Juízes 11
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
Juízes 11
Guzik - “He and his band probably operated more in the manner of David and his group years later, protecting cities and settlements from marauders.” (Wood) David did this in the period described in 1 Samuel 25:4-8, receiving pay from those whom they helped. It is also possible that they only plundered the villages of enemy peoples, such as the Ammonites. A R Fausset - Then Jephthah fled from [the face of] his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob [north-east of Peræa, bordering on Syria and Ammon (2 Sam. 10:6, 8). Ptolemy mentions a Thauba south-west of Zobah. There is still a Tell Dobbe ruin south of the Lejah]: and there were gathered vain [ch. 9:4, unprincipled (1 Sam. 22:2)] men to Jephthah, and went out with him [on marauding Bedouin-like expeditions. Probably he carried off booty from the Ammonites chiefly—a just reprisal for their inroads on Israel (ch. 10:8, 9)]. (Judges 11 Commentary) Preacher's Commentary has some applications writing that "Jephthah’s story is a powerful reminder to us Christians today, with our highly developed personality inventories and assessment packages, not to write anybody off from having a place to fulfill in the work of God’s kingdom. Our danger is that we become too controlled by the perceptions of the secular world around us, so that we apply its criteria unchanged to the operations of God’s work. Without in any way condoning the mediocre or losing sight of our quest for excellence in the work of God, we must nevertheless ensure that we make room for a biblical balance… One further application is also worthy of our consideration. We need to encourage those in our churches, who feel they are nobodies, not to allow disadvantages in their backgrounds or setbacks in life to discourage or disqualify them from serving the Lord. Let us affirm that God has something for each of His dearly loved children to do, something that is precious to Him and unique to us as individuals… So many Christians waste their time and energy grieving over something they never had, and that is very counterproductive… To be always looking back over one’s shoulder wishing that father had been more demonstrative, mother less demanding, and that the family circumstances had been different, is to be both ungrateful for God’s providence and unrealistic about life in a fallen world. Some of us have had a raw deal out of life, but we need to recognize that God’s providence means that He weaves the strands together to make each of us the unique individual we all are, and that is for His glory. There are no mistakes, no accidents with God; no pages to be torn up. It all counts. The story of Jephthah provides us with a key example to encourage our “no hopers” not to write themselves out of the script, but to make themselves freshly available to their totally ingenious Lord. (See context The Preacher's Commentary) Worthless (idle) (07386) req is an adjective that means empty or vain (frivolous, trivial, trifling) and indicates something that has nothing in it. . Req is used to describe an empty pit (Ge 37:24), empty pitchers (Jdg 7:16), vain (worthless) men (Jdg 9:4, 11:3, 2Chr 13:7 = speaking of their character), empty vessels (2Ki 4:3), worthless things (Pr 12:11, Pr 28:19), empty vessel (as a term of comparison - Jer 51:34) Req - 14v - emptied(1), empty(6), foolish ones(1), idle(1), satisfied(1), worthless(4). Gen. 37:24; Deut. 32:47; Jdg. 7:16; Jdg. 9:4; Jdg. 11:3; 2 Sam. 6:20; 2 Ki. 4:3; 2 Chr. 13:7; Neh. 5:13; Prov. 12:11; Prov. 28:19; Isa. 29:8; Jer. 51:34; Ezek. 24:11 TOB [SMITH] (from a root word that means to be pleasing, be well done, be good), The land of, a place in which Jephthah took refuge when expelled from home by his half-brother, (Judges 11:3) and where he remained, at the head of a band of freebooters, till he was brought back by the sheikhs of Gilead. ver. 5. The narrative implies that the land of Tob was not far distant from Gilead; at the same time, from the nature of the case it must have lain out toward the eastern deserts. It is undoubtedly mentioned again in (2Sa 10:6,8) as Ishtob, i.e. man of Tob , meaning, according to a common Hebrew idiom, the men of Tob. After a long interval it appears again, in the Maccabaean history, 1 Macc. 5:13, in the names Tobie and Tubieni. 2 Macc. 12:17. No identification of the ancient, district with any modern one has yet been attempted. Gary Inrig - Alone, that is, except for God. The grace of God was at work in this man’s life, rescuing him from an apparently hopeless future. God does not submit to human prejudices, and He is not limited by the social, parental, and environmental factors that people consider determinative. Over the years I have observed how He gets some of His most effective servants from the most unlikely places. A Christian knows that God is the great Determiner, and in that knowledge there is freedom. I am not a prisoner of my past, no matter how difficult or dysfunctional. God delights in using the “unusable” and in making the “ugly” beautiful. There is another person in the Old Testament whose background parallels Jephthah in intriguing ways. He was not an illegitimate son, but he does seem almost to have been an unwanted one. I am speaking of David. We are not told a great deal about his parents, but piecing together what we are told makes it clear that he too was from a highly difficult and dysfunctional family. By the time David was born, his father was an old man who had had several families by different wives. David’s brothers had sons the age of David himself, and his sisters were much older than he was. From all indications, his family did not have