Matthew Poole and continuators on Judges 3:20

20 And Ehud came unto him, and he was sitting in a summer parlour , which he had for himself alone : and Ehud said, I have a message from God , unto thee. And he arose out of his seat .

They had divers Houses and Chambers, some for Winter, others for Summer. See Ier. 36. 22. Amos 3. 15.

Into which he used to retire himself from company: which is mentioned as the reason why his Servants waited so long ere they went in to him, v. 25.

To be delivered not in Words, but by Actions: Heb. a Word, or Thing, or Business. So that there is no need to charge Ehud with a Lye, as some do.

This he saith to Amuse him, by raising his expectation and wonder, to divert him from any apprehension of his Danger, and to oblige him to rise out of his Seat, which he knew he would do from the common practise of the Heathens in their entercourses with God. And he designedly useth the name Elohim, which was common to the true God, and false ones; and not Iehovah, which was peculiar to the true God; because Ehud not knowing whether the Message came not from his own false god, he would more certainly rise▪ and thereby give Ehud more advantage for his blow; whereas he would-possibly shew his Contempt of the God of Israel by sitting still to hear his Message.

In token of humble subjection and reverence to God. See Numb. 23. 18. 2 King. 23. 3. which condemns those Christians that behave themselves irreverently in the Presence and Service of the true God.

Marginal references: Heb. a p[illegible: 1+ letters] lour of [illegible: 1 word]; Heb. there▪