Judges 10:9

KJV

Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.

KJV (with Strong's)

Moreover the children {H1121} of Ammon {H5983} passed over {H5674} Jordan {H3383} to fight {H3898} also against Judah {H3063}, and against Benjamin {H1144}, and against the house {H1004} of Ephraim {H669}; so that Israel {H3478} was sore {H3966} distressed {H3334}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The people of 'Amon also crossed the Yarden to fight Y'hudah, Binyamin and the house of Efrayim; so that Isra'el was greatly distressed.

Berean Standard Bible

The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, and Israel was in deep distress.

American Standard Version

And the children of Ammon passed over the Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 10:9 vividly portrays the escalating crisis faced by Israel due to their persistent idolatry, detailing the Ammonite invasion that crossed the Jordan River to afflict the central Israelite tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. This verse underscores the severe national distress resulting from their spiritual apostasy, serving as a poignant illustration of the consequences of abandoning the Lord and a critical moment in the recurring cycle of sin, oppression, and divine discipline that characterizes the book of Judges.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 10:9 is situated within a particularly dark period of Israel's history, immediately following a concise summary of their profound spiritual decline. The preceding verses (Judges 10:6-8) establish that Israel had once again "done what was evil in the sight of the Lord," serving various foreign gods, including the Baals and Ashtaroth, as well as deities of Syria, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and the Philistines. This widespread apostasy provoked the Lord's anger, leading Him to sell them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites. Judges 10:8 specifically notes that the Ammonites oppressed the Transjordan tribes for eighteen years. Verse 9 marks a significant escalation of this oppression, as the Ammonites cross the Jordan, extending their reach into the heartland of Israel, directly threatening the prominent tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. This expansion of the conflict sets the stage for Israel's desperate cry for deliverance in [Judges 10:10](/judges/10-10 "Judges 10:10 - Israel's Cry for Deliverance"), leading to the rise of Jephthah as a deliverer.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges (roughly 1200-1000 BC) was characterized by a lack of centralized leadership in Israel, with the people often acting "as seemed right in their own eyes" ([Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - No King in Israel")). This era saw frequent incursions from surrounding peoples, often permitted by God as a form of discipline for Israel's covenant unfaithfulness. The Ammonites, descendants of Lot (Genesis 19:38), were a consistently hostile neighbor located east of the Jordan River. Their expansionist tendencies often brought them into conflict with Israel, particularly the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Transjordan. The crossing of the Jordan by the Ammonites, as described in this verse, represented a major strategic and existential threat, indicating a full-scale invasion aimed at the core Israelite territories. Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim were key tribes, representing the southern, central, and northern (or leading) parts of the Israelite confederacy, making their affliction a sign of widespread national calamity.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Judges. Firstly, it exemplifies the **consequences of apostasy**, illustrating how Israel's spiritual rebellion directly led to national vulnerability and widespread suffering under foreign oppressors, a recurring pattern highlighted in [Judges 2:11-19](/judges/2-11 "Judges 2:11-19 - The Cycle of Apostasy and Oppression"). Secondly, it emphasizes **widespread national distress**, showing that the Ammonite invasion was not localized but affected key tribes, signaling a comprehensive national crisis. This underscores how the collective spiritual state of a people can profoundly impact their physical and political well-being. Thirdly, while not explicitly stated as God's action in this verse, the broader narrative of Judges frames these periods of oppression as **divine discipline**, designed to humble Israel and lead them back to repentance and reliance on Him. Finally, the verse highlights **the severity of the threat**, with the Ammonites "passed over Jordan" to "fight also against" major tribes, indicating a serious, organized, and expanding military threat that brought Israel to a state of profound distress, setting the stage for their eventual cry to God.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Distressed (Hebrew, _tsarar'_):** This word (צָרַר) is deeply significant. It conveys a sense of being "narrow," "cramped," "hemmed in," or "in a strait." It describes not just physical difficulty or military pressure but also deep psychological anguish, pressure, and oppression. It vividly portrays the feeling of being trapped, with options narrowing and escape routes closing, emphasizing the severe and pervasive suffering experienced by the Israelites under the Ammonite onslaught. The KJV's "sore distressed" captures this intensity, indicating a profound and painful state of affliction.
* **Fight (Hebrew, _lacham'_):** The verb (לָחַם) means "to fight," "to wage war," or "to do battle." Its use here emphasizes the active, aggressive, and hostile intent of the Ammonites. It's not merely an occupation but an engagement in direct combat, indicating a violent confrontation and a tangible threat to Israel's existence and security.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan":** This clause signifies a critical escalation of the conflict. The Jordan River served as a natural barrier, and its crossing by the Ammonites indicated their intent to extend their aggression beyond the Transjordan region (where they had already oppressed Israel for 18 years, as per [Judges 10:8](/judges/10-8 "Judges 10:8 - Ammonite Oppression Begins")). This move transformed a regional conflict into a direct invasion of Israel's heartland.
* **"to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim;":** This specifies the targets of the Ammonite invasion, highlighting the widespread nature of the threat. Judah represented the dominant southern tribe, Benjamin was centrally located and historically significant (the tribe of Saul), and Ephraim was a leading tribe in the central and northern regions, often representing the northern kingdom in later contexts. The targeting of these key tribes meant that the entire nation of Israel, from south to north, was under direct attack, emphasizing the comprehensive nature of their distress.
* **"so that Israel was sore distressed.":** This concluding clause describes the direct consequence of the Ammonite invasion. The phrase "sore distressed" (as analyzed above) conveys not just physical hardship but also a deep sense of psychological and spiritual anguish, being hemmed in and without recourse. It encapsulates the profound suffering and helplessness felt by the nation, highlighting the severity of the divine discipline and the desperate need for intervention.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 10:9 employs several literary devices to convey the gravity of Israel's situation. The listing of specific tribes—Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim—is an example of **Enumeration**, which serves to emphasize the widespread nature of the Ammonite invasion, indicating that no major region of Israel was spared. This technique highlights the comprehensive national crisis. Furthermore, the phrase "sore distressed" functions as a powerful example of **Hyperbole** or **Intensification**, underscoring the extreme suffering and psychological anguish experienced by the Israelites. While literally true that they were distressed, the choice of "sore" (from `tsarar`) amplifies the sense of being utterly overwhelmed and trapped, evoking a strong emotional response in the reader and emphasizing the dire consequences of their apostasy. The entire verse also contributes to the overarching **Cyclical Narrative** structure of Judges, marking a specific point in the pattern of sin, oppression, and eventual cry for deliverance.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 10:9 powerfully illustrates the theological principle that disobedience to God's covenant commands inevitably leads to dire consequences, often manifested in external oppression. Israel's abandonment of the Lord for foreign deities resulted in their vulnerability to hostile nations, demonstrating God's righteous judgment and His use of external pressures to call His people back to Himself. This distress was not merely a random misfortune but a direct outcome of their spiritual choices, designed to humble them and prompt repentance. The widespread nature of the affliction, impacting key tribes across the land, underscores that the spiritual health of a nation affects its collective well-being, emphasizing the corporate responsibility of God's people to remain faithful.