much time for David. In fact, when Samuel told Jesse to call all his sons, they did not even bother calling David. His place, they were convinced, was out looking after the sheep. Apparently, he had a lonely, unhappy childhood. But David learned a great truth, which he declares in Psalm 27:10, “For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me up” (nasb). I thank God for my parents; they certainly did not forsake me. Their love and encouragement were my constants. But all are not so fortunate. So I thank God that, no matter what our family background, God is able to use us for His glory. We are not prisoners of our past, whatever the source of our pain. This period must have been enormously defining for Jephthah. It was there in the wilderness that he became his own man. 1. Jephthah learned military warfare and strategy God later used for His glory. God does not ignore a person’s strengths or skills, whether innate or acquired. In that period of Jephthah’s life God was overseeing his development, long before Jephthah could have any idea of his destiny. The years in the wilderness were not a waste but an investment. God never wastes anything in one of His children’s lives. The gifts and talents that you have can be used in some way for His glory and service. I am always grateful for an illustration of this in the life of a man who greatly influenced me as a young seminary student, Dr. S. Lewis Johnson. When Dr. Johnson was a university student, he was an ardent golfer, and he found that if he wanted to play on the school golf team, the only course that would fit his schedule was one in classical Greek. He had no interest in Greek, and he was not, at the time, a Christian, but he loved golf, so he took Greek. He came to love Greek so much that the next year he dropped his golf to pursue Greek! Dr. Johnson graduated and went into business. Classical Greek was not very helpful in selling insurance, so it must have seemed like a waste. Then God, in His sovereign love, reached into His life, and Dr. Johnson was brought to a saving faith in Christ. As he grew in the Lord, he felt called to prepare himself to minister God’s Word. That in turn led to a rich and God-blessed ministry of teaching the Greek New Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary. The schedule conflict that seemed so accidental and meaningless years before was part of God’s eternal purpose for His life! Sometimes Christians fall into the trap of viewing their pre-conversion experience as a vast wasteland from which nothing can be redeemed. That is never so. The same Lord who was sovereign in your salvation was sovereign before your salvation; nothing brought to Him is wasted. In His hands, even broken fragments have purpose and meaning. 2. Jephthah learned leadership. There was no better training camp than the one Jephthah found himself in as he took a group of “worthless men,” as they are called, and turned them into an effective force. Those renegades taught Jephthah everything he wanted to know about leadership and more. The practical skills he learned in those years became the reservoir on which he could draw when his role expanded. It was in the desert that he discovered and developed his strong natural leadership gifts. And it was also in the desert that he began to develop a reputation. His accomplishments were impressive enough that people back in Gilead began to hear about this significant leader, who was a force to be reckoned with. 3. Jephthah learned to know something of God. I do not want to overstate the case here, because Jephthah was a man full of contradictions. He remained terribly ignorant of God, a fact that is somewhat understandable in light of his family background and the total neglect of God’s Word in his time. But for all of that, Jephthah used the personal name of God more than any other person in the book of Judges. He spoke not just generically of God, but of Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel, and despite his spiritual immaturity, he was committed to Him. His zeal for God was real, but his knowledge of Him was pathetic. A group of broadcasters was holding a conference with some Soviet Christians, and one of the men asked a Russian, “Brother, how did you manage to survive thirty-two years of Soviet labor camp?” The writer says that he expected some tale of terror or an outburst of anger. Instead, the man quietly and gently answered, “Brothers, even a desert looks like a flower garden when you are in communion with the Lord.” Perhaps Jephthah knew something of that kind of experience. He did not have a father or mother to accept him, but he did have the Lord. He knew what it was to be taken up by the Lord when even those closest to him had rejected him, and because that rejection drew him closer to the Lord, it made Jephthah the man he was for God. (Borrow Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay) Alan Carr - Judges 11:1-3 AN APPALLING REJECTION Judges 11:3 Jephthah’s Companions – When Jephthah left the family home, he went to a place called “Tob”. Tob was located east of the Jordan River in the country of Syria. We are told “vain men” gathered themselves to Jephthah. The phrase “vain men” refers to those who are “unemployed, bankrupt and empty.” These were idle men looking for something to fill their time. We do not know why flocked to Jephthah, but it may that in him, they saw a leader. Maybe they saw someone who could help them find a purpose in life. Whatever their reason for coming to Jephthah, the Bible tells us that they “went out with him.” This does not mean that they dated. Jephthah was not that kind of man! What it means is that Jephthah became the ragtag leader of this band of misfits and outcasts. It is speculated that they acted like David and his men did during the time they were running from King Saul. They probably served as an informal police force that protected the Hebrews from the attacks of their enemies. It seems that Jephthah was able to mold these misfits into an effective fighting force. Jephthah was showing himself to be a leader of men. (Note: There are a couple of lessons from Jephthah’s actions that I want to mention. 