Judges 11:12

Judges 11:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)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?
• New International Version (NIV)Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said, "What do you have against me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, saying, “What do you have against me, that you have come to fight against me in my land?”

Context of Judges 11:12

10The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The Lord is the witness between us; be assured that we will do as you have said.” 11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them. And Jephthah repeated everything that he had promised before the Lord at Mizpah. Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What is [the problem] between you and me, that you have come against me to fight in my land?” 13The Ammonites’ king replied to the messengers of Jephthah, “It is because Israel took away my land when they came up from Egypt, from the [river] Arnon as far as the Jabbok and [east of] the Jordan; so now, return those lands peaceably.” 14But Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the Ammonites,

Judges 11:12 word by word

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יִפְתָּח֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל־מֶ֥לֶךְ בְּנֵֽי־עַמּ֖וֹן לֵאמֹ֑ר מַה־לִּ֣י וָלָ֔ךְ כִּֽי־בָ֥אתָ אֵלַ֖י לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם בְּאַרְצִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jephthahיִפְתָּחyiphtâch · JephthahH3316
• sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• messengersמַלְאָךְmal'âk · messengerH4397
• unto the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• of the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Ammonעַמּוֹן‛ammôn · AmmonH5983
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• What hast thou to do with me, that thou art comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• against me to fightלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
• in my landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776

Cross-references for Judges 11:12

• Numbers 20:14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel, ‘You know all the hardship that has come upon us [as a nation];
• Numbers 21:21Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, saying,
• Deuteronomy 2:26“So I sent messengers from the Wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
• Deuteronomy 20:10“When you advance to a city to fight against it, you shall [first] offer it terms of peace.
• Proverbs 25:8Do not rush out to argue your case [before magistrates or judges]; Otherwise what will you do in the end [when your case is lost and] When your neighbor (opponent) humiliates you?
• Matthew 18:15“If your brother sins , go and show him his fault in private; if he listens and pays attention to you, you have won back your brother.
• 2 Kings 14:8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash (Joash) the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face each other [in combat].”

Commentaries on Judges 11:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Jepthah sent messengers - He wished the Ammonites to explain their own motives for undertaking a war against Israel; as then the justice of his cause would appear more forcibly to the people.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-28Verses 12-28 One instance of the honour and respect we owe to God, as our God, is, rightly to employ what he gives us to possess. Receive it from him, use it for him, and part with it when he calls for it. The whole of this message shows that Jephthah was well acquainted with the books of Moses. His argument was clear, and his demand reasonable. Those who possess the most courageous faith, will be the most disposed for peace, and the readiest to make…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12-28Jephthah first tried to solve the issue through diplomacy instead of using military force (compare Deuteronomy 20:10–11). Unlike the nomadic and raiding Midianites from Gideon's time, the Ammonites were a settled tribe. Their land was east of Israel's territory in Transjordan (east of the Jordan River), with Rabbah as their capital. The Ammonites, like the Moabites (both who were descended from Lot) and the Edomites (descendants of Esau), were to be left…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 12-2812-28. Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon--This first act in his judicial capacity reflects the highest credit on his character for prudence and moderation, justice and humanity. The bravest officers have always been averse to war; so Jephthah, whose courage was indisputable, resolved not only to make it clearly appear that hostilities were forced upon him, but to try measures for avoiding, if possible, an appeal to arms: and…Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 11:12

• Ambassadors
• Diplomacy
• Jephthah
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Ammon
• Jephthah
• Ambassador
• Fight
• Inherit
• Meet
• Abdon (1)
• Chemosh
• Israel, History of
• Israel, Religion of

Commentaries on Judges 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary