is probable that heretofore, as well as at present, most of the great houses had a smaller one annexed, which seldom consisted of more than one or two rooms and a terrace. Others, built as they frequently are above the porch or gateway, have, if we except the ground-floor, all the conveniences belonging to the house, properly so called. There is a door of communication from them into the gallery of the house, kept open or shut at the discretion of the master of the house, besides another door which opens immediately from a privy stairs down into the porch or street, without giving the least disturbance to the house. In these back houses strangers are usually lodged and entertained; hither the men are wont...

Probably Ehud’s first message Judges 3:19 had been delivered to the attendants, and by them carried to the king. Now Ehud is admitted to the king’s presence, into the cool upper chamber. I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM GOD UNTO THEE - Ehud believed himself to be accomplishing the divine mandate, and so his words were true in a certain sense. But it was also a stratagem to cause the king to rise, that the thrust might be sure. (The king rose at once, in true Oriental respect for a divine message, or from fear, compare Joshua 9:24.)...

EXPOSITION JUDGES 3:13 THE CHILDREN OF AMMON. The technical name of the Ammonite people (see Genesis 19:38; Deuteronomy 2:19, Deuteronomy 2:37; Judges 10:6, Judges 10:11, Judges 10:17, etc.). Sometimes, however, they are called _Ammon_, or _Ammonites _(see...

AND EHUD CAME UNTO HIM,.... Somewhat nearer him than he was before; it seems probable that Eglon retired from the presence chamber, where he received company, into his summer parlour; which was smaller and more private, and in which he had used to be alone, as follows, and whither Ehud went in unto him, as he directed him: AND HE WAS SITTING IN A SUMMER PARLOUR, WHICH HE HAD FOR HIMSELF ALONE: into which he was wont to go and sit alone, for the sake of coolness and refreshment in the hot season of the year, which it seems it now was; a room this was, in which, as Kimchi and others observe, were many windows to let in air to cool and refresh; or it was in such a part of the palace that was cool, and sheltered from the heat of the sun; see Amos 3:15; AND EHUD SAID, I HAVE A MESSAGE FROM GOD UNTO THEE; which was to kill him; and undoubtedly he was sent of God on

2. SECOND DECLENSION UNDER MOAB--EHUD AND SHAMGAR CHAPTER 3:12-31 _ 1. The second declension: serving Eglon, king of Moab (Judges 3:12)_ 2. Ehud raised up (Judges 3:15) 3. Eglon, king of Moab, slain by Ehud (Judges 3:16) 4. The deliverance by Shamgar (Judges 3:31) When they continued to do evil Jehovah used Eglon, king of Moab to punish their disobedience and evil-doings. With him there is Ammon and Amalek, a trinity of evil. The city of Palms is Jericho (Deuteronomy 34:3) a type of the world, as we saw from Joshua

EHUD, THE BENJAMITE. D's setting of the story of Ehud is apparent in Judges 3:12_ a_ and Judges 3:30. The story itself is a genuine folk-tale, handed down from century to century before being committed to writing. One can readily imagine with what zest it was told in the tribe of Benjamin, where the left-handed Ehud was a popular hero. On the moral question raised by his conduct, the facts at our disposal do not enable us to pronounce with confidence. To our minds Ehud is not very attractive either as a man or as a patriot Judges 3:12. The Edomites were in possession of the country to the E. of the Dead Sea, with the Arnon (pp. 32f.) as their northern border ...

SUMMER PARLOUR. Cooling room. Occurs only here and Judges 3:24. MESSAGE. word; put by Figure of speech _Metonymy_ (of Subject) for what is meant by it: here it is the "errand" of Judges 3:19. GOD. Elohim. App-4. The Creator to the creature; not Jehovah (the Covenant God) to His servant. SEAT. throne....

_Ehud delivers Israel from Moab_ The story of Ehud is furnished by the editor with an introduction (Judges 3:12 a) and conclusion (Judges 3:30) in his usual manner. The narrative thus enclosed is one of the oldest in the Book; it has the freshness and vigour which belong to the best style of Hebrew story-telling. Traces of editorial interference may perhaps be detected here and there, Judges 3:19_; Judges 3:22; Judges 3:27_are taken by some to be doublets; but the narrative as a whole (J