SEV Biblia, Chapter 3:20
Y se llegó Aod a él, el cual estaba sentado solo en una sala de verano. Y Aod dijo: Tengo palabra de Dios para ti. El entonces se levantó de la silla.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Judges 3:20
Verse 20. He was sitting in a summer parlor] Besides the platforms, says Dr. Shaw, which were upon the ancient houses of the East, and which are found there to this day, it is probable that heretofore, as well as at present, most of the great houses had a smaller one annexed, which seldom consisted of more than one or two rooms and a terrace. Others, built as they frequently are above the porch or gateway, have, if we except the ground-floor, all the conveniences belonging to the house, properly so called. There is a door of communication from them into the gallery of the house, kept open or shut at the discretion of the master of the house, besides another door which opens immediately from a privy stairs down into the porch or street, without giving the least disturbance to the house. In these back houses strangers are usually lodged and entertained; hither the men are wont to retire from the hurry and noise of their families, to be more at leisure for meditation or diversions; and they are often used for wardrobes and magazines. These the Arabs call oleah, which exactly answers to the Hebrew word tyl[ aliyath found in this place; and without doubt such was the apartment in which Eglon received Ehud, by the privy stairs belonging to which he escaped, after having killed Eglon.
The doors of the Eastern buildings are large, and their chambers spacious, conveniences well adapted to those hotter climates; but in the present passage something more seems to be meant; at least there are now other conveniences in the East to give coolness to particular rooms, which are very common. In Egypt the cooling their rooms is effected by openings at the top, which let in the fresh air. Mons. Maillet informs us that their halls are made very large and lofty, with a dome at the top, which towards the north has several open windows, so constructed as to throw the north wind down into the rooms; and by this means, though the country is excessively hot, they can make the coolness of those apartments so great, as often not to be borne without being wrapped in furs. Eglon's was a chamber; and some contrivance to mitigate the heat of it was the more necessary, as he appears to have kept his court at Jericho, Ju iii. 13, 28, where the heat is so excessive as sometimes to prove fatal. See Harmer's Observations.
I have a message from God unto thee] ûyla yl µyhla rbd debar elohim li aleycha, a word of the gods to me, unto thee. It is very likely that the word elohim is used here to signify idols, or the pesilim mentioned above, ver. 19. Ehud, having gone so far as this place of idolatry, might feign he had there been worshipping, and that the pesilim had inspired him with a message for the king; and this was the reason why the king commanded silence, why every man went out, and why he rose from his seat or throne, that he might receive it with the greater respect. This, being an idolater, he would not have done to any message coming from the God of Israel. I have a message from God unto thee is a popular text: many are fond of preaching from it. Now as no man should ever depart from the literal meaning of Scripture in his preaching, we may at once see the absurdity of taking such a text as this; for such preachers, to be consistent, should carry a two- edged dagger of a cubit length on their right thigh, and be ready to thrust it into the bowels of all those they address! This is certainly the literal meaning of the passage, and that it has no other meaning is an incontrovertible truth.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 20. And Ehud came unto him , etc.] Somewhat nearer him than he was before; it seems probable that Eglon retired from the presence chamber, where he received company, into his summer parlour; which was smaller and more private, and in which he had used to be alone, as follows, and whither Ehud went in unto him, as he directed him: and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone : into which he was wont to go and sit alone, for the sake of coolness and refreshment in the hot season of the year, which it seems it now was; a room this was, in which, as Kimchi and others observe, were many windows to let in air to cool and refresh; or it was in such a part of the palace that was cool, and sheltered from the heat of the sun; (see Amos 3:15); and Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee ; which was to kill him; and undoubtedly he was sent of God on this errand to him: whether it be rendered a “word” or “thing” from God, as it signifies both, it was true, and no lie; for it was the Lord that spoke to him by an impulse on his spirit, and the thing was from the Lord he was to do, for nothing less could have justified him in such an action; and therefore this instance can be no warrant for the assassination of princes; as Ehud did not this of himself, but of the Lord, so neither did he do it as a private man, but as a judge of Israel. Josephus says, he told him that he had a dream at the order of God to declare unto him; but for this there is no warrant; however it seems pretty plain that his view in making mention of the name of God, and of Elohim, a name given to false gods as well as the true, rather than Jehovah, was to strike his mind with awe and reverence, and cause him to rise from his seat, that he might the better thrust him with his dagger; and it had the desired effect: and he arose out of [his] seat ; in reverence of God, from whom he expected to receive a message; this he did, though in his mind a blind ignorant idolater; in his body fat, corpulent, and unwieldy; and in his office a king, and a proud and tyrannical man. The above writer says, that, for joy at the dream he was to hear, he rose from his throne.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 12-30 - When Israel sins again, God raises up a new oppressor. The Israelite did ill, and the Moabites did worse; yet because God punishes the sin of his own people in this world, Israel is weakened, and Moa strengthened against them. If lesser troubles do not do the work, God will send greater. When Israel prays again, God raises up Ehud. As judge, or minister of Divine justice, Ehud put to death Eglon, the kin of Moab, and thus executed the judgments of God upon him as an enemy to God and Israel. But the law of being subject to principalities an powers in all things lawful, is the rule of our conduct. No suc commissions are now given; to pretend to them is to blaspheme God Notice Ehud's address to Eglon. What message from God but a message of vengeance can a proud rebel expect? Such a message is contained in the word of God; his ministers are boldly to declare it, without fearin the frown, or respecting the persons of sinners. But, blessed be God they have to deliver a message of mercy and of free salvation; the message of vengeance belongs only to those who neglect the offers of grace. The consequence of this victory was, that the land had res eighty years. It was a great while for the land to rest; yet what is that to the saints' everlasting rest in the heavenly Canaan.
Original Hebrew
ואהוד 164 בא 935 אליו 413 והוא 1931 ישׁב 3427 בעלית 5944 המקרה 4747 אשׁר 834 לו לבדו 905 ויאמר 559 אהוד 164 דבר 1697 אלהים 430 לי אליך 413 ויקם 6965 מעל 5921 הכסא׃ 3678
