‘ But when the children of Israel cried to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up for them a deliverer, Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man, and the children of Israel sent a present by him to Eglon the king of Moab.'
Yahweh heard their cry. It may not have seemed like it for a time, for nothing seemed to happen. Until at length the time came for further tribute to be paid. It was then that the deliverer carried his plan into operation.
“Ehud, the son of Gera, the Benjaminite, a left-handed man.” This was the name of the deliverer. Lefthandedness appears to have been prevalent among Benjaminites (compare Judges 20:16; 1 Chronicles 12:2). Ehud was clearly an important man for he led the contingent that delivered the tribute and was able to gain private access into the king's presence. He had probably been delivering the tribute for a number of years. Few thought of this man as a likely champion.