EHUD  , in the

Bible, a " judge " who delivered Israel from the Moabites (Judg . 12-30) . He was sent from Ephraim to bear tribute to Eglon king of Moab, who had crossed over the Jordan and seized the district around Jericho . Being, like the Benjamites, left-handed (cf. xx . 16), he was able to conceal a dagger and strike down the king before his intentions were suspected . He locked Eglon in his chamber and escaped . The men from Mt Ephraim collected under his leadership and by seizing the fords of the Jordan were able to cut off the Moabites . He is called the son of Gera a Benjamite, but since both Ehud and Gera are tribal names (2 Sam. xvi . 5, I Chron. viii . 3, 5 sq.) it has been thought that this notice is not genuine . The tribe of Benjamin rarely appears in the old history of the Hebrews before the time of Saul . See further BENJAMIN; JUDGES .