Judges 11:10

10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not 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 They answered Jephthah, “This is why we now turn to you, that you may go with us, fight the Ammonites, and become leader over all of us who live in Gilead.”

9 But Jephthah asked them, “If you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, will I really be your leader?”

10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.”

11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.

12 Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?”