Judges 11:7-19 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

Matthew Henry

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 11:7

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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