Judges 11:12-28

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 11:12-28

We have here the treaty between Jephthah, now judge of Israel, and the king of the Ammonites (who is not named), that the controversy between the two nations might, if possible, be accommodated without the effusion of blood. I. Jephthah, as one having authority, sent to the king of Ammon, who in this war was the aggressor, to demand his reasons for invading the land of Israel: ?Why hast thou come to fight against me in my land? Jdg. 11:12. Had I come first into thy land to disturb thee in thy... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:12

And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon ,.... Being now declared chief and sole governor of the tribes on the other side Jordan, he acted in character, and as such sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, to know the reason of his invading the land that belonged to Israel, being desirous of adjusting things in an amicable way, and to prevent the shedding of blood; in which he behaved as a good man, and not at all inconsistent with a man of valour and courage:... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:13

And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah ,.... Who this king of Ammon was is not said, however he returned an answer to Jephthah's messengers, which they brought to him, and it was to this purpose; that the reason of his invading the land, and bringing war into it, was: because Israel took away my land when they came out of Egypt ; not as soon as they came out of Egypt, for it was thirty nine years afterwards, and upwards, even a little before they... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:14

And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon. Being willing to give him all the satisfaction he could, and if possible live peaceably with him, and prevent the effusion of blood. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:15

And said unto him ,.... By his messengers: thus saith Jephthah ; in a majestic style, as governor of Israel: Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon ; they were charged not to take any, nor did they take any that belonged to any of these countries, or that was then in the possession of either of them, Deuteronomy 2:9 what they did take was in the hands of Sihon and Og, and they had obtained it by conquest, and so no more belonging to either of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:16

But when Israel came up from Egypt ,.... In order to go to the land of Canaan, which was higher than the land of Egypt, which lay low F11 χθαμαλος αιγυπτος Theocrit. Idyll. 17. ver. 79. : and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea ; which is to be understood not of their walking to it; when they first came out of Egypt, they indeed then came to the edge of the wilderness of Etham, and so to the Red sea, and walked through it as on dry land, and came into the wilderness of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:17

Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom ,.... The history of which may be read in Numbers 20:14 , &c.; saying, let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land ; the land of Edom, from the south to the north of it, according to Jarchi, which was the nearest and shortest way to the land of Canaan; so far were the Israelites from invading and seizing upon the properties of others, that they would not attempt to set their foot in another's country without leave; which they asked... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:18

Then they went along the wilderness ,.... The wilderness of Paran, which lay along the borders of Edom; they went, according to Jarchi, from the west to the east on the south border of Edom and Moab: and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab ; all the south of the land of Edom, and all the south of the land of Moab; towards the sunrising, as in Numbers 21:11 . and pitched on the other side of Arnon ; the river Arnon, which, according to Jarchi, was at the east end of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:19

And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon ,.... Which was his royal city, where he had his palace, and kept his court, and is therefore particularly mentioned; and the rather, because he had taken it from the Moabites, and was part of that land now in dispute; and this Sihon was not only in possession of, when Israel sent messengers to him, but it was his royal seat, the metropolis of his kingdom, and he was called king of it: and Israel said unto... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:20

But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through, his coast ,.... For fear they should seize upon his dominions, and retain them; and the more fearful he might be, as he knew that his people were one of the seven nations of the Canaanites, whose land they were going to possess, and whom they were to destroy: but Sihon gathered all his people together ; in some certain place, and armed them, and went out in an hostile manner against Israel in the wilderness, to attack them; whereby it appears... read more

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