Judges 11:33

31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD’s, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

32 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.

And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

34 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.

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
With a great blow he devastated twenty cities from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel-keramim. So the Ammonites were subdued before the Israelites.
KJV
And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
WEB
He struck them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
ASV
And he smote them from Aroer until thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
DARBY
And he smote them from Aroer until thou come to Minnith, twenty cities, even unto Abel-Cheramim, with a very great slaughter; and the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.
BLB
And he defeated them from Aroer and as far as the entrance to Minnith, twenty cities, and to Abel-keramim. And with a very great slaughter the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel.
ÅB
han slo dem og tok fra dem landet fra Aroer til bortimot Minnit, tyve byer, og like til Abel-Keramim; det ble et svært mannefall, og Ammons barn ble ydmyket under Israels barn.
OTB
Han slo dem fra Aroer til nærheten av Minnit, tjue byer, helt til Abel-Keramim. Slik ble ammonittene underlagt israelittene.
B1930
han slo dem og tok fra dem landet fra Aroer til bortimot Minnit, tyve byer, og like til Abel-Keramim; det blev et svært mannefall, og Ammons barn blev ydmyket under Israels barn.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Ezekiel 27:17

    Judah, and the land of Israel, they were thy merchants: they traded in thy market wheat of Minnith, and Pannag, and honey, and oil, and balm.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 2:36

    From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us:

    Read in context