Judges 11:15

And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

And said {H559} unto him, Thus saith {H559} Jephthah {H3316}, Israel {H3478} took not away {H3947} the land {H776} of Moab {H4124}, nor the land {H776} of the children {H1121} of Ammon {H5983}:

with this response, "Here is what Yiftach has to say: 'Isra'el captured neither the territory of Mo'av nor the territory of the people of 'Amon.

to tell him, “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or of the Ammonites.

and he said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah: Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon;

Commentary

Judges 11:15 is a pivotal statement within a larger diplomatic exchange between Jephthah, a judge of Israel, and the king of the Ammonites. This verse marks the beginning of Jephthah's detailed historical defense against Ammon's claim that Israel had unjustly seized their land. Here, Jephthah directly refutes this accusation, laying the groundwork for his comprehensive argument.

Context

The book of Judges details a turbulent period in Israel's history, characterized by cycles of disobedience, oppression, repentance, and deliverance through divinely appointed leaders known as judges. Jephthah, a Gileadite, was called to lead Israel against the Ammonites, who were oppressing Israel east of the Jordan. Before engaging in battle, Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king, attempting to resolve the conflict peacefully.

The Ammonite king claimed that when Israel came out of Egypt, they took his land (Judges 11:13). Judges 11:15 is Jephthah's direct rebuttal, stating unequivocally, "Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon." This verse initiates Jephthah's diplomatic exchange, a masterclass in historical argumentation, which spans through Judges 11:27. He meticulously recounts Israel's journey from Egypt, their interactions with various nations, and the specific circumstances under which they acquired the disputed territory.

Key Themes

  • Historical Accuracy and Defense: Jephthah's primary goal is to correct the Ammonite king's false historical narrative. He provides a precise account of Israel's movements and conquests, demonstrating that their possession of the land was legitimate and not a violation of Ammonite or Moabite territory. This highlights the importance of truth and historical understanding in resolving disputes.
  • Divine Right of Possession: Underlying Jephthah's historical argument is the conviction that the land Israel possessed was given to them by the Lord their God. He argues that the land was conquered from the Amorites, specifically Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had previously taken it from Ammon. This reflects the belief that their possession was by divine grant, not unjust aggression.
  • Seeking Peace Before War: Jephthah's decision to engage in diplomatic talks before military action showcases a desire for peace and justice. Even though he was a mighty warrior, his first recourse was negotiation, demonstrating a principle of seeking peaceful resolution when possible.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "took not away" translates the Hebrew verb laqach, which means "to take," "to seize," or "to acquire." In this context, with the negative particle, it emphatically means "did not seize" or "did not carry off." Jephthah is not merely saying they didn't happen to take it, but that they intentionally did not aggress against Moab or Ammon, respecting God's prior instructions regarding these nations.

Practical Application

Jephthah's approach in Judges 11:15 offers several timeless lessons:

  • Value of Truth and Facts: In any conflict or disagreement, understanding and presenting the true facts of the situation is crucial for fair resolution. Jephthah's detailed historical defense serves as a model for standing firm on truth.
  • Prioritizing Diplomacy: Before resorting to confrontation, seeking peaceful, diplomatic solutions is a wise and often necessary step. Jephthah, though a military leader, exhaustively pursued negotiation.
  • Standing on Righteous Principles: Jephthah's argument is rooted in the conviction that Israel's claim to the land was divinely sanctioned and historically sound. This teaches us the importance of understanding and defending our positions based on righteous principles and clear understanding, whether in personal or communal matters. His complete argument can be found in Jephthah’s full historical argument.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Deuteronomy 2:9

    And the LORD said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle: for I will not give thee of their land [for] a possession; because I have given Ar unto the children of Lot [for] a possession.

  • Deuteronomy 2:19

    And [when] thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon [any] possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot [for] a possession.

  • Numbers 21:27

    Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:

  • Numbers 21:30

    We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon, and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which [reacheth] unto Medeba.

  • Numbers 21:13

    From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which [is] in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon [is] the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.

  • Numbers 21:15

    And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar, and lieth upon the border of Moab.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:10

    And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not;
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