שופטים, פרק ג׳, פסוק ט״ז

Carrying out the assassination required careful planning, from the custom design of the weapon to the precise method of concealing it. Ehud crafted a unique sword specifically for the mission. While standard swords of the era were sharp on only one side and dull on the other [ביאור שטיינזלץ], Ehud designed his weapon with two sharp edges [מצודת ציון, רד״ק]. This custom double-edged blade ensured that it would pierce the body effortlessly, causing a quick and immediate death [רלב״ג, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].

The primary approach among commentators is that the sword was about a cubit long, with some noting it was a slightly shortened version of a standard cubit [רש״י, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This shorter length was a calculated tactical choice. A full-sized sword would have created a visible bulge through his clothing, but the compact blade allowed Ehud to hide it completely without drawing any attention [מצודת דוד, רלב״ג, מלבי״ם].

To perfect his disguise, Ehud strapped the weapon entirely underneath his clothes [מצודת ציון, רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. He secured it to his right thigh [מצודת ציון], a decision driven by the fact that he was left-handed. Typically, a right-handed warrior wears a sword on his left side, allowing him to reach across his body to draw it quickly. For a left-handed man like Ehud, the right side was the most natural and comfortable place to reach [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Beyond mere convenience, placing the weapon on the right thigh offered a significant tactical advantage. Because it was an entirely unexpected place for a man to carry a weapon, it helped him outsmart the guards and bypass them without raising any suspicion [ביאור שטיינזלץ].