JUDGES LESSON 13
We will begin this lesson in Judges 11:1 "Now Jephthah the
Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he [was] the son of an
harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah."
Gilead was the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh. Gilead's
descendents are called Gileadites. Jephthah was the son of Gilead and
an harlot. The sons of Gilead by his wife sent him away, because of
his illegitimacy. He settled in Tob, which had been where his mother
was from. Tob was in Syria near Gilead. He made a name for himself as
a marauder.
Judges 11:2 "And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons
grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt
not inherit in our father's house; for thou [art] the son of a strange
woman."
Strange, here, as in other places in the Bible, means harlot. It
appears, the sons were ashamed of him, and wanted to get rid of him.
They did not want him getting any of the inheritance of their father.
Judges 11:3 "Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in
the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and
went out with him."
This is speaking of the days, when he was a marauder. His family
had rejected him, so he went out to make a name for himself in the
only way he knew how.
Judges 11:4 "And it came to pass in process of time, that the
children of Ammon made war against Israel."
We read about this in the last chapter. The reason for the attack
of Israel, is because Israel had become idolaters, worshipping false
gods. God had given them into the hands of the children of Ammon.
Judges 11:5 "And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made
war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of
the land of Tob:" Judges 11:6 "And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and
be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon."
They, suddenly, need a man with the strength of Jephthah. They go
to get him to help them out of this predicament they are in. What an
honor for Jephthah, who had been thrown out in disgrace, to come back
and lead them as their captain.
Judges 11:7 "And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not
ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come
unto me now when ye are in distress?"
It seems that, it was not just his own physical brothers who had
expelled him, but the elders of Gilead, as well. He cannot imagine
them coming to him now, to lead them. The answer is: they know that he
is stronger than they are, and they need a very strong leader.
Judges 11:8 "And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah,
Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and
fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the
inhabitants of Gilead."
There seems to be no one in Gilead with the courage to lead them
against these children of Ammon. They know of his exploits, and know
that he is very brave. This is who they need to lead them. They are
promising to make him the ruler over them, if he will only come and
help them now.
Judges 11:9 "And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye
bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the
LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?"
This is a very good question he is asking them. Do they want him
just to fight their battle, and then go back to where he came from, or
will they allow him to remain their head after the battle? I like what
he said; the LORD deliver them before me. He is aware that his
strength is in the LORD.
Judges 11:10 "And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The
LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words."
This is a promise that he will, indeed, be ruler over them in
peace if he wins the war for them. They have made a vow with the LORD
as their witness.
Judges 11:11 "Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and
the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered
all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh."
He has been ordained as judge, and as their military leader.
Jephthah was installed as their leader in Mizpah. Their place of
worship would have, generally, been the place for such an ordination.
They are gathered at Mizpah, so this was either in the presence of the
arc of the covenant, or where the LORD witnessed it.
Judges 11:12 "And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the
children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art
come against me to fight in my land?"
Jephthah tries to settle this without a war, if possible. He
first wants to know, why they have come against Israel?
Judges 11:13 "And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto
the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when
they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto
Jordan: now therefore restore those [lands] again peaceably."
They are asking for the land back between the Arnon and the
Jabbok. They claim this lands belongs to the Ammonites and the
Moabites.
Judges 11:14 "And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of
the children of Ammon:" Judges 11:15 "And said unto him, Thus saith
Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the
children of Ammon:" Judges 11:16 "But when Israel came up from Egypt,
and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to
Kadesh;" Judges 11:17 "Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of
Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king
of Edom would not hearken [thereto]. And in like manner they sent unto
the king of Moab: but he would not [consent]: and Israel abode in
Kadesh."
We remember that, Israel tried not to offend Moab or Edom. They
tried to cross their land peacefully, and they would not let them. It
is a very dangerous thing to disobey the will of God, and that is what
happened in both instances.
Judges 11:18 "Then they went along through the wilderness, and
compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east
side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but
came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon [was] the border of
Moab."
He explains, they went a long way out of their way not to cross
their land.
Judges 11:19 "And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the
Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass,
we pray thee, through thy land into my place." Judges 11:20 "But Sihon
trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all
his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel."
Even this battle was not instigated by Israel. It was fear from
Sihon that caused the battle. Numbers 21:23 "And Sihon would not
suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his
people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness: and
he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel."
Judges 11:21 "And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all
his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel
possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that
country." Judges 11:22 "And they possessed all the coasts of the
Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even
unto Jordan."
God punished Sihon and all of the people, and gave this land to
the Israelites. God, Himself, did this. This is how this land came
into the hands of the Israelites.
Judges 11:23 "So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the
Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess
it?"
This is plainly explained that God gave this land to them. It is
not in their ability to give land to anyone that God has given them,
even if they did want to. It belongs to Israel, because God gave it to
them.
Judges 11:24 "Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god
giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out
from before us, them will we possess."
The national god of the Moabites was Chemosh. They have put their
faith and trust in that false god, so they should, also, look to the
false god to acquire land for them. Israel's God drives their enemies
out, and gives the land to Israel as an inheritance. This is a
defamation of the false god Chemosh.
Judges 11:25 "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," Judges 11:26 "While Israel dwelt in
Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the
cities that [be] along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years?
why therefore did ye not recover [them] within that time?"
It appears, 300 years have passed, and now, they are wanting
their land back. Why did not Barak ask for it back earlier? 300 years
is a long time to pass, before asking for it back.
