Even though Good News Translation begins a new paragraph here, most versions see rather a series of quick, linked actions. The story is now at its climax, where two important words are emphasized: God and arose. The hero Ehud is also named twice.
And Ehud came to him means Ehud approached the king in order to speak privately with him. The Hebrew waw conjunction can be rendered And or “Then” (Good News Translation), depending on the language.
As he was sitting alone in his cool roof chamber: In Hebrew this is an independent clause, literally “and he [was] sitting in the roof chamber of the coolness to him by himself.” This clause slows down the action, as the villain is being “set up for the kill.” Some languages will prefer to reverse the order of the first two clauses, saying “The king was sitting alone … and Ehud came to him.” He was sitting renders an independent Hebrew pronoun followed by a participle. The participle here is used in Hebrew not just to describe the act of sitting, but can also imply “sitting on a throne.” The word rendered alone (lebaddo, literally “by himself”) occurs at the end of the sentence in Hebrew, but translators may place it wherever appropriate in their language.
In his cool roof chamber is the setting. This scene probably takes place in a palace by the Jordan River near Jericho. The coolest part of the house is the sheltered roof or terrace that catches the cool breeze. Cool roof chamber renders two Hebrew words, one referring to an upper room and the second referring to the coolness of this location. This might be an open room, giving protection from the sun, but allowing the breeze to flow through. However, this place does seem to have walls with a door that could be locked. In Israel and nearby countries, houses had flat roofs which served as terraces, especially during hot weather. On the outside of the house there was a stairway leading up to the roof. Translators need to think how best to describe this place, adding a footnote or perhaps an illustration, especially if this kind of structure is unknown. We might say “where it was cool, in the room on the roof of his house.”
And Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you”: Ehud’s words here are almost identical to those in verse 3.19, but slightly more specific. This time Ehud has not just “a hidden message/thing,” but a message from God (debar ʾelohim in Hebrew) for the king! Again there is irony and a play on words here, as the listener knows what the king does not know. The secret message, the divine word, will be delivered by Ehud’s hidden sword! It may be made even more explicit, saying “a hidden message from God.” Most readers will understand what this means, once Ehud accomplishes his act. Otherwise, a footnote may be added that says, “In fact, the ‘secret message/thing’ and the ‘divine message/thing’ both refer to the sword that Ehud carries secretly and uses to kill the Moabite king.”
The Hebrew word translated God (ʾelohim) is generic and not the personal name of God, Yahweh. Using this word may have been part of Ehud’s plan to keep Eglon’s defenses down.
And he arose from his seat: This is a key clause leading up to the climax of the story. The pronoun he refers to the king who was sitting on his throne. In the introductory comments about the judges’ period and in the episode concerning Othniel, the Hebrew verb translated arose (qum) plays a very special role. In times of great oppression, Yahweh “raises up” deliverers for Israel. Here there is a parody of that experience as the enemy king “arises”—but to his death! Here the verb has its primary meaning of “get up” from a lower position or seat, in all likelihood to hear the message or receive this additional gift.
From his seat could also be rendered “from his throne.” Several versions omit this phrase. Good News Translation has simply “The king stood up.” However, there is certainly a humorous link between the word seat or “throne” and the place the king’s attendants will later imagine him to be.
A possible model for this verse is:
• Ehud approached the king as he was sitting alone in the cool room on the roof of his house. He said, “[O king,] I have a message from God for you.” So the king rose up from his chair [to hear the message from God].
Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .