Judges 11:10

10 And the responsible men of Gilead said to Jephthah, May the Lord be our witness: we will certainly do as you say.

Judges 11:10 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 11:10

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah
Assenting to his proposal, and not only giving their word for it, but their oath:

the Lord be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words;
that is, make him head over them; they appealed to the omniscient God, and called on him to be a witness of their agreement to it, and swore by him they would fulfil it; or if they did not, that the Lord would take vengeance on them for it, and punish the breach of this covenant and oath in some way or another; the Targum of Jonathan is,

``the Word of the Lord be a witness between us''

Judges 11:10 In-Context

8 And the responsible men of Gilead said to Jephthah, That is the reason we have come back to you; so go with us and make war against the children of Ammon, and we will make you our head over all the people of Gilead.

9 Then Jephthah said to the responsible men of Gilead, If you take me back to make war against the children of Ammon, and if with the help of the Lord I overcome them, will you make me your head?

10 And the responsible men of Gilead said to Jephthah, May the Lord be our witness: we will certainly do as you say.

11 So Jephthah went with the responsible men of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them; and Jephthah said all these things before the Lord in Mizpah.

12 Then Jephthah sent men to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What have you against me that you have come to make war against my land?