Why Mention that Ehud Was A Lefty?

In modern times - perhaps then as well - in Arab culture, the left hand is considered the “dirty hand”. It is usd in their culture in place of toilet paper. It’s considered an insult to have the left hand offered in greeting or any other such gesture. Servers in public places - particularly restaurants - are require to keep the left hand hidden in a tunic or some manner. This adds to the ultimate insult - a left handed, slave Jew gutted an Arab king with his LEFT HAND. That left hand was both utilitarian and symbolic - even hen to now. Reply

sounds great until you get to verse 20:16 and they are all left-handed. In Ancient times (ancient Hebrew idioms) to be called left-handed meant you were a master swordsman, or in the case of verse 20:16 a master sling man. But the answer does sound good, and it is possible Ehud did conceal his dagger on his right leg because he was left-handed, but more likely he just put it there knowing they would check on the left side. Reply

Here is how it mattered that he was a lefty.
Many Near Eastern archeological remains show that the entrances to castles were constructed in a particular fashion which prevented sword-use by the right-handed majority. The entrances were narrow tunnels where the visitor had to keep his left side (where a right-hander’s sword would hang) against the left side of the tunnel, leaving his right arm free to present the castle guard with tribute and/or documents of any kind. There was a place for the castle guard on the entrance’s right side, at the point where it opened into the actual castle: so the guard could see that the right hand was safely empty, while other guards lined the left side of the tunnel to feel the visitor’s left leg & check for a sword. It was a security system: with a hole that a lefty could exploit! Reply

smuggling It says that he was a lefty because normally soldiers were right handed. And their swords were on the left side. So it says that he was a lefty because his sword was on the right side, and the guards only checked the left side. And that's how he was able to smuggling his sword and kill the king. Reply

See 2 Samuel 20, 9 for the custom of taking a man's beard with the right (weapon) hand to show non-aggression when giving him a kiss of greeting. In ancient Rome, footpaths were 'right hand drive.' That meant that a right handed person could easily slip a stiletto up a toga. The law for pedestrians was changed to 'left hand drive' to lower the assassination rate. Consequently left handers were suspects as assailants. Because of this, Middle ages actors always identified the 'baddie' by playing him as left handed. In heraldry 'sinister' means the left side. Hence the word's association with evil.
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I have been reading a number of articles on left hand swords men, they do appear to have the advantage due to the opinions of various trainers, particularly with light swords such as fencing, I am a particular form of ambidextrous, I can only shoot a left handed rifle, can use either hand for most things, right with Mr left hand as the teachers used to bully me to use left, I would not give in to them, they should have told me to use left fro writing, and I would have switched to right, I use tools in right hand or left, but prefer right, and can shoot target pistol with both, or even one in each hand. I open doors with either hand, but do most things with my right, but I think I'm lucky to be able to use both. Reply

Ehud being Left-Handed According to the Tenach, Ehud was left-handed because his right hand was "withered." "Left-handedness" is usually associated with deceit; but Ehud had a more valid reason for being left-handed... I used the Stone edition of the Tenach... Reply

Ehud's handedness Ehud was a Benjamite. Benjamin apparently trained all of their soldiers to fight using both hands for obvious reasons. And it was something the King of Moab's guards would not have considered in the search. But, could there be a more esoteric meaning? Is there a spiritual significance to 'left' vs 'right' handedness? The word used for 'dagger' is only used in this verse from what I understand. Other very similar words are used to describe a two edged sword but not this exact word. The children of Israel 'sent a present' to Eglon, King of Moab. I"m thinking there's a story there. Reply

Which Ehud? Barak or Olmert? Both are clearly lefties.... Reply

A very popular tactic It's actually why the Ninjato of Japan developed the ability to be ambidextrous...so they could place their sword in the "peace" position (which was normally on the right side of the body) and make a quick assassination. Reply