Judges 11:1-6

1 Jephthah the Gileadite was one tough warrior. He was the son of a whore, but Gilead was his father.

2 Meanwhile Gilead's legal wife had given him other sons, and when they grew up, his wife's sons threw Jephthah out. They told him: "You're not getting any of our family inheritance - you're the son of another woman."

3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and went to live in the land of Tob. Some riff-raff joined him and went around with him.

4 Some time passed. And then the Ammonites started fighting Israel.

5 With the Ammonites at war with them, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob.

6 They said to Jephthah: "Come. Be our general and we'll fight the Ammonites."

Judges 11:1-6 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.