Expert: Rev. Frank Ricketts - 4/16/2008

Question
Hi, Reverend Ricketts. My favorite book of the Bible is the book of Judges. In my opinion, Ehud is probably the most underrated character in the entire Bible. He is extremely fascinating. What I was wondering has to do with something I read about him. One of the first things that the Bible states about Ehud is his being "left-handed". I read in a Bible that had commentary in the margins that "left-handed" referred to him actually being unable to use his right hand, whether it was because it was crippled, whithered, or deformed. That made him even more fascinating in my opinion, but this was the only place that I had read this about him. I was just wondering if you could confirm or refute this meaning of the phrase. Also, any reading on Ehud (or any judge for that matter) would be great.

Thanks,
Josh

Answer
I cannot actually say that he was left handed. Judges 3:21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly: He might have used this hand to hide the fact that he was going for the dagger on his right side.

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