Judges 11:11

Identity and self-worth Conflict and reconciliation

⁹ But Jephthah asked them, “If you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me, will I really be your leader?”

¹⁰ And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.”

So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.

¹² Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?”

¹³ 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.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.
KJV: Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.
WEB: Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them. Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD in Mizpah.
ASV: Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them: and Jephthah spake all his words before Jehovah in Mizpah.
DARBY: Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them; and Jephthah uttered all his words before Jehovah in Mizpah.
BLB: And Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head over them and commander. And Jephthah spoke all his words before the face of YHWH in Mizpah.

ÅB: Så gikk Jefta med de eldste i Gilead, og folket gjorde ham til sin høvding og fører. Og Jefta gjentok i Mispa alle sine ord for Herrens åsyn.
OTB: Så gikk Jefta med de eldste i Gilead, og folket gjorde ham til leder og hærfører over dem. Jefta gjentok alle sine ord for Herren i Mispa.
B1930: Så gikk Jefta med de eldste i Gilead, og folket gjorde ham til sin høvding og fører. Og Jefta gjentok i Mispa alle sine ord for Herrens åsyn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 10:17
After this, Samuel summoned the people to the LORD at Mizpah
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Judges 20:1
Then all the Israelites from Dan to Beersheba and from the land of Gilead came out, and the congregation assembled as one man before the LORD at Mizpah.
Read in context
Judges 10:17
Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.
Read in context
James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
Read in context
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, with whom there is no change or shifting shadow.
Read in context
1 Samuel 11:15
So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.
Read in context
1 Samuel 23:9–12
When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
Read in context
1 Kings 3:7–9
And now, O LORD my God, You have made Your servant king in my father David’s place. But I am only a little child, not knowing how to go out or come in.
Read in context