Judges 11:11-15

Judges 11:11

Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

 

They were at this point in the land of Tob so Jephthah went to Gilead with the elders which was about 40 miles (64 km) southwest of Tob.  When he arrived there the people agreed and made him the commander of their army.  Jephthah then brought all the words before the Lord which would have been in a public setting.  The location of Mizpeh was somewhere in Gilead but the exact location is unknown.  Jephthah wanted the people to know that their dealing with him was done before the Lord and not only between him and the elders.  They were seeking the Lord for deliverance and they were not to go back on their promises and this is why Jephthah wanted all the words repeated in public and before the Lord.

 

Judges 11:12

And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land?

 

Jephthah first tries the diplomatic route by sending ambassadors to the king of Ammon to find out why they are planning to attack Gilead.  He wanted to know the reason for the planned invasion.  When he uses the term “my land” he is identifying himself with the people of Gilead.  If he could avoid bloodshed, then he would.  This shows the traits of a good leader who would rather settle things peacefully.

 

Judges 11:13

And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably.

 

The king of Ammon had his facts wrong.  Israel did not take the land from the Ammonites but when they came out of Egypt, it was originally the Amorites who held that part of Syria.  Sihon was defeated in the time of Moses and he was not an Ammonite but an Amorite.  Israel had legitimately won that region by reason of their victory over Sihon and the Ammonites were legally required to give that land back to Israel who were the rightful possessors.  Jephthah therefore denied the claim made by the king of Ammon which would now lead to hostilities.

 

Judges 11:14

And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:

 

Once again Jephthah had tried to remain diplomatic to avoid a war over the land by sending ambassadors to the king of the Ammonites.

 

Judges 11:15

And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

 

Jephthah’s ambassadors now begin to explain to the king the situation which occurred when Israel came out of the land of Egypt.  He states they did not take any land from either the king of Moab or the Ammonites. (Deuteronomy 2:9, KJV) And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land for a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot for a possession.

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