Judges 3:18
ESV
And when Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who carried the tribute.
NIV
After Ehud had presented the tribute, he sent on their way those who had carried it.
NASB
And it came about, when he had finished presenting the tribute, that Ehud sent away the people who had carried the tribute.
CSB
When Ehud had finished presenting the tribute, he dismissed the people who had carried it.
NLT
After delivering the payment, Ehud started home with those who had helped carry the tribute.
KJV
And when he had made an end to offer the present, he sent away the people that bare the present.
NKJV
And when he had finished presenting the tribute, he sent away the people who had carried the tribute.
What does Judges 3:18 mean?
Ehud (Judges 3:15–17) and those with him have delivered their tribute to Eglon, the king of Moab, who has been described as morbidly obese. We're not told what the required tribute from the Israelites to the king consisted of, whether food or material goods or tradable precious metals. It is not important to the story. This would have been common for subjugated people. Being "enslaved," as a nation, would not have meant chains and imprisonment. Rather, it would be mostly a matter of taxes, tributes, seizure of land and property, and oppression of the people.The tribute party has left the king's palace and have headed back toward home. However, Ehud sends the others away and prepares to head back to Eglon's residence at Jericho (Judges 3:19). This will be just one of the risks taken in Ehud's plan. The king is not expecting him.