* [Deuteronomy 28:47-48](/deuteronomy/28-47 "Deuteronomy 28:47-48 - Consequences of Disobedience")
* [Leviticus 26:14-17](/leviticus/26-14 "Leviticus 26:14-17 - Warnings Against Disobedience")
* [Psalm 106:40-43](/psalms/106-40 "Psalm 106:40-43 - God's Anger and Deliverance")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 10:9 serves as a timeless reminder that our choices, particularly our spiritual allegiances, carry profound consequences. For individuals and communities today, it underscores the critical importance of singular devotion to God. When we, like ancient Israel, allow "other gods"—whether materialism, self-sufficiency, power, pleasure, or even our own opinions—to compete for the throne of our hearts, we open ourselves to various forms of "distress." This distress may not manifest as a physical army crossing a river, but it can appear as internal turmoil, relational brokenness, spiritual barrenness, or a pervasive sense of being "hemmed in" by life's pressures. The verse challenges us to honestly examine what we truly worship and to recognize that genuine peace and security are found only in faithful adherence to the Lord. Furthermore, it highlights that God's discipline, though painful, is ultimately redemptive. The "sore distress" was intended to bring Israel to a point of repentance, prompting them to cry out to the Lord for deliverance, as they eventually do in [Judges 10:10](/judges/10-10 "Judges 10:10 - Israel's Confession"). This passage encourages us, when facing personal or collective hardships, to examine our hearts, confess our sins, and turn back to God, trusting in His mercy and power to deliver, much like the promise found in [2 Chronicles 7:14](/2_chronicles/7-14 "2 Chronicles 7:14 - God's Promise of Healing and Restoration upon Repentance") about humbling ourselves and seeking His face.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "other gods" or idols might be subtly competing for my devotion today, and how might they be contributing to "distress" in my life?**
* **How does this verse challenge my understanding of God's discipline, and how can I respond to personal or collective hardships with repentance rather than despair?**
* **In what ways can a community's collective spiritual health impact its well-being, and what is my role in fostering faithfulness within my spheres of influence?**

