4 It came about after a while that the sons of Ammon fought against Israel . 5 When the sons of Ammon fought against Israel , the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob ; 6 and they said to Jephthah , "Come and be our chief that we may fight against the sons of Ammon ." 7 Then Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead , " Did you not hate me and drive me from my father's house ? So why have you come to me now when you are in trouble ?" 8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah , "For this reason we have now returned to you, that you may go with us and fight with the sons of Ammon and become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead ." 9 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead , "If you take me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the Lord gives them up to me, will I become your head ?" 10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah , " The Lord is witness between us; surely e we will do as you have said ." 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead , and the people made him head and chief over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the Lord at Mizpah .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 11:4-11
Commentary on Judges 11:1-11
(Read Judges 11:1-11)
Men ought not to be blamed for their parentage, so long as they by their personal merits roll away any reproach. God had forgiven Israel, therefore Jephthah will forgive. He speaks not with confidence of his success, knowing how justly God might suffer the Ammonites to prevail for the further punishment of Israel. Nor does he speak with any confidence at all in himself. If he succeed, it is the Lord delivers them into his hand; he thereby reminds his countrymen to look up to God as the Giver of victory. The same question as here, in fact, is put to those who desire salvation by Christ. If he save you, will ye be willing that he shall rule you? On no other terms will he save you. If he make you happy, shall he make you holy? If he be your helper, shall he be your Head? Jephthah, to obtain a little worldly honour, was willing to expose his life: shall we be discouraged in our Christian warfare by the difficulties we may meet with, when Christ has promised a crown of life to him that overcometh?