Schizm: You're quite mistaken! What Eglon himself believed was the very thing that made Ehud's mission successful. Were it not for Eglon's gullibility then Ehud would've failed. Ehud's intent was to have Eglon believe that there was an actual message from God for him. Eglon fell for it, the dumb bastard, and died as a result.
Hmm. Your Bible reads differently from mine.
Judges 3:18-24
18 And it came about that when he had finished presenting the tribute, he at once sent the people away, the bearers of the tribute. 19 And he himself turned back at the quarries that were at Gil´gal, and he proceeded to say: "I have a secret word for you, O king." So he said: "Keep silence!" With that all those who were standing by him went on out from him. 20 And E´hud came to him as he was sitting in his cool roof chamber that he had to himself. And E´hud went on to say: ?A word of God I have for you.? At that he rose up from his throne. 21 Then E´hud thrust in his left hand and took the sword off his right thigh and plunged it into his belly. 22 And the handle kept going in also after the blade so that the fat closed in over the blade, for he did not draw the sword out of his belly, and the fecal matter began to come out. 23 And E´hud proceeded to go out through the air hole, but he closed the doors of the roof chamber behind him and locked them. 24 And he himself went out.
Now, as I read I find that it was this secret matter that Ehud said he had for the king, then the King sent the men out. That happened before Ehud mentioned God. Prior to jumping down my throat for changing "word" to "matter" you might want to examine the original Hebrew word:
H1697 דּבר dâbâr daw-bawr'
From H1696; a word; by implication a matter (as spoken of) of thing; adverbially a cause: - act, advice, affair, answer, X any such (thing), + because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X commune (-ication), + concern [-ing], + confer, counsel, + dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, + eloquent, errand, [evil favoured-] ness, + glory, + harm, hurt, + iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter, message, [no] thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, + please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some [uncleanness], somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that, X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings, what [-soever], + wherewith, which, word, work.
Sorry, sport. No active deceit. The word can mean "errand" or "task", the same word is used in both places. Omitting information on the nature of the errand is not active deceit. You lose. But thank you for admitting the active campaign of deceiving the rank and file Jehovah's Witness. It is also helpful to know that it does not surprise you. I am sure it would surprise anyone just starting to investigate this organization that a long-timer like you is not surprised by active attempts to deceive the rank and file.
OldSoul