Judges 11:4-11 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 11:4-11

Here is, I. The distress which the children of Israel were in upon the Ammonites? invasion of their country, Jdg. 11:4. Probably this was the same invasion with that mentioned, Jdg. 10:17; when the children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in or against Gilead. And those words, in process of time, refer to what goes immediately before of the expulsion of Jephthah; many days after he had been thus thrust out in disgrace was he fetched back again with honour. II. The court which the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:4

And it came to pass in process of time ,.... Some time after Jephthah had been expelled from his father's house, and he was become famous for his martial genius, and military exploits; or at the close of the eighteen years' oppression of the children of Israel by the Ammonites, or some few days after the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpeh, that the people and princes of Gilead were preparing for war with Ammon, and were thinking of a proper person to be their general: ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:5

And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel ,.... Were preparing for it, and had assembled their forces near them, and had began to make some efforts against them: the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob ; they did not send messengers to him, but went themselves, partly to show greater respect to him, and partly in hopes of better success, being aware of objections he would make, which they could better answer themselves than a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:6

And they said unto Jephthah, come and be our captain ,.... The general of their army, to conduct and lead on their forces; they did not propose him to be their king, being convinced by Abimelech's conduct that such a step would be wrong; nor did they say anything of his being their judge, having no other view than to serve their present exigence; besides, a judge was not one chosen by the people, but raised up of God, and which honour was conferred on Jephthah afterwards: that we may... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:7

And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead ,.... In answer to their request; who though not backward to engage in the war with them, yet thought it proper to take this opportunity to upbraid them with their former unkindness to him: did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house ? for it seems some of these elders at least were his brethren; for who else could be thought to hate him, and through hatred to thrust him out of his father's house, but they? nor is it at all... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:8

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah ,.... In reply to his objection: therefore we turn again unto thee now ; being sensible of the injury they had done him, and repenting of it, of which their return to him was an evidence; it being with this view to remove the disgrace and dishonour that had been cast upon him, by conferring such honour on him, as to be their chief ruler: that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:9

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,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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... read more

John Gill

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

Then Jephthah went with the elders of Israel ,.... From the land of Tob into the land of Gilead, his native country: and the people made him head and captain over them ; ratified and confirmed what the elders had promised, and by a general unanimous vote appointed him both to be the captain of their forces, and to be the chief ruler and governor of them. And this they did, though he was the son of an harlot; and according to the law in Deuteronomy 23:2 , such an one was not to be a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 11:4

The children of Ammon made war - They had invaded the land of Israel, and were now encamped in Gilead. See Judges 10:17 . read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 11:4-11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:10

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 11:4

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