Whereas the story of Othniel frustrated us with its lack of detail, now the story of Ehud frustrates us with its details. What are we to make of the scatological humor, deceit, and assassination in this first “real” story of one of Israel’s saviors—a type of Christ? From the left-handed “son of the right hand” to the fattened Eglon (“calf”), every element of this narrative reveals through physical history the patterns of spiritual warfare we ourselves are engaged in. In fact, the text uses so many strange words to tell its story that you cannot help but notice: it is as much sacramental as martial.

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