Judg 10:7, 11:8-33, 1Sa 12:12 | TSK | STEP

Jephthah uttered.That is, upon his elevation, he immediately retired to his devotion, and in prayer spread the whole matter before God, both his choice to the office, and his execution of the office, as one that had his eye ever toward the Lord, and would do nothing without him; that leaned not to his own understanding or courage, but depended on the Almighty God, and his favour. This is an ensample worthy of universal imitation; in All Our Ways, whether great or apparently subordinate, let us acknowledge God and seek his direction. So shall we make our way prosperous, and obtain that peace which passeth all understanding. Jephthah opened his campaign with prayer.

before.

10:17; 20:1; 1Sa 10:17; 11:15

Mizpeh.This Mizpeh was east of Jordan in the mountains of Gilead (Ge 31:49); and hence called Mizpeh of Gilead (ver. 29), to distinguish it from another place of the same name, west of Jordan, in the tribe of Judah.

Jos 15:38

sent messengers.In this Jephthah acted in accordance with the law of Moses; and hence the justice of his cause would appear more forcibly to the people.

Nu 20:14; 21:21; De 2:26; 20:10,11; Pr 25:8,9; Mt 18:15,16

What hast.

2Ki 14:8-12

Because Israel.

Nu 21:24-26; Pr 19:5,9

from Arnon.That is, all the land which had belonged to the Amorites and Moabites.

Jabbok.

Ge 32:22; De 2:37; 3:16

again unto.

Ps 120:7; Ro 12:18; Heb 12:14; 1Pe 3:11

Israel took.

Nu 21:13-15,27-30; De 2:9,19; 2Ch 20:10; Ac 24:12,13

But when.The whole of these messages shew, Jephthah had well studied the book of Moses. His arguments also are very clear and cogent, and his demands reasonable; for he only required that the Ammonites should cease to harass a people who had neither injured them, nor intended to do so.

walked.

Nu 14:25; De 1:40; Jos 5:6

came.

Ge 14:7; Nu 13:26; 20:1; De 1:46

sent messengers.

Nu 20:14-21; De 2:4-8,29

the king.

De 2:9

abode.

Nu 20:1,16

went.

Nu 20:22; 21:10-13; 33:37-44; De 2:1-8

compassed.

Nu 21:4-9

came by.

Nu 21:11

pitched.

Nu 21:13; 22:36

Nu 21:21-35; De 2:26-34; 3:1-17; Jos 13:8-12

Nu 21:23; De 2:32

Lord God.

Ne 9:22; Ps 135:10-12; 136:17-21

they smote.

Nu 21:24,25; De 2:33,34

so Israel.

Jos 13:15-32

And they.

De 2:36

from the wilderness.From Arabia Deserta on the east, to Jordan on the west. Jephthah shews 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; and although the Amorites had taken the lands in question from the Ammonites, yet the title by which Israel held them was good, because they took them, not from the Ammonites, but from the Amorites.

Wilt not thou possess.This is simply an {argumentum ad hominem;} in which Jephthah argues on this principles recognized by the king of Ammon. As if he had said, "You suppose that the land which you possess was given you by your god Chemosh; and therefore will not relinquish what you believe you hold by a divine right. Now we know that Jehovah, our God, has given us the land of the Israelites; and therefore we will not give it up."

Chemosh.

Nu 21:29; 1Ki 11:7; Jer 48:7,46

whomsoever.

De 9:4,5; 18:12; Jos 3:10; Ps 44:2; 78:55; Mic 4:5

Balak.

Nu 22:2-21; De 23:3,4; Jos 24:9,10; Mic 6:5

Heshbon.

Nu 21:25-30; De 2:24; 3:2,6; Jos 12:2,5; 13:10

Aroer.

De 2:36

three hundred.

3:11,30; 5:31; 8:28; 9:22; 10:2,3,8; Jos 11:18; 23:1

the Judge.

Ge 18:25; 1Sa 2:10; Job 9:15; 23:7; Ps 7:11; 50:6; 75:7; 82:8

Ps 94:2; 98:9; Ec 11:9; 12:14; Joh 5:22,23; Ro 14:10-12; 2Co 5:10

2Ti 4:8; Heb 12:23

be judge.

Ge 16:5; 31:53; 1Sa 24:12,15; Ps 7:8,9; 2Co 11:11

2Ki 14:11; Pr 16:18

the spirit.

3:10; 6:34; 13:25; Nu 11:25; 1Sa 10:10; 16:13-15; 1Ch 12:18

Jephthah."Jephthah seems to have been judge only of north-east Israel."

over Mizpeh.

10:17

Ge 28:20; Nu 30:2-16; 1Sa 1:11; Ec 5:1,2,4,5

whatsoever, etc. Heb. that which cometh forth, which shallcome forth. shall surely.

Le 27:2,3,28,29; 1Sa 1:11,28; 2:18; 14:24,44; Ps 66:13,14

and I will. or, or I will, etc.{Wehäâleetheehoo ôlah,} rather, as Dr. Randolph and others contend, "and I will offer Him (or to Him, i.e., Jehovah) a burnt offering;" for {hoo} may with much more propriety be referred to the person to whom the sacrifice was to be made, than to the thing to be sacrificed. Unless understood in this way, or as the marginal reading, it must have been the vow of a heathen or a madman. If a dog, or other uncleaned animal had met him, he could not have made it a burnt offering; or if his neighbour's wife, sons, etc., his vow gave him no right over them.

Le 27:11,12; De 23:18; Ps 66:13; Isa 66:3

the Lord.

1:4; 2:18; 3:10

Aroer.

De 2:36

Minnith.Situated, according to Eusebius, four miles from Heshbon, towards Philadelphia or Rabbath.

Eze 27:17

the plain. or, Abel.

1 Samuel 12:12

Nahash.

11:1,2

Nay.

8:3,5,6,19,20; Jud 9:18,56,57

when the Lord.

8:7; 10:19; Ge 17:7; Ex 19:5,6; Nu 23:21; Jud 8:23; Ps 74:12

Isa 33:22; Ho 13:10