SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:8
Y los ancianos de Galaad respondieron a Jefté: Por esta misma causa tornamos ahora a ti, para que vengas con nosotros, y pelees contra los hijos de Amón, y nos seas cabeza a todos los que moramos en Galaad.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Judges 11:8
Verse 8. Therefore we turn again to thee now] We are convinced that we have dealt unjustly by thee, and we wish now to repair our fault, and give thee this sincere proof of our regret for having acted unjustly, and of our confidence in thee.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 8. And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah , etc.] In reply to his objection: therefore we turn again unto thee now ; being sensible of the injury they had done him, and repenting of it, of which their return to him was an evidence; it being with this view to remove the disgrace and dishonour that had been cast upon him, by conferring such honour on him, as to be their chief ruler: that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead ; the end of their coming to him was not only to bring him back with them to his own country, and to fight against the Ammonites, and the defence of it, but to be the sole governor of it; not of all Israel, but of the tribes beyond Jordan, which inhabited the land of Gilead: more than this they could not promise, though he afterwards was judge over all Israel, notwithstanding there was a law in Israel, that no spurious person should enter into the congregation, or bear any public office; so it was a law with the Athenians f230 , that unless a man was born of both parents citizens, he should be reckoned spurious, and have no share in the government, (see Judges 11:2 Deuteronomy 23:2).
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
ויאמרו 559 זקני 2205 גלעד 1568 אל 413 יפתח 3316 לכן 3651 עתה 6258 שׁבנו 7725 אליך 413 והלכת 1980 עמנו 5973 ונלחמת 3898 בבני 1121 עמון 5983 והיית 1961 לנו לראשׁ 7218 לכל 3605 ישׁבי 3427 גלעד׃ 1568