1. Jephthah took a negative and turned it into a positive. He could have taken his rejection by his brothers as an indication that his life was over and that he would never amount to anything. Instead, he rose above the challenges of his life and made something of himself. Sometimes it looks like life is against us, but if you believe in divine sovereignty; you know that ever the worst of circumstances are part of His plan to make us more like Him, Psa. 37:23. Whether you see it or not, whether you believe it or not, all the days of your life have been structured by God to make you into the person He wants you to be! 2. God delights in using the unusable. He specializes in taking those who seem to be the least of the least and making them vessels of honor for His glory, 1 Cor. 1:26-31! 3. Birds of a feather tend to flock together. People like Jephthah came to Jephthah. The principle is this: people tend to gravitate toward those who reflect what is in their own hearts. Look at the people you talk to. They are often people just like you. We usually seek out others who are just like us. Look at the people you spend your time with. They reveal the sort of person you are! If someone is discontented, they will gravitate toward other discontents. If someone is given over to a specific sin, they will gravitate toward others who do the same thing. Conversely, is someone has a true heart for the things of god; they will gravitate toward others who are seeking God too. Today would be a good time to consider the kind of people you spend time with! 4. Rejection is hurtful, but beneficial. God uses the animosity and attacks of others to build our character and refine our lives!) (Judges 11:1-11 - The Reject Who Became Ruler) Judges 11.3 G Campbell Morgan Jephthah fled from his brethren.—Judges 11.3. To those who are willing to see it, the story of Jephthah affords a solemn warning as to the wrong of treating a child born out of wedlock with contempt. It is constantly done, even by excellent people and it is wholly unjust. Here we see God raising up such a man to be a judge of his people, and to deliver them in time of grave difficulty. Jephthah was the son of a harlot, and had been thrust out from his inheritance by the legitimate sons of his father. The iron had entered into his soul, and he had gathered to himself a band of men, and had become a kind of 'outlawed freebooter. He was a man of courage and heroic daring, and it is impossible to read the story of the approach of the men of Gilead to him in the time of distress without recognizing the excellencies of his character. He can hardly be measured: by the standards of Israel, for he had lived outside the national ideal. Yet it is evident that he was a man of clear religious convictions. All of which should be remembered when the question of his vow is discussed. The picture of this man, defrauded by his brethren of his rightful inheritance, fleeing from them with the sense of wrong burning its way into his soul, is very natural and very sad. The one thing which we emphasize is that God did not count the wrong for which he was not responsible, a disqualification. He raised him up; He gave him His Spirit; He employed him to deliver His people in the hour of their need. Let us ever refrain from the sin of being unjust to men by holding them disqualified for service or friendship by sins for which they are not to blame. (Morgan, G. C. Life Applications from Every Chapter of the Bible) Judges 11:4 And it came about after a while that the sons of Ammon fought against Israel. Judges 11 Resources IT CAME ABOUT And it came about after a while that the sons of Ammon fought against Israel. This verse now carries us back to where the writer left off at (Jdg 10:17,18), with the sons of Gilead in dire straits and in need for a militarily leader like Jephthah. Notice again the phrase and it came about after a while, a time phrase that once again emphasizes that God is behind the scenes and controls the scenes He is behind! Do you believe that is true? The doctrine of the sovereignty of God disturbs some people, but when properly understood it is like laying your head down on a soft pillow! George Bush - The children of Ammon made war against Israel. Or, perhaps more properly, ‘had made war,’ and were now encamped in Gilead. We are here carried back in point of time to the period mentioned Jdg 10:17, the historian having returned from his digression concerning the parentage and early life of Jephthah. The words ‘in process of time,’ Heb. ‘after days,’ probably refer to the period immediately antecedent to the expulsion of Jephthah. Many days after he had been thrust out in disgrace, he was brought back again with honor. (Judges 11 Commentary) A R Fausset - And it came to pass in process of time [Heb., “after days,” as in ch. 14:8, 15:1; Josh. 23:1, i.e., a considerable time after Jephthah’s expulsion in youth], that the children of Ammon made war against Israel [here the account of the war is resumed from Judges 10:17, preparatory to describing the victory under Jephthah]. (Judges 11 Commentary) Keith Krell - As the two nations gather for battle, Israel realizes that they need a general who will lead them into war (Jdg 11:4). Israel