AOD (Hebr. Éhâdh). — Second “judge” of Israel, son of Gera (distinct from the son of Balan in I Par. 7:10), of the tribe of Benjamin, raised up by Yahweh as a “saviour” 40 Othoniel (v.): Iudc. 3:12–30. The king of the Moabites, Eglon, to whom the Ammonites and Amalekites had joined themselves, occupied the territory of Reuben and, having crossed the Jordan, established himself at Jericho, imposing an annual tribute on the Israelites. After 18 years of servitude, A. was sent with others to bring the tribute to Eglon; having delivered it, he let his companions depart (according to the Vulgate, he went out with them as far as the vicinity of Galgala and then returned to the king), and told Eglon that he had a secret to communicate to him from God. While the fat king, left alone, rose to listen, A., with his left hand, since he was ambidextrous, pierced him with the sword that he kept hidden beneath his garments.
Having fled through the back door (through the window, according to Lagrange), A. rejoined his companions at Galgala. In the palace they did not immediately realize that the king had been murdered, since they dared not open the door locked by the king. From Galgala A. went to Seira, whence he sent heralds into the mountains of Ephraim to gather the Israelites against the Moabites. Having assembled an army, he occupied the fords of the Jordan to prevent the enemy’s escape, and attacked them from the rear. The Moabite warriors were defeated and all perished, numbering approximately 10,000. Israel was then at peace for 80 years.