Judges 11:11

11. The people made him head and captain The elders made the choice, and the people confirmed it by a public election. The distinction between head and captain, if any, is that between civil and military leader and chief. The people chose him to be not only their leader in this war with Ammon, but their judge and ruler after the war was over.

Jephthah uttered all his words Publicly stated the terms and conditions on which he accepted his new position, and the vows and oaths by which both he and the people bound themselves to be governed.

Before the Lord Not before the ark, for that was at Shiloh; but by a solemn appeal to Jehovah as witness of the vows they all took upon themselves. This whole transaction was done as if all realized that they were in the very presence of Jehovah. On Mizpeh see note, Judges 10:17.