Judges 11:9-19

9 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you take me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the LORD gives them up to me, will I become your head?"
10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "1The LORD is witness between us; surely * we will do as you have said."
11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at 2Mizpah.
12 Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, "What is between you and me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?"
13 The king of the sons of Ammon said to the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel 3took away my land when they came up from Egypt, from the Arnon as far as the 4Jabbok and the Jordan; therefore, return them peaceably now."
14 But Jephthah sent messengers again * to the king of the sons of Ammon,
15 and they said to him, "Thus says Jephthah, 'Israel did not take away the land of Moab nor the land of the sons of Ammon.
16 'For when they came up from Egypt, and Israel 5went through the wilderness to the Red * Sea and 6came to Kadesh,
17 then Israel 7sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, "Please let us pass through your land," but the king of Edom would not listen. 8And they also sent to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh.
18 'Then they went through the wilderness and 9around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came to the east * side * of the land of Moab, and they camped beyond the Arnon; but they 10did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
19 'And Israel sent 11messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon, and Israel said to him, "Please let us pass through your land to our place."

Judges 11:9-19 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 11

This chapter gives an account of another judge of Israel, Jephthah, of his descent and character, Jud 11:1-3 of the call the elders of Gilead gave him to be their captain general, and lead out their forces against the Ammonites, and the agreement he made with them, Jud 11:4-11 of the message he sent to the children of Ammon, which brought on a dispute between him and them about the land Israel possessed on that side Jordan the Ammonites claimed; Israel's right to which Jephthah defended, and made it clearly to appear, hoping thereby to put an end to the quarrel without shedding of blood, Jud 11:12-27 but the children of Ammon not attending to what he said, he prepared to give them battle, and previous to it he made a vow, and then set forward and fought them, and got the victory over them, Jud 11:28-33 and the chapter concludes with the difficulties Jephthah was embarrassed with upon his return home, on account of his vow, and the performance of it, Jud 11:34-40.

Cross References 11

  • 1. Genesis 31:50; Jeremiah 29:23; Jeremiah 42:5; Micah 1:2
  • 2. Judges 10:17; Judges 11:29; Judges 20:1; 1 Samuel 10:17
  • 3. Numbers 21:24
  • 4. Genesis 32:22
  • 5. Numbers 14:25; Deuteronomy 1:40
  • 6. Num 20:1, 4-21
  • 7. Numbers 20:14-21
  • 8. Joshua 24:9
  • 9. Numbers 21:4; Deuteronomy 2:8
  • 10. Deut 2:9, 18, 19
  • 11. Numbers 21:21-32; Deuteronomy 2:26-36

Footnotes 4

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