asks Jephthah to be their leader (Jdg 11:5–6). Jephthah responds by saying, “Why now? You dogged me out, and now that you’re in need, you come crawling back on bended knee?” (Jdg 11:7) Jeff and Israel agree that if he destroys the Ammonites he will become their “head and chief”—their main man (Jdg 11:8–11). In this dialogue, Jephthah shows a lack of faith and manipulates the elders with shrewd diplomacy. He uses his powers of persuasion to assure himself of leadership. Interestingly, there is no mention that Jephthah is called to be a judge. Yet, the writer of Judges tells us that the Lord raised up Othniel (Jdg 3:9) and Ehud (Jdg 3:15) and through a prophetess summoned Barak (Jdg 4:6) and through an angel called Gideon (Jdg 6:14) and Samson (Jdg 13:5). But there is no such word regarding Jeff! (Failure in the Family) Alan Carr - II. Judges 11:4-8 AN ASTONISHING REQUEST Jephthah is living his life in exile. He is something of a Robin Hood kind of figure. He is protecting the Israelites and making the best out of his situation when his own people came looking for him. They come to him with an astonishing request. Let’s take a moment examine that request. A. Judges 11:4-5 The Cause Of The Request – The nation is under attack. The Ammonites are trying to take over the land. The children of Ammon were the descendants of Abraham’s nephew Lot through and incestuous relationship with one of his own daughters. The Ammonites were cousins to the Jews, but they were also there perpetual enemies. So, Israel is under attack and they do not have a strong leader to guide them to victory over their enemies. (Judges 11:1-11 - The Reject Who Became Ruler) Judges 11:5 And it happened when the sons of Ammon fought against Israel that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob; Ammon fought against Israel Jdg 10:9,17-18 to fetch (KJV): 1Sa 10:27 11:6,7,12 Ps 118:22,23 Ac 7:35-39 1Co 1:27-29 Judges 11 Resources Related Passage: Judges 10:17-18 - (BACKGROUND FOR THE PRESENT PASSAGE) Then the sons of Ammon were summoned and they camped in Gilead. And the sons of Israel gathered together and camped in Mizpah. 18 The people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” A HAPPENING JUST HAPPENED TO HAPPEN And it happened - I love this phrase in the Bible as it always recalls to mind that things do not "just happen," but that a sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient God is ever "moving the chess pieces" around on "His board of life." See one of those "divine happenings" in Ruth 2:3+ resulting in Ruth the Moabitess meeting Boaz who later became her husband and from whose lineage would one day come the Messiah. THOUGHT - Believe me, God is in control of the "happenings" that are happening in your (and my) life. That's easy for me to say when the fog has lifted or the clouds moved on, but it is not so easy for me to practice when I am in the midst of the Refiner's Fire! The "fire" is allowed so that our eyes of faith (or "muscles of faith") might more clearly discern the Master's hand like a symphony conductor, using the "discordant notes" in our life to bring forth "beautiful music"-- a divine symphony out of our human cacophony! When the sons of Ammon fought against Israel (See map) that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. In Jdg 10:17 the Ammonites were camped, but how they begin the battle. And apparently somebody had heard about Jephthah who had become a valiant warrior. Jephthah was not seeking this job. God had prepared him in the land of Tob and he was willing when he was called. My job in the Christian life is to be faithful where God has placed me, learn the lessons He is teaching me and be available. How many times have we heard, it is not ability God desires, but my availability! It is God's job to open the doors of opportunity and to empower those who walk through the doors. An available heart will always find much labor for the LORD. ILLUSTRATION - We see a similar thing in the life of one of the greatest figures in WWII, Winston Churchill, who had been ostracized from politics prior to the war because of his warnings against Hitler. He was later sought out by the British to be prime minister after the military disaster at Dunkirk. But later England "went to get" Churchill whose leadership was used (in the providence of God) to defend their island from almost certain Nazi invasion and defeat. The entire course of the war was influenced by the leadership of one man, just as would be the subsequent course of Israel after Jephthah led them to victory over the fierce Ammonites. Something had happened to this man, rejected by those closest to him, trekking off into the land of Tob, where he like others before him (Moses, Elijah, David, Paul) found that the wilderness experience and times of affliction reduce a man to the place where he can only look to God for His direction and deliverance. Jephthah was a man molded in the furnace of rejection (by men but not by God). George Bush - Went to fetch Jephthah. Heb. לקחת lakahath, to take; that is, to persuade to go. See Note on Josh. 24:3, and on Gen. 2:15. This was undoubtedly with the approbation, if not with the express direction of Jehovah. (Judges 11 Commentary) THOUGHT - Warren
Juízes 11