Judges 11:27 "Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou
doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day
between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon."
Jephthah declares that he has done no wrong to them. They are in
the wrong. Then he adds, that the LORD will be the judge of who is
wrong.
Judges 11:28 "Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened
not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him."
He tried to settle this peaceably, and they would not listen to
him. They want to fight.
Judges 11:29 "Then the spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah,
and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of
Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over [unto] the children
of Ammon."
This is stating that the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jehthah
that he might have the strength of God, to do the job set before him.
He is empowered by the LORD for the job which lies ahead.
Judges 11:30 "And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said,
If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine
hands," Judges 11:31 "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."
This was a very foolish vow to make to God. A vow is not
something you can take back. It is a permanent agreement to God. His
mother's people were Syrians, and they practiced human sacrifice. God
did not require human sacrifice, however. This, I will not comment on.
I do not know why he made such a rash vow.
Judges 11:32 "So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon
to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands."
Judges 11:33 "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."
It was not difficult to win this war. God was with him. He had
empowered him with His Spirit, that he might be successful. The
children of Ammon had no chance at all. They were fighting against
God, as well as the Israelites. They were defeated.
Judges 11:34 "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."
This pain has to be similar to the pain that Abraham had, when he
was told to sacrifice Isaac. The love that a parent has for a child is
one of protection, not hurt. The love for an only child is even
greater. He had never dreamed, when he vowed, that it would be his
daughter who would come out of his house first. This means He will
never have grandchildren. This is his only child.
Judges 11:35 "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."
The tearing of his clothes was a sign of extreme mourning. The
fact that he must sacrifice his only daughter, has bowed him very low.
His grief is overwhelming. He had promised God, and he cannot go back
on the vow he made. Now, he wishes he had not opened his mouth and
made this rash vow, but it is too late.
Judges 11:36 "And she said unto him, My father, [if] thou hast
opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath
proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance
for thee of thine enemies, [even] of the children of Ammon."
She does not try to beg her father not to do this. She knows the
seriousness of vowing to God. God had kept his part of the agreement.
Now, her father must keep his.
Judges 11:37 "And she said unto her father, Let this thing be
done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon
the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows."
The Hebrew women thought it a curse from God not to have
children. The saddest part of this for his daughter, was the fact that
she had never been married. She must have been young, because they
married early. This two months would be a time of regret for her. She
would spend these days with her friends.
Judges 11:38 "And he said, Go. And he sent her away [for] two
months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity
upon the mountains."
He granted her wish. She and her friends went to the mountains
for two months. Their sadness was not over her death, but the fact
that she would leave no children.
Judges 11:39 "And it came to pass at the end of two months, that
she returned unto her father, who did with her [according] to his vow
which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in
Israel,"
Her father reluctantly carried out the vow he had made to God.
There are several things in this particular verse, that make many
believe he might not have killed her. It would have been worse than
death to a Hebrew woman, if she could never marry and have children.
Notice, in the verse above, "she knew no man". She was a virgin. She
had never been with a man. Whether he actually killed his only
daughter, or whether she was never allowed to marry would have been
death as far as she was concerned. I will not presume to guess whether
she was actually killed, or whether she was never allowed to marry. We
do know that Isaac was not actually sacrificed, but it was as if he
were, because Abraham offered him to God. I cannot say what is the
case here. I leave it up to you.
Judges 11:40 "[That] the daughters of Israel went yearly to
lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year."
Israel benefited from her sacrifice, so they were the ones who
went 4 days a year to remember her great sacrifice for all of their
families. This was, probably, done just in Gilead, where what she had
done, was well known.
Judges 13 Questions
1. Now, ____________, the Gileadite, was a mighty man of valour.
2. He was the son of Gilead and an ________.
3. Gilead was the son of Machir, the son of ___________.
4. Gilead's wife's sons ____________ Jephthah out.
5. Jephthah fled from his brothers, and dwelt where?
6. When did the elders of Israel go after Jephthah, to bring him
back?
7. What did they ask Jephthah to do?
8. What does Jephthah say to the elders?
9. Why did they come to get him to lead them?
10. Before he comes with them, what does he make them promise?
11. The elders made their vow to Jephthah in front of _______.
12. What did Jephthah know about his strength?
13. Where was he ordained?
14. What positions would he hold?
15. What did he do first, before going to war?
16. What question does he ask the king of the children of Ammon?
17. How does the king answer him?
18. What does Jephthah relate to them about the Israelites crossing
over their land?
19. What attitude did they have toward Israel?
20. What king came out and fought the Israelites?
21. What was the outcome?
22. What did God do with Sihon's land?
23. Who was the national god of the Moabites?
24. What does Jephthah challenge their false god to do?
25. How many years have passed, since this land belonged to them?
26. Who would judge between them?
27. What empowered Jephthah?
28. What rash vow did he make to God?
29. Why was it not difficult to win the war?
30. Who came out to meet him, when Jephthah came home?
31. What did he do, when he saw who it was?
32. What did she ask for?
33. Who went with her?
34. What was her sadness for, if not that she might lose her life?
35. Did he kill his only daughter?
36. Who commemorates her sacrifice?
37. Why do they commemorate her sacrifice?
38. How many days a year does this take?
39. How do we know this is not for everyone to do?
40. Where was, probably, the place this was done?
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