Judges 11:29 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 11:29-40

We have here Jephthah triumphing in a glorious victory, but, as an alloy to his joy, troubled and distressed by an unadvised vow. I. Jephthah's victory was clear, and shines very brightly, both to his honour and to the honour of God, his in pleading and God's in owning a righteous cause. 1. God gave him an excellent spirit, and he improved it bravely, Jdg. 11:29. When it appeared by the people's unanimous choice of him for their leader that he had so clear a call to engage, and by the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 11:29

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah ,.... The spirit of strength, as the Targum; of fortitude of mind, of uncommon valour and courage, and of zeal for God and Israel, and against their enemies; such a spirit as used to be given to men, when they were in an extraordinary manner raised up by the Lord, to be judges, saviours, and deliverers of his people; so that as Jephthah was before chosen by the people to be the general and head of the tribes beyond Jordan, he was raised up and... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 11:29

Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah - The Lord qualified him for the work he had called him to do, and thus gave him the most convincing testimony that his cause was good. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 11:29

Then the Spirit of the Lord ... - This was the sanctification of Jephthah for his office of Judge and savior of God’s people Israel. Compare Judges 6:34; Judges 13:25. The declaration is one of the distinctive marks which stamp this history as a divine history.The geography is rather obscure, but the sense seems to be that Jephthah first raised all the inhabitants of Mount Gilead; then he crossed the Jabbok into Manasseh, and raised them; then he returned at the head of his new forces to his... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 11:29

Judges 11:29. The Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah The people had chosen him for their leader, and promised to continue him their chief governor, as they had already made him; and now God publicly declares his approbation of their choice; and appoints him their judge, as he had others before, (Judges 3:10,) by endowing him with an extraordinary measure of courage and wisdom, and all other qualities necessary to render him fit to be a ruler of his people. He passed over Manasseh That... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 11:1-40

Jephthah and five other judges (10:1-12:15)Little is known of the political or military activities of the judges Tola and Jair. They both exercised power for lengthy periods, and Jair’s family certainly enjoyed considerable power and prestige among the East Jordan tribes (10:1-5).Again the Israelites turned away from Yahweh and worshipped false gods, and again they were punished. The Ammonites conquered the eastern tribes, crossed Jordan, and seized large portions of Israelite territory in... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 11:29

the Spirit. Hebrew. ruach (feminine.) See App-9 . unto. This word is read in the text of some codices with Aramaean, Syriac, and Vulgate. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 11:29

"And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead, he passed over unto the children of Ammon.""And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah." Thus, Jephthah entered the lists of the great charismatic leaders of Israel. This made all the difference. With Jephthah led by God's Spirit, the victory of Israel was assured.As Yates noted, "Jephthah here made a series of journeys,"[16] and the implication... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 11:29

29, 30. Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah—The calm wisdom, sagacious forethought, and indomitable energy which he was enabled to display, were a pledge to himself and a convincing evidence to his countrymen, that he was qualified by higher resources than his own for the momentous duties of his office. he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh—the provinces most exposed and in danger, for the purpose of levying troops, and exciting by his presence a widespread interest in the national... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 11:29-33

Jephthah’s vow and victory 11:29-33God’s Spirit then clothed Jephthah, giving the promise of divine enablement and victory in the approaching encounter with the Ammonite army (Judges 11:29; cf. Judges 3:10; Judges 6:34; Judges 14:6; Judges 14:19; 1 Samuel 10:10)."The spirit may be an effective power; but it seems that it is not automatically effective, at least not in terms of effecting deliverance. The spirit comes upon or possesses human beings; therefore, it must be embodied with cooperation... read more