Guzik - The idea of Mizpah (“watch”) is “If you do wrong according to this promise, God will see it and may He punish.” NET Note on spoke all his words - This probably refers to the “words” recorded in Jdg 11:9. Jephthah repeats the terms of the agreement at the LORD’s sanctuary, perhaps to ratify the contract or to emphasize the Gileadites’ obligation to keep their part of the bargain. Another option is to translate, “Jephthah conducted business before the LORD in Mizpah.” In this case, the statement is a general reference to the way Jephthah ruled. He recognized the LORD’s authority and made his decisions before the LORD. Bush says all his words were "all the words pertaining to the solemn compact which had now been entered into. The words seem to be inserted to explain how it was that the people, as affirmed in the preceding clause, made him head and captain over them. The arrangement had first been concluded upon at Gilead between Jephthah and the elders. But this was not sufficient. He would have it solemnly repeated and ratified after entering the camp at Mizpeh, between himself and the whole assembled congregation. In order to give it the utmost validity, and preclude all future misunderstanding, the people must confirm the act by their own choice, and this is said to have been done ‘before the Lord,’ to indicate the religious and solemn manner in which the transaction was conducted, as if under his immediate inspection and sanction. See on Josh. 4:13." (Judges 11 Commentary) Warren
Juízes 11
Guzik - Jephthah asked a simple question: why are you in the land of Israel? Perhaps the whole dispute could be solved by negotiations and diplomacy instead of warfare. George Bush - Jephthah sent messengers, &c. A measure in the highest degree honorable to the equity, prudence, and piety of Jephthah, who herein conformed to the rule of conduct prescribed by Moses, Deut. 20:10–18, which was, not to make war with nations out of Canaan, till messengers had been sent with proposals of peace. Though a mighty man of valor, yet he delighted not in war for its own sake, and was desirous, if possible, to prevent the effusion of blood by a peaceable accommodation. How vastly different this from the spirit of most military chieftains! They are glad to seize upon any, even the slightest pretexts for an appeal to arms. But here, though the newly elected captain of Israel might, perhaps, have been justified in repelling force by force without any preliminary negotiations, yet if he can, by showing them the injustice of their conduct, persuade the invaders to retire, he will not compel them by the sword. If the children of Ammon could convince him that Israel had done them wrong, he was ready to restore the rights of the Ammonites; if not, it was plain by their invasion that they did Israel wrong, and he should by no means submit to it. This, though in an Israelite, was acting under the influence of that religion which teaches us to follow peace with all men, and never to seek redress by forcible means till every fair proposal is rejected. (Judges 11 Commentary) Rich Cathers - Try peace first - Jephthah’s first move is to offer to make peace with the Ammonites. This is the proper thing to do – Dt 20:10NLT "As you approach a town to attack it, first offer its people terms for peace. Paul writes, Ro 12:18KJV If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. A R Fausset - And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me [Heb., “What (is there) to me and thee?” (Josh. 22:24; 2 Sam. 16:10; Matt. 8:29). He would settle (Deut. 20:10) the issue by appeal to right before resorting to force], that thou art come against me [Jephthah regards himself as representing Israel], to fight in my land? (Judges 11 Commentary) Keith Krell - Scene 3: Jephthah proclaims Israel’s right to the land (Judges 11:12–28). In an attempt to avoid war, Jephthah preaches an eloquent and persuasive sermon to the King of Ammon. This sermon can be succinctly summarized: God gave Israel the land that they now occupy (Judges 11:23–24). Israel has lived on the land for centuries (Judges 11:25–26). If the Ammonites declare war on Israel, they will be fighting against the Lord, which will result in disaster and defeat (Judges 11:27). Jephthah tries to reason with the King of Ammon, but in the end he disregards the message (Judges 11:28). Literally, the king “did not listen to the words.” This is typical of many people who sit under God’s Word. Although King Ammon is an unbeliever, he is still accountable for his response to God’s Word. A biblical mind is a terrible thing to waste. The person who hears God’s Word is accountable for his or her response. To coin Jesus’ words: “To whom much is given, much is required” (Luke 12:48). (Failure in the Family) Notes from Paul Apple's Commentary on Judges Block: Scholars have recognized that the text divides into five dialogic episodes, each of which involves a confrontation and a resolution: Episode 1 Yahweh versus Israel (Jdg 10:6-16) Episode 2 Jephthah versus Gilead (Jdg 10:17-11:11) Episode 3 Jephthah versus Ammon (Jdg 11:12-28) Episode 4 Jephthah versus His Daughter (Jdg 11:29-40) Episode 5 Jephthah versus Ephraim (Jdg 12:1-6) In each episode the power of the spoken word is a key motif. At the same time the narrator plays with the verb abar, which occurs sixteen times but with a range of meanings. Gil Rugh: Jephthah’s Vow and Victory No details about the judgeship of these minor judges even though they ruled for a long time; selective account given to us by God; relentless pressure on people of God to conform to pagan people around them; there was an attraction to the world and to the worship of these other gods; we find the world appealing in so many ways and are tempted away from faithfulness and devotion to the Lord; Ammonites afflicting all the sons of Israel living in the land of the Amorites; 18 years is a long time to be enslaved; severe oppression; “You want help, why not go to the gods you keep turning to;” why do we need pressure and affliction to turn our hearts to the Lord for help? Everybody is remorseful about all the trouble they have when they are being