Jun

The Ballad of Ehud

by Craig Kimble

For eighteen long years
the people of Israel did bow
by the King, Eglon
the LORD, laid them low

Because they were sinning
GOD made Eglon to rise;
until they repented
and GOD heard their cries

Ehud would become
the deliverer of the LORD
A man of Benjamin
with a double-edged sword

Now, Eglon had demanded
a tribute to be rend.
So the people of Israel
their riches they did send.

By the hand of Ehud,
the treasure was deployed.
His troop delivered gold and such
The fat man, Eglon, enjoyed.

As the troop traveling home
came upon the sacred soil.
Seeing the Moabite idols there
Ehud’s blood, began to boil!

Gilgal, what have they done to you!
Setting idols hewn of stone.
Forgetting Joshua’s victories
and all that GOD has done.

“Go on home, without me”
Ehud said unto his men.
I have a message for the King
a secret GOD does send.

When in the Kings confidence
Ehuds left hand did slide
up under his outer cloak
to a sword on his right side.

This message I give to you!
His sword plunging in deep.
Bowels spilled upon the floor
he fell into a heap.

Locking the outer doors
from the porch he did go.
Unseen by the servants there
Ehud escaped his foe.

Blowing upon his trumpet
Men of Ephraim Follow Me!
GOD has given into our hands
a mighty victory!

On that day so long ago
ten thousand strong men fell
into the hands of Ehud,
the Moabites, God did sell.

Then GOD’S people, Israel
Eighty years of peace enjoy
because a Lefty, Ehud
a man, in GODS employ.