Judges 11:26

Translations

Modern

For three hundred years Israel has lived in Heshbon, Aroer, and their villages, as well as all the cities along the banks of the Arnon. Why did you not take them back during that time?

Traditional

While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time?

Literal

In the dwelling of Israel in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are along the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years—why did you not snatch them up within that time?

Latin

…quando habitavit in Hesebon et viculis ejus, et in Aroër et villis illius, vel in cunctis civitatibus juxta Jordanem, per trecentos annos. Quare tanto tempore nihil super hac repetitione tentastis?

Original

Hebrew

English

For three hundred years Israel has lived in Heshbon, Aroer, and their villages, as well as all the cities along the banks of the Arnon. Why did you not take them back during that time?

Notes

Judges 11:26

Whether the conquest and settlement happened in the 1400s BC or the 1200s BC (see Judges Book Introduction, “Chronology of the Judges Era”), Jephthah’s 300 years is likely an estimate.

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

Deliverance by Jephthah

Related verses

Deuteronomy 2:36
From Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Valley, along with the city in the valley, even as far as Gilead, not one city had walls too high for us. The LORD our God gave us all of them.
Judges 5:31
So may all Your enemies perish, O LORD! But may those who love You shine like the sun at its brightest.” And the land had rest for forty years.
Judges 8:28
In this way Midian was subdued before the Israelites and did not raise its head again. So the land had rest for forty years in the days of Gideon,
Judges 10:8
…who that very year harassed and oppressed the Israelites, and they did so for eighteen years to all the Israelites on the other side of the Jordan in Gilead, the land of the Amorites.
Judges 3:11
So the land had rest for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.
Numbers 21:25–30
Israel captured all the cities of the Amorites and occupied them, including Heshbon and all its villages.
Joshua 23:1
A long time after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, when Joshua was old and well along in years,
Judges 10:2–3
Tola judged Israel twenty-three years, and when he died, he was buried in Shamir.
Joshua 12:5
He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salecah, all of Bashan up to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
Joshua 13:10
…and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites who reigned in Heshbon, as far as the border of the Ammonites;
Joshua 11:18
Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long period of time.
Deuteronomy 2:24
“Arise, set out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle.

People

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

Places

Arnon: A river and valley, serving as a boundary for Israel Aroer: A city on the edge of the Arnon Valley Heshbon: Amorite city conquered by Moses, allotted to Reuben

Glossary

Ammon, Ammonites Aroer Book of Exodus Chronology of the Bible (Old Testament) Conquest and Allotment of the Land Family Life and Relations Genesis, Book of Gilead (Place) Judges, Book of Mizpah Moab, Moabites Palestine

Topics

Ambassadors: Israelites to Various Nations Aroer: A City of the Amorites in the Valley of the River Arnon: Conquered by Israelites 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

Judges 11:26

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Events?

Related verses?

People

Places

Glossary?

Topics?

Translations

Original

Notes

Events

Related verses

Glossary

Topics