Judg 11:4-33, 2Sa 10:1-14, 2Ch 20:1, Jer 49:1-6 | TSK | STEP | A.M. 2817. B.C. 1187. An. Ex. Is. 304. in process of time.Heb. after days.

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.

2 Samuel 10:1-14

1 David's messengers, sent to comfort Hanun the son of Nahash, are villanously treated.

6 The Ammonites, strengthened by the Syrians, are overcome by Joab and Abishai.

15 Shobach, making a new supply of the Syrians at Helam, is slain by David.

AM 2967. B.C. 1037. An. Ex. Is. 454. king.

Jud 10:7-9; 11:12-28; 1Sa 11:1-3; 1Ch 19:1-3

shew kindness.

De 23:3-6; Ne 4:3-7; 13:1-3

Nahash.

1Sa 11:1

as his father.

1Sa 22:3,4

Thinkest thou that David doth. Heb. In thine eyes dothDavid. not.

Ge 42:9,16; 1Co 13:5,7

and shaved.The beard is held in high respect and greatly valued in the East: the possessor considers it as his greatest ornament; often swears by it; and, in matters of great importance, pledges it; and nothing can be more secure than such a pledge; for its owner will redeem it at the hazard of his life. The beard was never cut off but in mourning, or as a sign of slavery. It is customary to shave the Ottoman princes, as a mark of their subjection to the reigning emperor. The beard is a mark of authority and liberty among the Mohammedans. The Persians who clip the beard, and shave above the jaw, are reputed heretics. They who serve in the {seraglios} have their beards shaven, as a sign of servitude; nor do they suffer them to grow till the sultan has set them at liberty. Among the Arabians, it is more infamous for anyone to appear with his beard cut off, than among us to be publicly whipped or branded; and many would prefer death to such a punishment.

Le 19:27; 1Ch 19:3,4; Ps 109:4,5; Isa 15:2

cut off.

Isa 20:4; 47:2,3; Jer 41:5

Jericho.

Jos 6:24-26; 1Ki 16:34; 1Ch 19:5

stank.

Ge 34:30; Ex 5:21; 1Sa 13:4; 27:12; 1Ch 19:6,7

Syrians of Beth-rehob.

8:3,5,12

Zobah.

Pr 25:8; Isa 8:9,10

Maacah.

Jos 13:11-13

Ish-tob. or, the men of Tob.

Jud 11:3,5

all the host.

23:8-39; 1Ch 19:8-19

at the entering.This was at the city of Medeba, a city upon the borders of the Ammonites, and in their possession.

1Ch 19:7

Rehob.

6; Nu 13:21; Jos 19:28; Jud 1:31

Jos 8:21,22; Jud 20:42,43

1Ch 19:9-12; Ne 4:20; Lu 22:32; Ro 15:1; Ga 6:2; Php 1:27,28

Be of good.This is a very animating address, and equal to any thing of the kind in ancient or modern times. Ye fight {pro aris et focis;} for every good, sacred and civil; for God, for your families, and for your countries. Such harangues, especially in very trying circumstances, are very natural, and may perhaps be found in the records of every nation. Several instances might be quoted from Roman and Grecian history; but few are more remarkable than that of Tyrtaeus, the lame Athenian poet, to whom the command of the army was given in one of the Messenian wars. The Spartans had at that time suffered great losses, and all their stratagems proved ineffectual, so that they began to despair of success; when the poet, by his lectures on honour and courage, delivered in moving verse to the army, ravished them to such a degree with the thoughts of dying for their country, that, rushing on with a furious transport to meet their enemies, they gave them an entire overthrow, and by one decisive battle brought the war to a happy conclusion.

Nu 13:20; De 31:6; Jos 1:6,7,9,18; 1Sa 14:6,12; 17:32; 2Ch 32:7

Ne 4:14; Heb 13:6

play.

1Sa 4:9; 1Ch 19:13; 1Co 16:13

the Lord.

16:10,11; Jud 10:15; 1Sa 3:18; Job 1:21

they fled.

1Ki 20:13-21,28-30; 1Ch 19:14,15; 2Ch 13:5-16