The significance of Ehud’s left-handedness and his carefully crafted and hidden dagger now become obvious. Ehud has gained the king’s confidence. King Eglon was tricked both by Ehud’s words as well as by his clever plan. Once again these numerous details slow down the narrative, thus heightening the suspense.

And Ehud reached with his left hand: The connector And conveys the quickness of the action. Translators should find a conjunction that will fit this context. Once again two important words come to the forefront: reached and hand. Reached renders the Hebrew verb for “send” (shalach), which has already appeared twice in this story, when the Israelites “sent” the taxes to Eglon (verse 3.15) and when Ehud “sent” his men away (verse 3.18). Translators will need to use a verb that fits this context. With his left hand repeats the keyword hand, used here with its primary meaning. While earlier there was an idiomatic Hebrew expression for being left-handed (verse 3.15), here the simple phrase for “left hand” is used. However, in many languages the same expression may need to be used in both places. Though it is not clear from the text, it is quite possible that one of the themes here is that an unclean king has been killed by a blow from an unclean hand.

Took the sword from his right thigh means Ehud drew the dagger that he had secretly hidden under his clothes. For took translators can use a verb such as “pulled out” or “took out.” The text does not say whether the action was swift or slow, but probably the former. The sword or dagger was carefully hidden on his right side. Thigh refers to the outer part of the leg where the sword was hidden. Many versions prefer to render from his right thigh as “from his right side” (Good News Translation, Revised English Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh). These details show how intelligent this hero was. If the deliverer had been right-handed, he would have placed the dagger on his left side. For more discussion of sword and right thigh, see verse 3.16.

And thrust it into his belly: This is one of the high points of the story, as Ehud thrusts his knife into the king’s stomach. The Hebrew verb rendered thrust (taqaʿ) should be expressed by a word that communicates the swiftness of the action as well as the emotion of the moment. In English “plunged” and “drove” are effective verbs. This Hebrew verb will be used with various meaning many times in the text that follows, especially as part of an expression for “give a blast” on the ram’s horn (verse 3.27; verse 4.21; verse 6.34; verse 7.18, 19, 20, 22), as well as when Jael “drives in” the tent peg into the enemy’s head (verse 4.21). All these uses occur in the context of Israel’s victories, while the final occurrence of this verb describes an aspect of Israel’s defeat, when Delilah tricks Samson (verse 16.14)! The pronoun it refers to the sword or knife that Ehud had made especially for this mission. In many languages pronouns figure prominently at the climax of the story. At this point, hearers or readers know whose belly is being pierced. But if this is not clear, his belly may be rendered “Eglon’s [or, the king’s] belly.” In English the word belly implies a fat stomach, so Revised Standard Version‘s rendering is correct. Translators can use various words, for example, “stomach” or perhaps even “guts.” We might say “and he plunged the knife deep into the king’s stomach” or “and he shoved it far into Eglon’s stomach” (similarly Contemporary English Version).

The narrator does not say immediately that the king has died, as more gruesome details are to appear first.

Some possible models for the translation of this verse are:

• With his left hand, Ehud pulled out the dagger placed on his right side, and plunged it into Eglon’s stomach.

• Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword hidden on his right side, and drove it far into the king’s belly.

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 .