Boy Old Testament Rare
Eglon
same as Eglah
עֶגְלוֹן eg.lon
Eglon (Hebrew: עֶגְלוֹן, eg.lon) is a biblical name; its Hebrew etymology is not securely established. Two men in scripture bear the name; the best attested is a king. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears in the same passages as Anath.
Which Eglon?
Two men in scripture bear this name. Here is each of them.
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Eglon
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Eglon
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 4 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 2 distinct people in scripture
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- Judges
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Judges 3:12 |
| Last appears | Judges 3:17 |
| Cross-references | 64 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Gera co-occurrence Appears with Gera in Judges 3.
- Ehud co-occurrence Appears with Ehud in Judges 3.
- Anath co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Anath.
- Cushan-rishathaim co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Cushan-rishathaim.
- Shamgar co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Shamgar.
- Othniel co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Othniel.
- Kenaz co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Kenaz.
- Benjamin co-occurrence Appears with Benjamin in Judges 3.
Origin & meaning
A man of the Moabites living before Israel's Monarchy, first mentioned at Jdg.3.12
§ Eglon = "calf-like"
1) king of Moab who oppressed the children of Israel for 18 years before he was killed by the judge Ehud
2) a royal city in Canaan that opposed the conquest; located in the low lands of Judah
Eglon, king of Moab, oppressed Israel for 18 years until Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, assassinated him and delivered Israel.
The biblical story
Eglon was the king of Moab who oppressed the Israelites for eighteen years, as recorded in the book of Judges. After the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord, God strengthened Eglon against them and allowed him to conquer and rule over Israel (Jdg.3.12-14).
During this period of oppression, the Israelites cried out to the Lord for deliverance. In response, God raised up Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, as a deliverer (Jdg.3.15). Ehud crafted a double-edged sword and concealed it under his clothing.
Acting as an emissary, Ehud brought tribute to Eglon, who is described as a very fat man (Jdg.3.17). After presenting the tribute, Ehud sent away the people who had carried it and returned to Eglon, claiming to have a secret message for him. When Eglon dismissed his attendants, Ehud approached him and declared, "I have a message from God for you" (Jdg.3.18-20).
Ehud then drew his concealed sword with his left hand and thrust it into Eglon's belly. The sword's hilt sank in after the blade, and Eglon's fat closed over it. Ehud left the sword in Eglon's body and escaped, locking the doors of the upper room behind him (Jdg.3.21-23).
Eglon's servants later discovered their king dead and Ehud long gone. Ehud rallied the Israelites, who seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab and struck down about 10,000 Moabites. This victory brought peace to the land for eighty years (Jdg.3.24-30).
The story of Eglon's oppression and Ehud's assassination highlights the cycle of sin, oppression, and deliverance that characterizes the book of Judges. It also demonstrates God's faithfulness in raising up deliverers for His people when they cry out to Him.
Key verses
Eglon appears in 4 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
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And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord: and the Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.
Judges 3:12 -
So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.
Judges 3:14 -
But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab.
Judges 3:15 -
And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab: and Eglon was a very fat man.
Judges 3:17
Show all 4 references
Judges (4)
- Judges 3:12
- Judges 3:14
- Judges 3:15
- Judges 3:17