Judges 11:33

33 He beat them soundly, all the way from Aroer to the area around Minnith as far as Abel Keramim - twenty cities! A massacre! Ammonites brought to their knees by the People of Israel.

Judges 11:33 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 11:33

And he smote them from Aroer
A city which lay near the river Arnon, on the borders of Moab, ( Deuteronomy 3:12 )

even till thou come to Minnith;
which seems to have been a place famous for wheat, ( Ezekiel 27:17 ) so David de Pomis F1 says it was a place where the best wheat grew. Jerom says F2 in his time was shown a village called Mannith, four miles from Esbus (or Heshbon), as you go to Philadelphia. Josephus F3 calls it Maniathe, and it is thought by some to be the Anitha of Ptolemy F4, which he places in Arabia Petraea even "twenty cities"; which he pursued them through and took:

and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter;
or, Abel Ceramim. Jerom says F5 in his time was seen a village called Abela, planted with vineyards, seven miles from Philadelphia:

thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel;
so that they were not able to oppress them any more.


FOOTNOTES:

F1 Tzemach David, fol. 81. 3.
F2 De loc. Heb. fol. 93. E.
F3 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 7. sect. 10.
F4 Geograph. l. 5. c. 17.
F5 De loc. Heb. fol. 88. K.

Judges 11:33 In-Context

31 then I'll give to God whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in one piece from among the Ammonites - I'll offer it up in a sacrificial burnt offering."
32 Then Jephthah was off to fight the Ammonites. And God gave them to him.
33 He beat them soundly, all the way from Aroer to the area around Minnith as far as Abel Keramim - twenty cities! A massacre! Ammonites brought to their knees by the People of Israel.
34 Jephthah came home to Mizpah. His daughter ran from the house to welcome him home - dancing to tambourines! She was his only child. He had no son or daughter except her.
35 When he realized who it was, he ripped his clothes, saying, "Ah, dearest daughter - I'm dirt. I'm despicable. My heart is torn to shreds. I made a vow to God and I can't take it back!"
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.