שופטים, פרק ג׳, פסוק י״ט

After completing the official mission of presenting the tribute and establishing trust with the king, Ehud sets his hidden plan into motion. The careful choreography of his departure and return is designed entirely to eliminate suspicion. Ehud initially leaves with his men to prove that his main purpose was simply to deliver the gift. He escorts the tribute bearers to a specific location—a stone quarry near Gilgal, where stones are cut and smoothed—and sends them safely on their way [רש״י]. He then travels back alone. This calculated move makes him look like a man who suddenly remembered something he forgot to say. Additionally, acting alone ensures that his eventual escape will be much easier [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Upon returning, Ehud stands at a respectful distance from King Eglon [רלב״ג] and announces that he has a secret message. This phrasing is highly strategic; it subtly explains to the king that he could not reveal the secret earlier because his own men were present [מצודת דוד].

Taking the bait, the king issues a command for silence, instructing Ehud to pause and wait [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת ציון]. The king reasons that if this message was kept hidden from Ehud's own people, it certainly should not be overheard by the royal guards [מצודת דוד]. The attendants immediately understand the cue and leave of their own accord, knowing it is highly improper to remain when the king wishes to hold a private conversation [רלב״ג, מצודת דוד].

At this stage, the meeting is taking place in an outer corridor. The dismissal of the guards perfectly clears the path for the king to move into his private inner chamber to hear the secret, setting the final stage for Ehud's plan [מלבי״ם].