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Judges 11:10
ESV And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The Lord will be witness between us, if we do not do as you say."
NIV The elders of Gilead replied, "The Lord is our witness; we will certainly do as you say."
NASB And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, 'The Lord is witness between us; be assured we will do as you have said.'
CSB The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The Lord is our witness if we don’t do as you say."
NLT The Lord is our witness,' the elders replied. 'We promise to do whatever you say.'
KJV And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
NKJV And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The Lord will be a witness between us, if we do not do according to your words.”

What does Judges 11:10 mean?

Jephthah was the first to bring God's will into the conversation about leading fighters of Gilead against the Ammonites (Judges 11:4–9). He put any chance of victory squarely in the Lord's hands, saying that he would become leader over the elders and all the people of Gilead only if the Lord gave the Ammonites over to him.

Here, the elders of Gilead match Jephthah's commitment to the Lord. They place themselves under threat of the Lord's judgment if they do not follow through in making Jephthah the leader over all of Gilead, including themselves. This, of course, presumes that he succeeds and defeats the Ammonites. In that era and culture, this was as firm a contract as one could ask for. Jephthah will take the job (Judges 11:11).
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Context Summary
Judges 11:1–11 introduces Jephthah as the unlikely answer to the dilemma of the previous chapter (Judges 10:17–18). Jephthah is a warrior called to lead Gilead against the Ammonites. Though he had been driven from Gilead by his people, he agrees to return if the elders will make him their leader.
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Chapter Summary
A man named Jephthah is driven away from his home in Gilead by jealous brothers. He settles in Tob, where he becomes warrior chief of a criminal band. Gilead's elders later recruit Jephthah to lead the fight against their Ammonite oppressors. After a failed negotiation attempt, Jephthah vows to make a burnt offering to the Lord of whatever comes to meet him if God gives him victory over the Ammonites. Israel thoroughly defeats Ammon, and Jephthah's daughter, his only child, greets him. Jephthah carries out his vow after his daughter grieves never marrying or having children.
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