punished for sins; does not mean they are truly repentant; “Do whatever seems good to you but make sure that means delivering us.” Stage set for battle; God has sovereignly moved to intervene; need some background on Jephthah the Gileadite = the man who will be the deliverer; God can use your past difficulties to prepare you for future service; you go from being nobody to top dog, in charge of all of Gilead; Jephthah starts with diplomacy rather than warfare; 4 arguments against their position: 1) (Judges 11:14-22) land belonged to the Amorites, not the Ammonites – making a claim to land that never belonged to them; your claim is fallacious 2) (Judges 11:23-24) military victory attributed to the corresponding god; our God gave us this land; why would we give it to you? 3) (Judges 11:25) King of Moab never challenged right of Israel to this land; he opposed them because he hated them but he recognized their right to the land 4) (Judges 11:26) We have been here 300 years; you have waited too long to make your claim; bottom line is we are not giving it to you Careful answers – Jephthah could think as well as fight; Ultimately makes his appeal to the Lord; Stubborn refusal of king of Ammon to listen to what makes good sense logically; God is about to judge him and free Israel from servitude Spirit of the Lord comes upon special leaders in OT to accomplish specific objectives; not necessarily to motivate them to holy living Motyer: One of the main themes of the story of Jephthah will be that the rot which set in long ago has reached the core, and things central to the relationship between God and his people have now been affected. The national life lacks direction; Israel is a rudderless ship; the old standards have been forsworn, the old landmarks obliterated; the foundations are being eroded. David Silversides: The Beginning of the Delivery of Jephthah The Lord still did not leave Israel to disintegrate into anarchy; preserving a people to His name even after Abimelech; 1. Regret and Repentance (Judges 10) a. Conformity to the world and its consequences – these pagans gave them a hard time in the providence of God; conformity never pays the dividends that we expect; can’t really feel comfortable among those who don’t love our God; b. Confession and regret – look at all the people in Scripture like Pharaoh who admitted they had sinned for various reasons but did not really repent; in evangelism merely getting people to say they have sinned is not necessarily repentance; can be an expression of selfishness because the consequences of those sins are beginning to be felt; can be simply a desire for self preservation c. (Judges 11-14) Reminder of all that the Lord had done in delivering His people; His kindness and compassion and mercy; designed to stir up genuine repentance d. (Judges 11:15ff) Word took effect in genuine repentance (at least in some of the people) a change of practice; not just mere words; “His soul was shortened” – desired not to prolong Israel’s misery e. Ammonites increase the pressure 2. (Judges 11:1-3) The Difference that Grace Makes He had a hard beginning in life; immorality brings bitter fruit and internal strife; legitimate sons did not want to share inheritance with Jephthah; dealt harshly with him; various other social misfits gathered around him; gained reputation as valiant man and courageous and effective fighter and leader of men; God’s grace to the deprived and underprivileged; cf. to start for Abimelech – not the ideal family situation; but not as rough of an upbringing; what a difference between the two men; Abimelech was appallingly wicked; murdered his half brothers; Jephthah ended up helping his brothers; never underestimate the sovereign grace of God 3. (Judges 11:4-11) Things Which are Despised Has God Chosen a. (Judges 11::4-5) Need for a Leader – there was one obvious choice b. Jephthah reminds them of their history of mistreating him c. Whole matter must be solidly agreed to in presence of the Lord d. Pride brought low; humbling occasion to ask him to be their leader Lessons: - the Lord does not choose as we do; beware of dismissing or despising for wrong reasons; don’t make our own assumptions as to whom the Lord can use - the Lord puts down the pride of men and the assumptions of men - the Lord’s message and methodology and chosen leaders are not of the world’s choosing Phil Newton - A concern for truth - Judges 11:12-28 Again, we find Jephthah taking the high road, this time in dialogue with the Ammonites. The question, Judges 11:12-13 His question points out that the Ammonites were picking a fight, taking advantage of Israel's weakness. The king's response was not true, as Jephthah will show. Nevertheless, it was his pretense for intimidation and fighting. Most are not concerned about what is true and right; they just want their way. We must come to terms with this as we address situations. As Ralph Davis comments, "The Ammonite was in no mood to be confused by the facts" (145). I hope you do not call this cynical. Instead, it is an unfortunate reality that shows up in business, politics, national and international issues, and even in churches. It serves to remind us of the fallenness of men that can only be transformed by the light of divine truth - the gospel taking root in the life. Stating the truth, Judges 11:14-28 Jephthah demonstrates justice in his position by staying with the truth. The Ammorites were kin to Israel, descendants of Lot's son Ben-Ammi from the incestuous relationship with his youngest daughter. The Moabites descended from Lot through the incestuous relationship with his older daughter. So both groups were distant cousins of Israel, and for this reason, they gave