Judges 11:23

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

Translations

Modern
Now since the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from before His people Israel, should you now possess it?
Traditional
So now the Lord God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?
Literal
And YHWH, God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorite from before His people Israel; and should you possess it?
Latin
Dominus ergo Deus Israël subvertit Amorrhæum, pugnante contra illum populo suo Israël, et tu nunc vis possidere terram ejus?

Original

Hebrew
English
Now since the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from before His people Israel, should you now possess it?

Notes

  • 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 Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

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

Topics

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