### FAQ
**Why did the Ammonites cross the Jordan River, and what was the significance of targeting Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim?**

Answer: The Ammonites crossed the Jordan River as a significant escalation of their aggression against Israel. Prior to this, they had primarily oppressed the Israelite tribes located east of the Jordan (Transjordan) for eighteen years, as mentioned in [Judges 10:8](/judges/10-8 "Judges 10:8 - Ammonite Oppression in Transjordan"). Their crossing of the river signaled a full-scale invasion aimed at the core territories of Israel, demonstrating their intent to inflict widespread damage and assert dominance over the entire nation. The targeting of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim was strategically and symbolically significant. Judah was the leading tribe in the south, from which the Davidic monarchy would later emerge. Benjamin was a central tribe, home to important cities like Jerusalem (partially) and Gibeah. Ephraim was a powerful and influential tribe in the central highlands, often representing the northern tribes. By attacking these three prominent tribes, the Ammonites were striking at the very heart of Israelite identity and strength, ensuring that the "distress" was truly national and comprehensive, affecting all major regions of the land.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Judges 10:9, with its depiction of Israel's "sore distress" due to their unfaithfulness and the overwhelming power of their enemies, powerfully foreshadows humanity's ultimate predicament apart from Christ. Just as Israel was "hemmed in" by the Ammonites, humanity is "sore distressed" by the pervasive power of sin and death ([Romans 3:23](/romans/3-23 "Romans 3:23 - All Have Sinned") and [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")). The cycle of sin and oppression in Judges points to a deeper, spiritual bondage from which Israel, and indeed all humanity, could not deliver themselves. This verse highlights the desperate need for a true and ultimate deliverer, one who would not merely provide temporary relief but conquer the root causes of distress. Jesus Christ is this ultimate Deliverer. He is the one who crosses the ultimate Jordan—the chasm between God and humanity—not to bring judgment but to bring salvation. He faced the full force of spiritual oppression and distress on the cross, becoming sin for us ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin for Us")) and enduring the ultimate separation from God, so that we might be set free from the dominion of sin and death ([Colossians 1:13-14](/colossians/1-13 "Colossians 1:13-14 - Delivered from Darkness")). His victory over sin and death provides the true and lasting peace that Israel's temporary deliverers could not fully secure, offering eternal freedom from the distress caused by our own spiritual rebellion ([John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Chronicles 14:9

¶ And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.

Judges 3:12

¶ And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.

Judges 3:13

And he gathered unto him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm trees.

1 Samuel 28:15

¶ And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.

Judges 6:3

And [so] it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them;

Judges 6:5

For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; [for] both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.

2 Chronicles 15:5

And in those times [there was] no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations [were] upon all the inhabitants of the countries.