SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:11
Entonces Jefté vino con los ancianos de Galaad, y el pueblo lo eligió por su cabeza y príncipe; y Jefté habló todas sus palabras delante del SEÑOR en Mizpa.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Judges 11:11
Verse 11. Jepthah went with the elders] The elders had chosen him for their head; but, to be valid, this choice must be confirmed by the people; therefore, it is said, the people made him head. But even this did not complete the business; God must be brought in as a party to this transaction; and therefore Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord-the terms made with the elders and the people on which he had accepted the command of the army; and, being sure of the Divine approbation, he entered on the work with confidence.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 11. Then Jephthah went with the elders of Israel , etc.] From the land of Tob into the land of Gilead, his native country: and the people made him head and captain over them ; ratified and confirmed what the elders had promised, and by a general unanimous vote appointed him both to be the captain of their forces, and to be the chief ruler and governor of them. And this they did, though he was the son of an harlot; and according to the law in ( Deuteronomy 23:2), such an one was not to be a civil magistrate; but this was a case of necessity, and in which, no doubt, they were directed by the Lord, who could dispense with his own law: besides, they had come to such an agreement before they had pitched on any particular person, that who should begin to fight with the children of Ammon should be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead so that they were obliged to it by their vote and decree, when they assembled at Mizpeh, where it is probable they consulted the Lord, and acted under his direction, ( Judges 10:17,18) and where this was confirmed, as seems from the following clause: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh ; where the congregation of Israel were assembled, and in which the Shechinah, or divine Majesty, dwelt, as is observed by Jarchi and Kimchi, and not Mizpeh in ( Joshua 11:3,8), as the latter says, but this was on the other side Jordan, in the land of Gilead; however, as it was a solemn meeting, the Lord was there, and, as in his presence, Jephthah rehearsed all that passed between him and the elders of Gilead; and, no doubt, in prayer to God, desired he would signify his approbation and ratification of their agreement, and would give him success in his undertakings against the children of Ammon.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - Men ought not to be blamed for their parentage, so long as they by their personal merits roll away any reproach. God had forgiven Israel therefore Jephthah will forgive. He speaks not with confidence of his success, knowing how justly God might suffer the Ammonites to prevai for the further punishment of Israel. Nor does he speak with an confidence at all in himself. If he succeed, it is the Lord deliver them into his hand; he thereby reminds his countrymen to look up to God as the Giver of victory. The same question as here, in fact, is put to those who desire salvation by Christ. If he save you, will ye be willing that he shall rule you? On no other terms will he save you. I he make you happy, shall he make you holy? If he be your helper, shal he be your Head? Jephthah, to obtain a little worldly honour, wa willing to expose his life: shall we be discouraged in our Christia warfare by the difficulties we may meet with, when Christ has promise a crown of life to him that overcometh?
Original Hebrew
וילך 1980 יפתח 3316 עם 5973 זקני 2205 גלעד 1568 וישׂימו 7760 העם 5971 אותו 853 עליהם 5921 לראשׁ 7218 ולקצין 7101 וידבר 1696 יפתח 3316 את 853 כל 3605 דבריו 1697 לפני 6440 יהוה 3068 במצפה׃ 4709
