Keraia
Judges 11

Judges 11:13

Jephthah Delivers Israel · Judges 11:1–28
Read Judges 11

Translations

Modern
The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they seized my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and all the way to the Jordan. Now, therefore, restore it peaceably.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
And the king of the sons of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, “Because Israel took away my land when they came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon and as far as the Jabbok and as far as the Jordan. And now, return them in peace.”
Latin
Quibus ille respondit: Quia tulit Israël terram meam, quando ascendit de Ægypto, a finibus Arnon usque Jaboc atque Jordanem: nunc ergo cum pace redde mihi eam.

Original

Hebrew
English
The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they seized my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and all the way to the Jordan. Now, therefore, restore it peaceably.”

Notes

Judges 11:12–28

  • Jephthah first tried to solve the issue through diplomacy instead of using military force (compare Deuteronomy 20:10–11).

  • Unlike the nomadic and raiding Midianites from Gideon's time, the Ammonites were a settled tribe. Their land was east of Israel's territory in Transjordan (east of the Jordan River), with Rabbah as their capital. The Ammonites, like the Moabites (both who were descended from Lot) and the Edomites (descendants of Esau), were to be left alone because the Lord assigned their territories to them (Deuteronomy 2:16–23).

  • Contrary to the Ammonite king's claim, the Amorites, not the Ammonites or Moabites, lived between the Arnon and Jabbok rivers during the conquest. When Sihon refused to let Israel pass, the Lord gave the land of the Amorite kings Sihon and Og to Israel. The Ammonite king had no valid reason to argue with Israel.

Theme notes and profiles

Moab and Ammon The Exodus as History

Events

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Jephthah: A judge of Israel, known for his tragic vow

Places

Ammon: An ancient nation and its capital city, enemies of Israel Arnon: A river and valley, serving as a boundary for Israel Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus Jabbok: A river east of the Jordan, associated with Jacob Jordan: A river and region, significant in Israel's history

Glossary

Ammon, Ammonites Family Life and Relations Gilead (Place) Judges, Book of Mizpah Palestine

Topics

Ambassadors: Israelites to Various Nations Ammonites: Territory of Diplomacy of Jephthah, with the King of Moab, Unsuccessful Jabbok: A Stream on the East of the Jordan River, the Northern Boundary of the Possessions of the Ammonites Jephthah: His Message to the King of the Ammonites Prayer: Answered: Ammon The Ammonites: Jephthah Raised up to Deliver Israel From