care during the Exodus not to transgress their lands. But the Amorites were not kinfolk. They were part of the native dwellers of ancient Palestine often used to describe at least a portion of the Canaanites. When Sihon, King of the Amorites, attacked Israel unprovoked, the Lord gave them into Israel's hands including their lands (Numbers 21:21ff). Jephthah's point, though Ammon bordered this territory at the wilderness, was that Ammon never held this land as possession. They were claiming something that did not belong to them. On top of this, Israel had lived there for 300 years without Ammon even making the slightest attempt to take possession. In the midst of his reasoned argument he gives testimony to the Lord (Judges 11:21), and then drives home the distinction between them in v. 24. Not even Moab tried to possess their land - Judges 11:25. Finally, he leaves it in the Lord's hands to judge what is right - Judges 11:27. (Sermon) F B
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Guzik has another thought - This was an inherent challenge: “If your god is mighty enough to give you the land, then let him do it. Let us see who is stronger – Yahweh or Chemosh.” Jephthah did not see this battle as primarily between two armies, but between the God of Israel and the false god of Ammon. Jephthah showed true wisdom in seeing this as a spiritual battle first. THOUGHT - ISN'T THIS TRUE OF ALL OUR "BATTLES" BELOVED? ARE THEY NOT ALL IN ONE SENSE OR ANOTHER SPIRITUAL BATTLES? I THINK THEY ARE! GOD IS EVER HONING US AND TRANSFORMING US INTO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON, AND HE USES THE MANIFOLD, VARIEGATED BATTLES EACH OF US FACES IN OUR LIFE. DOES THIS HELP PUT A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE ON THE AFFLICTIONS, ADVERSITIES, TRIALS, STRUGGLES, SUFFERINGS, ETC THAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH IN THE PAST, ARE GOING THROUGH IN THE PRESENT OR WILL GO THROUGH IN THE FUTURE! LORD, GIVES US 2 Cor 4:17-18+ PERSPECTIVE AND EYESIGHT! For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison (PAUL USES WORDS HERE INDICATING HE CANNOT EVEN FULLY DESCRIBE THE GLORY WE SHALL EXPERIENCE! PONDER THAT THOUGHT AS YOU FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH THROUGH MANY TRIBULATIONS - Acts 14:22b+), while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. IVP Background Commentary - Chemosh is best known as the national god of the Moabites, and in the ninth-century Moabite stone (Mesha Inscription) he is said to bring victory in battle, as Yahweh is depicted as doing for Israel. The Ammonite national deity is generally Milcom (1Ki 11:5, 33NIV, Molech). Although Chemosh was adopted as the national deity of the Moabites, the occurrence of the variant form, Kamish, in a deity list from Ebla, where he had a temple, suggests he was on the register of Semitic gods in third-millennium Syria, long before the Moabites. One Assyrian deity list associates Chemosh (Kammush) with Nergal, the god of the netherworld. There is not yet any firm identification of what natural phenomenon Chemosh was related to, nor is there any uncontested depiction of him on archaeological finds. (See context in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament) George Bush - Wilt thou not possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee? Without really attributing any divinity to the Ammonitish idol, Jephthah here argues with them on their own admitted principles. ‘It is a maxim with you, as among all nations, that the lands which they conceive to be given by their gods, they have an absolute right to, and should not relinquish to any claimant whatever. You suppose that the land which you possess was given by your god Chemosh, and therefore you will not relinquish what you believe you hold by a divine right. In like manner we are fully assured that Jehovah our God, who is Lord of heaven and earth, has given the Israelites the land of the Amorites; and therefore we will not give it up.’ The ground of Jephthah’s remonstrance was evidently sound and impregnable. (Judges 11 Commentary) A R Fausset - Ammon’s god was Molech; but being akin to Moab, the Ammonites also worshipped Chemosh. Depicted on coins with sword, lance, and two torches at his side. A black star was his symbol; and Dibon was his chief seat of worship On the black stone of Dibon, recently discovered, the Moabite king, Mesha, ascribes all his successes, in war against Israel, to Chemosh, or Ashtar-(Astarte)-Chemosh, to whom he offered, in sacrifice, all the warriors taken at Ataroth] giveth thee to possess? [Is it not the fact, that what Chemosh thy god (according to thy false creed) giveth thee to possess (Jer. 10:5), that thou possessest?] So whomsoever the LORD [JEHOVAH] our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess [Ammon and Moab gained their territory by forcibly dispossessing the ancient inhabitants (Deut. 2:10–21). Instead of attributing their success to Jehovah, they attributed it to Chemosh. What Chemosh, on their own showing, gave them, that they have. They have no reason, therefore, to complain if Israel retains, by right of conquest and of prescription, what Jehovah gave them by dispossessing the Amorites]. (Judges 11 Commentary) Related Resource: Who was Chemosh? | GotQuestions.org Judges 11:25 'And now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive with Israel, or did he ever fight against them? Balak: Nu 22:2-21 Dt 23:3,4 Jos 24:9,10 Mic 6:5 Judges 11 Resources FOLLOW ANOTHER LEADER! And now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive with Israel, or did he ever fight against them Balak did "strive" with Israel thru Balaam. "Jephthah argues that the Ammonite