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

10“The Lord is our witness,” the elders replied. “We promise to do whatever you say.” 11So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their ruler and commander of the army. At Mizpah, in the presence of the Lord, Jephthah repeated what he had said to the elders. Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of Ammon, asking, “Why have you come out to fight against my land?” 13The king of Ammon answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they stole my land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River and all the way to the Jordan. Now then, give back the land peaceably.” 14Jephthah sent this message back to the Ammonite king:

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 20:14While Moses was at Kadesh, he sent ambassadors to the king of Edom with this message: “This is what your relatives, the people of Israel, say: You know all the hardships we have been through.
• Numbers 21:21The Israelites sent ambassadors to King Sihon of the Amorites with this message:
• Deuteronomy 2:26Moses continued, “From the wilderness of Kedemoth I sent ambassadors to King Sihon of Heshbon with this proposal of peace:
• Deuteronomy 20:10“As you approach a town to attack it, you must first offer its people terms for peace.
• Proverbs 25:8don’t be in a hurry to go to court. For what will you do in the end if your neighbor deals you a shameful defeat?
• Matthew 18:15“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.
• 2 Kings 14:8One day Amaziah sent messengers with this challenge to Israel’s king Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz and grandson of Jehu: “Come and meet me 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

• 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