Judges 11:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend against Israel, or did he ever go to war with them?

NIV: Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them?

NASB: Now then, are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel, or did he ever fight against them?

CSB: Now are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or fight against them?

NLT: Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he try to make a case against Israel for disputed land? Did he go to war against them?

KJV: And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,

NKJV: And now, are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel? Did he ever fight against them?

Jephthah now arrives at a third argument countering the king of Ammon (Judges 11:13). This enemy ruler is entirely wrong in thinking his people have any right to the land of Gilead. Jephthah's historical argument was simply that the Ammonites never possessed the land in the first place (Judges 11:14–22). His theological argument is that the Lord God of Israel gave the land to the Israelites, meaning it was His divine will for Israel to possess it (Judges 11:23–24).

This final point is that other, better kings have not tried to take Gilead from Israel. Balak was the king of the nearby Moabites when Israel came into possession of the land of Gilead (Numbers 22:1–3). Balak was terrified of Israel, and he unsuccessfully tried to get the prophet Balaam to curse Israel on behalf of the Moabites (Numbers 22—24). King Balak, however, did not go to war against Israel for the bordering land of Gilead. That is Jephthah's point to the current king of Ammon: even famous King Balak did not attempt what you're trying to do.

Judges 11:12–28 is Jephthah's attempt to negotiate with the Ammonites. He exchanges messages with the king of Ammon, asking the reason for this war on their land. Jephthah corrects the king's response that Israel wrongly took the land from them during the time of Moses. He offers several forms of rebuttal. Jephthah notes that Ammon was never in control of Gilead. Instead, the Amorites attacked Israel and God have his people victory. Greater kings have not attempted to take the region away; it had not been disputed for centuries. However, the Ammonite king will not listen.

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.

Judges 11 answers the question raised at the end of the previous chapter: who could lead Gilead's fight against the Ammonites? The elders recruit Jephthah, a warrior driven away by his family in Gilead. Jephthah agrees to return and is appointed leader of Gilead. Jephthah raises an army and makes a foolish vow to the Lord in exchange for victory. Israel defeats Ammon, but Jephthah's vow costs him his only child, his daughter. His victory also creates civil strife in Israel, leading to a minor civil war.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).

Accessed 5/8/2024 7:05:40 PM