Judges 11:13

"Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, “What do you have to do with me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?”"

Key Reflection

Jephthah's message to the king of the Ammonites in Judges 11:13 highlights a complex diplomatic situation. For the original audience, this exchange would have underscored the unexpected and potentially threatening nature of Ammonite aggression against Gilead, which was under Israelite control. The question "What do you have to do with me?" challenges the legitimacy of the Ammonites' invasion, possibly hinting at a historical or legal reason for their actions that Jephthah believes should not justify war.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

From Arnon even unto Jabbok ... -The land bounded by the Arnon on the south, by the Jabbok on the north, by the Jordan on the west, and by the wilderness on the east was, of old, the kingdom of Sihon, but then the territory of Reuben and Gad.

More from Judges 11

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