Keraia
Judges 11

Judges 11:22

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

Translations

Modern
…seizing all the land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.
Traditional
And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.
Literal
And they took possession of all the territory of the Amorite, from the Arnon and to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness and to the Jordan.
Latin
…et universos fines ejus, de Arnon usque Jaboc, et de solitudine usque ad Jordanem.

Original

Hebrew
English
…seizing all the land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.

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

Amorites: Canaanite people group, enemies of Israel

Places

Arnon: A river and valley, serving as a boundary for Israel 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) Jabbok Judges, Book of Mizpah Palestine

Topics

Ambassadors: Israelites to Various Nations Amorites: Territory of Diplomacy of Jephthah, with the King of Moab, Unsuccessful Jabbok: The Northern Boundary of the Amorites Jephthah: His Message to the King of the Ammonites Prayer: Answered: Ammon The Ammonites: Jephthah Raised up to Deliver Israel From