Ehud and Eglon

Story of Ehud and King Eglon

Characters: Two servants, messenger, Ehud, King Eglon

Stage Properties: Improvised door to porch of the King, chair, lounge, soft dagger, gift

for the King, toy trumpet

Bible text: Judges 3: 12-30

Scene I

Dialogue before the journey, between the messenger and Ehud.

Messenger: Ehud, God has raised you up to deliver us from our enemy, the Moabites.

We have a present which we want you to deliver to King Eglon.

Ehud: I will do the errand. I’ll make a dagger with two edges, a cubit long, and

put it under my cloak on the right side, because I am left handed. I shall

go at once, and you come with me.

(Both leave.)

Scene II

At the palace of King Eglon Ehud knocks at the door.

Servant: This is the palace of King Eglon. What do you wish?

Ehud: We have brought a present to the king from the people of Israel. We wish

to deliver it ourselves.

Servant: Enter, sirs.

(Ehud enters and bows before the king.)

Ehud: King Eglon, greetings. We have brought a present from the children of

Israel.

King Eglon: Thank you very much.

Ehud: (to messenger)

You may go.

(Messenger leaves.)

Oh King, I have a secret message for you.

King Eglon: Servant, you may go, please.

(Ehud and the king go to the summer parlor, close the door.

King sits down on the couch, or lounge.)

Please be seated.

Ehud: I have a secret message from God to you.

(Ehud rises from his chair, takes left hand, takes dagger

from his right side, thrusts it into the King’s stomach. King

falls backward, Ehud leaves by side door and closes it.)

Scene III

(Servants go to the door.)

First Servant: I wonder why he has the door locked.

Second Servant: I suppose he is taking a nap in his summer parlor.

First Servant: It has been so long that I believe we must open the door with the key.

(They turn the key and enter.)

Second Servant: Oh, the king has been stabbed. Call for help!

(Both run out.)

Scene IV

Ehud (Blowing the trumpet):

Follow me, for the Lord has delivered our enemies into our hands. We

shall slay all the Moabites with God’s help.

The End