OT501 - Formative Old Testament Traditions

Brilliant moment #142 in OT501 last week:

One of my fellow students and brother did a presentation on the literary features of Judges 3:12-30 - the relatively unknown story of Ehud and his defeat of Eglon king of Moab.

In verse 19 Ehud says to Eglon, "I have a secret message for you, O king." And again in verse 20 Ehud says, "I have a message from God for you." The word 'message' is the Hebrew word דָּבָר (davar) which can also be translated as 'word' or 'thing'. So in a brilliant double entendre Ehud comes to Eglon and says, "I have a secret 'thing' for you, O king."

Eglon is both stupid enough to believe that this is something special and naive enough to send his guards away. Ehud produces his secret 'davar' from God and Eglon ends up dead. Brilliant!