CHAPTER XI _The history of Jephthah, and his covenant with the Gileadites_, 1-10. _He is elected by the people_, 11. _Sends an embassy to the king of the Ammonites, to inquire why_ _they invaded Israel; and receives an answer, to which he sends_ _back a spirited reply_, 12-27. _This is disreg... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:3. _THERE WERE GATHERED VAIN MEN TO JEPHTHAH_] אנשים ריקים _anashim reykim, empty men _- persons destitute of good sense, and profligate in their manners. The word may, however, mean in this place _poor persons_, without property, and without employment. The _versions_ in general con... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:4. _THE CHILDREN OF AMMON MADE WAR_] They had invaded the land of Israel, and were now encamped in Gilead. See Judges 10:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:6. _COME, AND BE OUR CAPTAIN_] The Israelites were assembled in Mizpeh, but were without a captain to lead them against the Ammonites. And we find, from the conclusion of the preceding chapter, that they offered the command to any that would accept it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:8. _THEREFORE WE TURN AGAIN TO THEE NOW_] We are convinced that we have dealt unjustly by thee, and we wish now to repair our fault, and give thee this sincere proof of our regret for having acted unjustly, and of our confidence in thee.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:11. _JEPTHAH WENT WITH THE ELDERS_] The _elders_ had chosen him for their head; but, to be valid, this choice must be confirmed by the _people_; therefore, it is said, _the people made_ _him head_. But even this did not complete the business; God must be brought in as a party to this... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:12. _JEPTHAH SENT MESSENGERS_] He wished the Ammonites to explain their own motives for undertaking a war against Israel; as then the justice of his cause would appear more forcibly to the people.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:13. _FROM ARNON EVEN UNTO JABBOK, AND UNTO JORDAN_] That is, all the land that had formerly belonged to the Amorites, and to the Moabites, who it seems were confederates on this occasion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:22. _FROM THE WILDERNESS EVEN UNTO JORDAN._] From Arabia Deserta on the east to Jordan on the west.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:23. _THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL HATH DISPOSSESSED THE AMORITES_] Jephthah shows that the Israelites did not take the land of the Moabites or Ammonites, but that of the _Amorites_, which they had conquered from Sihon their king, who had, without cause or provocation, attacked them; and al... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:24. _WILT NOT THOU POSSESS THAT WHICH CHEMOSH THY GOD_ _GIVETH THEE_] As if he had said: "It is a maxim with you, as it is among all nations, that the lands which they conceive to be given them by their gods, they have an absolute right to, and should not relinquish them to any kind... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:27. _THE LORD THE JUDGE BE JUDGE - BETWEEN THE CHILDREN OF_ _ISRAEL_] If you be right, and we be wrong, then Jehovah, who is the sovereign and incorruptible Judge, shall determine in your favour; and to Him I submit the righteousness of my cause.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:29. _THEN THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON JEPHTHAH_] The Lord qualified him for the work he had called him to do, and thus gave him the most convincing testimony that his cause was good.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:31. _SHALL SURELY BE THE LORD'S, AND I WILL OFFER IT UP FOR_ _A BURNT-OFFERING._] The text is והיה ליהוה והעליתיהו עולה _vehayah_ _layhovah, vehaalithihu olah_; the translation of which, according to the most accurate Hebrew scholars, is this: _I will consecrate_ _it to the Lord_, o... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:33. _TWENTY CITIES_] That is, he either _took_ or _destroyed_ twenty cities of the Ammonites, and completely routed their whole army.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:34. _WITH TIMBRELS AND WITH DANCES_] From this instance we find it was an ancient custom for women to go out to meet returning conquerors with musical instruments, songs, and dances; and that it was continued afterwards is evident from the instance given 1 Samuel 18:6, where David wa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:35. _THOU HAST BROUGHT ME VERY LOW_] He was greatly distressed to think that his daughter, who was his only child, should be, in consequence of his vow, prevented from continuing his family in Israel; for it is evident that he had not any other child, for _besides her_, says the text... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:36. _AND SHE SAID UNTO HIM_] What a pattern of filial piety and obedience! She was at once obedient, pious, and patriotic. A woman to have no offspring was considered to be in a state of the utmost degradation among the Hebrews; but she is regardless of all this, seeing her father is... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:37. _I AND MY FELLOWS_] Whether she meant the young women of her own acquaintance, or those who had been consecrated to God in the same way, though on different accounts, is not quite clear; but it is likely she means her own _companions_: and her _going up_ _and down upon the mounta... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:39. _AND SHE KNEW NO MAN_] She continued a _virgin_ all the days of her life.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 11:40. _TO LAMENT THE DAUGHTER OF JEPHTHAH_] I am satisfied that this is not a correct translation of the original לתנות לבת יפתח _lethannoth lebath yiphtach_. Houbigant translates the whole verse thus: _Sed iste mos apud Israel invaluit, ut virgines_ _Israel, temporibus diversis, irent... [ Continue Reading ]