And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead
Considering the former usage he had met with from them, and the character which he himself bore, and the fickleness of men, when their turn is served, was willing to make a sure bargain with them:
if ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon;
that is, should he consent to go along with them, and fight their battle for them:
and the Lord deliver them before me;
or into his hands, on whom he depended for success, and not on his own courage and valour, and military skill:
shall I be your head?
not only captain general of their forces during the war, but the chief ruler of them when that was ended.