Well, in Gilgal were 12 stones (Jos 4:20), where God commanded Joshua to erect there for rememberance of his mighty deeds when the Israelites crossed the Jordan river to enter the promised land after 40 years wondering in the desert. And Gilgal was constantly a place for the israelites to worship God and offer sacrifices to God, even in the times of the Israel kings. Consider this: if indeed Gilgal were defiled by idols, God will not keep silent -- for he is holy, and would not allow that to defile his name.
So, can we confirm from other places in the Bible that Gilgal is a land of idols? No, but rather, we should have the contrary. Gilgal is the place where Israelites crossed the Jordan, and erected 12 stones picked out from the bottom of Jordan river (Jos 4:20). Since Israelites encountered no resistance when they come up to Gilgal, we can reasonably infer that it was not a heathen city or town, and people seldom visited there. Then after the period of Judges, we saw a lot of activity going on at Gilgal: Saul became a king at Gilgal before God; Saul sacrificed to God instead of Samuel, and as a result was rebuked by Samuel before God. And I believe there are many other references to Gilgal as a place to worship God. No wonder, as Gilgal is the place where God start to fulfill his promise of the land. Oh, another reference at hand in the beginning of Chapter 2 of Judges, an angel of God came up from Gilgal, to remind the Israelites of the land, the promise, and the faithfulness of God, and to rebuke the rebellious and faithless people. From these we are quite clear that Gilgal can hardly be defiled with idols at that time of Ehud, rather, it is a place where the remembrance of God and his faithfulness to his promise is kept.
So then, how should we interpret this verse? If those were not idols, then what are they? Gilgal is not a big place, as 50 years before then it was but an undeveloped place, and the nearest city was the Jericho, which were totally destroyed, and whose rebuilt was much later. Quarries, as in KJV, literally means a place where stones were dug out, so it fits the place of the 12 stones, for they were dug out from the bottom of Jordan river. Thus, it is quite natural to conclude that it means the place of the 12 stones. Now, why does the God mention those stones?
Ehud, while he was afraid to carry out the dangereous mission of killing the king of Moab when he had his men with him, returned alone when he reached Gilgal, where the twelve stones were erected by Joshua when God led the Israelites into the promised land across Jordan river. For those twelve stones are the testimony of God's power and faithfulness. He believed, with no more doubt, and returned with a pure faith. It is by this faith that Ehud had victory! Just as the book of Hebrews said, because of their faith, they conquered and had victories. Ehud, by his faith, delivered his people, freed them from the hand of the Moab king.
Today, Jesus Christ the Living stone (1 Peter), is the testimony and the faith for us. If Ehud can have victory by the testimony of those twelve stones, because he believed, how much more shall we if we believe?
Glory and praises to Him who is worthy!
In Him,
Y.L.
P.S.: I did some research on the Internet, here is a reference that link this verse to Jos 4:20 (Seems to me by similar Hebrew words used there).
http://www.godrules.net/
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