king should follow the example of Balak, who, once thwarted in his attempt to bring a curse on Israel, refused to attack Israel and returned home (Num 22–24)." (NET Note) Balak was the king of Moab who hired Balaam to curse the Israelites. After the curses turned out to be repeated blessings (Nu 24:10), Balak made no attempt to regain the area held by Sihon and then Israel (v25). He clearly recognized the legitimacy of Israel's claim to the land. George Bush - Art thou any better than Balak? That is, probably not morally better, but hast thou any better title? Yet Balak, who was then king of Moab, from whom the greatest part of these lands had been taken by the Amorites, who had most interest in the matter, and was best able to enforce his claim, if he had thought fit—Balak did not once object to our settlement then, nor offer to molest us in the enjoyment of our possessions. If he then acquiesced in this disposition of the lands, if the title of Israel had not been disputed upon their first entrance upon them, what grounds had the Ammonites to do it now? They had possessed the country quietly for three hundred years, and even though their title had been less clear at first, yet seeing no claim had been made during that long period of time, they had obtained a right by prescription, which the law of nations would clearly have acknowledged. A title so long unquestioned was to be presumed to be unquestionable. The following therefore is the sum of Jephthah’s argument relative to the matter in dispute. (1) The Ammonites had lost their lands in their contests with the Amorites. (2) The Israelites conquered these lands from the Amorites, who had waged an unprincipled war against them. (3) God, the Maker, Proprietor, and Disposer of heaven and earth, had given these lands by special grant to the Israelites. (4) In consequence of this, they had had possession of them for upwards of three hundred years. (5) These lands were never reclaimed by the Ammonites, though they had repeated opportunities to do it, whilst the Israelites dwelt in Heshbon, in Aroer, and the coasts of Arnon; but they did not reclaim them, because they knew the Israelites held them legally. Consequently every subsequent claim was effectually barred, and the present pretensions of Ammon were unsupported and unjustifiable. (Judges 11 Commentary) A R Fausset - And now (art) thou anything better than Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them? [No. He bribed Balaam to curse Israel; but this he did in order to save from Israel the territory yet remaining to him, not to wrest from Israel the Moabite land, originally conquered by Sihon, then appropriated, with the rest of the Amorite land, by Israel (Nu 21:26). If then Balak, king of Moab, did not claim back from the Israelites the Moabite land, which they had taken from the Amorites, what claim to it can the king of Ammon have now, especially after Israel’s possession of it for 300 years? Ammon was with Moab in hiring Balaam (Deut. 23:4). Moab was the more civilised and agricultural; Ammon the more fierce, Bedouin-like, and marauding half of Lot’s descendants (contrast Isa. 15, 16; Jer. 48, with 1 Sam. 11:2; Amos 1:13; 2 Sam. 10:1–5, 12:31). Moab and Ammon were excluded from the Lord’s congregation, i.e., from full Israelite citizenship, not from spiritual privileges if proselytes, for ten generations, because they joined in hiring Balaam: whereas Edom, who had not hired him, was only excluded to the third generation (Deut. 23:2, 4–6; Neh. 13:2)]. (Judges 11 Commentary) Related Resources: Who was Balak in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Who was Balaam in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Judges 11:26 'While Israel lived in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time? Heshbon: Nu 21:25-30 Dt 2:24 3:2, 3:6 Jos 12:2,5 13:10 Aroer: Dt 2:36 three hundred: Jdg 3:11,30 5:31 8:28 9:22 10:2,3, 10:8 Jos 11:18 23:1 Judges 11 Resources ISRAEL IN THE LAND FOR 300 YEARS Jephthah made these points in his negotiations with the Ammonite king: CHECK YOUR HISTORY (1) Israel had taken their land east of the Jordan not from Ammon, but from the Amorites (Jdg 11:15-23; cf. Nu 21:24; Dt 2:19, 37) CHECK YOUR THEOLOGY (2) Israel had not chosen her possessions; they had been given by her God (Jdg 11:24) CHECK YOUR LOGIC (3) if Ammon had some prior claim to Gilead, why had they waited 300 years to press it (Jdg 11 26)? It was a little too late for native land claims now! While Israel lived in Heshbon (see map) and its villages, and in Aroer (see map) and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time? Jephthah's final argument is based on the length of time Israel had possessed the disputed territory. During the next "three hundred years," neither Moab nor Ammon succeeded in retaking the land. Did not such a long occupancy prove Israel's right to that area? Indeed it did! The chronology of the period of the Judges is difficult to decipher, but this statement of Jephthah's, inserted more or less incidentally in his polemic against the king of Ammon, provides an important constraint on such estimates. The children of Israel conquered Heshbon, Aroer and Arnon, and "dwelt in the cities of the Amorites" shortly before they crossed the Jordan into Canaan. Numbers 21:24-26+ Then Israel struck him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as the sons of Ammon; for the border of the sons of Ammon was Jazer. 25 Israel took all these cities and Israel lived in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon (see map), and in all her villages. 26 For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and had taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon.