a divine impulse or direction. He was the bearer of a costly present to the king of Moab, sent probably, in addition to the tribute-money, to conci. liate his favor, and dispose him to deal more mercifully with his vassals.

Ehud resolved to make his embassy the occasion of putting the tyrant to death. With this end in view, he went armed with a two-edged dagger, which he caused to be made for the purpose, and which he wore on his right side under the folds of his garments. He well knew the customs of the country, and how he could make use of them for the accomplishment of his design.

Not a few ceremonies took place in the presentation of the offering. Ehud had many attendants who bore it into the presence of the monarch; and after it was graciously received, he retired with them, accompanying them on their way home as far as "the quarries" near Gilgal. These were probably idols, or graven images of stone cut out of the quarry, and carved for objects of worship by the Moabites. Here Ehud dismissed his companions, and returning to the palace asked another audience of the king. It was readily granted. He announced to Eglon that he was sent to him this time on a secret errand; and the royal command being given to that effect, all who were in attendance withdrew.

The room in which the king was sitting was

his private upper chamber, constructed, as is still the custom in the East, for the purpose of getting as much air as possible to refresh him. during the intense heat of summer. It was quite retired, and furnished Ehud a very favorable opportunity for executing his purpose. Standing near the monarch, with no one to witness or interfere with his movements, he thus accosted him, "I have a message from God unto thee." As Eglon rose to receive it, impressed probably with a sort of reverential awe towards the God of the Israelites, Ehud, drawing his dagger from its concealment, plunged it into his body. The king was a corpulent, unwieldy man, little able to make any resistance, even if he had anticipated the blow. In addition to this, the weapon sunk so deep into his flesh that no effort of his could withdraw it, and falling on the floor he soon expired.

In the meanwhile, Ehud walked deliberately out of the room, locking the doors after him, and probably retaining the keys, that when the attempt should be made to gain access to the king, it might be supposed that he wished for a season to be secure against intrusion. Ehud's departure excited no peculiar notice, it being only what had been anticipated at the time; while passing unsuspected through the porch, he was out of danger, and on his way home, before the at

Joshua & Judges.

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tendants had any knowledge of what had happened. On finding the doors locked, they at first supposed that the king himself had done it to enjoy his sleep unmolested,—a custom which prevailed at that hour of the day in those hot climates. After waiting, however, a long time, till they began to be quite perplexed at his silence, they procured a key, and obtained admittance. What was their astonishment and horror to find their monarch dead, and to ascertain that he had fallen by the hand of Ehud. It was too late to commence a pursuit; and the latter arrived, at length, in safety among his countrymen. Their hopes of deliverance were much raised on learning that Eglon was dead; though it must be admitted, that the deed by which this event was brought about was wholly unjustifiable, unless Ehud received some direction from God to that effect. We have grounds, however, for believing that this was the case, from the fact that it was the Lord, as we are told, who raised up Ehud to be the deliverer of the Israelites, and from the divine blessing attending his efforts in their behalf after the death of Eglon.

For Ehud lost no time in taking advantage of the consternation into which he knew this unexpected event would throw the Moabites, and of the encouragement with which it would inspire his countrymen to endeavor to regain their

freedom. He caused a summons to be given, by the blowing of trumpets in different directions throughout the mountainous regions of Ephraim, calling upon the soldiers of that tribe to follow him to the field. He did this because they were, doubtless, more numerous than those of Benja min, to which tribe he belonged. They were also the nearest, and could be the most readily marshalled for the enterprise which he proposed, and which needed all possible despatch.

The summons was speedily obeyed. The forces of the Israelites assembled, and Ehud placed himself at their head. "Follow after me," said he, "for the Lord hath delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand." Advancing to the fords of Jordan, the Israelites first secured these passes, which formed the only mode of communication between the station which the Moabites occupied, and their country on the east side of the river. A sufficient body of men was left here to cut off the retreat of the enemy, and to prevent any additional forces from going to their aid. Ehud then proceeded with the rest of his army to give battle to the Moabites. The engagement was a severe one. We are not told what the loss was, if indeed there was any, on the part of the Israelites. Their oppressors, how ever, to the number of ten thousand,-men of great strength and valor,-were entirely cut off

Not one escaped. This signal victory once more gave freedom to the Israelites, and they enjoyed the blessings of peace and its attendant prosperity for eighty years.

The next judge was SHAMGAR, of whom we have a very brief account. He was the son of Anath; and the only exploit recorded of him, is his deliverance of his countrymen from the Philistines, by slaying six hundred of them, as we have reason to believe in a miraculous way, with an ox-goad. Travelers in the East inform us, that this instrument is of such a size and construction as to form a very powerful weapon in the hand of a strong and brave man. Mr. Buckingham describes it as being seven or eight feet in length, armed with a sharp point of iron at one end, and at the other with a plate of the same metal shaped like a calking-chisel. The ploughman spurs the oxen with the point of the goad, and cleanses the earth from the ploughshare by the instrument on the other end. It seems wholly improbable, however, that even with such an instrument one man should be able to destroy a band of six hundred, unless he received, in some way or other, supernatural aid.

Notwithstanding these deliverances, it was not long before the ungrateful Israelites forgot their obligations to the God who had thus rescued, protected, and blessed them. They did evil again