Judges 11:12

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

¶ 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?

Complete Jewish Bible:

Yiftach sent messengers to the king of the people of 'Amon to say, "What's your problem with us? Why are you invading our territory?"

Berean Standard Bible:

Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?”

American Standard Version:

And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come unto me to fight against my land?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And Jephthah^{H3316} sent^{H7971} messengers^{H4397} unto the king^{H4428} of the children^{H1121} of Ammon^{H5983}, saying^{H559}, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come^{H935} against me to fight^{H3898} in my land^{H776}?

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Commentary for Judges 11:12

Judges 11:12 is a verse set within the broader narrative of the Israelite judge Jephthah and his conflict with the Ammonites. The historical context is the period of the Judges, which followed the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites and was characterized by cycles of apostasy, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. The verse specifically captures Jephthah's response to the king of Ammon, who had come to wage war against Israel.

In this verse, Jephthah confronts the Ammonite king with a challenge, questioning the king's motives for initiating a battle in land that Jephthah considers his own, as an Israelite. This reflects the themes of territorial sovereignty and divine right prevalent in the book of Judges. The land of Israel was seen as a divine inheritance granted to the Israelites by God, and any incursion by foreign nations was interpreted as a challenge to God's sovereignty as well as to the Israelites' claim over the land.

Jephthah's question to the Ammonite king, "What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land?" encapsulates the tension between the Israelites and their neighbors, who often contested the control of territory in this region. It also sets the stage for further negotiation or conflict, as Jephthah is depicted as a leader ready to defend his people's territory against unjust claims. This verse underscores the recurring theme in the Old Testament of God's people asserting their rights to the Promised Land, a theme that resonates with the broader narrative of Israel's struggle for identity and survival in the face of external threats.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H3316
   There are 26 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: יִפְתָּח
   Transliteration: Yiphtâch
   Pronunciation: yif-tawkh'
   Description: from פָּתַח; he will open; Jiphtach, an Israelite; also a place in Palestine; Jephthah, Jiphtah.
   
2. Strong's Number: H7971
   There are 790 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שָׁלַח
   Transliteration: shâlach
   Pronunciation: shaw-lakh'
   Description: a primitive root; to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring (on the way), cast (away, out), conduct, [idiom] earnestly, forsake, give (up), grow long, lay, leave, let depart (down, go, loose), push away, put (away, forth, in, out), reach forth, send (away, forth, out), set, shoot (forth, out), sow, spread, stretch forth (out).
   
3. Strong's Number: H4397
   There are 197 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֲלְאָךְ
   Transliteration: mălʼâk
   Pronunciation: mal-awk'
   Description: from an unused root meaning to despatch as a deputy; a messenger; specifically, of God, i.e. an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher); ambassador, angel, king, messenger.
   
4. Strong's Number: H4428
   There are 1922 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֶלֶךְ
   Transliteration: melek
   Pronunciation: meh'-lek
   Description: from מָלַךְ; a king; king, royal.
   
5. Strong's Number: H1121
   There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בֵּן
   Transliteration: bên
   Pronunciation: bane
   Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
   
6. Strong's Number: H5983
   There are 98 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: עַמּוֹן
   Transliteration: ʻAmmôwn
   Pronunciation: am-mone'
   Description: from עַם; tribal, i.e. inbred; Ammon, a son of Lot; also his posterity and their country; Ammon, Ammonites.
   
7. Strong's Number: H559
   There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אָמַר
   Transliteration: ʼâmar
   Pronunciation: aw-mar'
   Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet.
   
8. Strong's Number: H935
   There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: בּוֹא
   Transliteration: bôwʼ
   Pronunciation: bo
   Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way.
   
9. Strong's Number: H3898
   There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: לָחַם
   Transliteration: lâcham
   Pronunciation: law-kham'
   Description: a primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle (as destruction); devour, eat, [idiom] ever, fight(-ing), overcome, prevail, (make) war(-ring).
   
10. Strong's Number: H776
    There are 2739 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אֶרֶץ
    Transliteration: ʼerets
    Pronunciation: eh'-rets
    Description: from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land); [idiom] common, country, earth, field, ground, land, [idiom] natins, way, [phrase] wilderness, world.