New International Version
Judges 11:12
12Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?”
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?
- 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?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of Ammon, asking, “Why have you come out to fight against my land?”
Context of Judges 11:12
10The elders of Gilead replied, “The Lord is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.” 11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the Lord in Mizpah. Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?” 13The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took away my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, all the way to the Jordan. Now give it back peaceably.” 14Jephthah sent back messengers to the Ammonite king,
Read all of Judges 11Judges 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, saying: “This is what your brother Israel says: You know about all the hardships that have come on us.
- Numbers 21:21Israel sent messengers to say to Sihon king of the Amorites:
- Deuteronomy 2:26From the Desert of Kedemoth I sent messengers to Sihon king of Heshbon offering peace and saying,
- Deuteronomy 20:10When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace.
- Proverbs 25:8do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?
- Matthew 18:15“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.
- 2 Kings 14:8Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”
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
In the dictionaries
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
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