Judges 3:23

3:23 As Ehud went out into the vestibule, ¹  he closed the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

Judges 3:25

3:25 They waited so long they were embarrassed, but he still did not open the doors of the upper room. Finally they took the key and opened the doors. ²  Right before their eyes was their master, sprawled out dead on the floor! ³ 

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¹ tn Again the precise meaning of the Hebrew word, used only here in the OT, is uncertain. Since it is preceded by the verb “went out” and the next clause refers to Ehud closing doors, the noun is probably an architectural term referring to the room (perhaps a vestibule; see HALOT 604 s.v. מִסְדְּרוֹן) immediately outside the king’s upper chamber. As v. 24 indicates, this vestibule separated the upper room from an outer room where the king's servants were waiting.

² tn The words “the doors” are supplied.

³ tn Heb “See, their master, fallen to the ground, dead.”