Judges 11:29

KJV

¶ Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over [unto] the children of Ammon.

KJV (with Strong's)

Then the Spirit {H7307} of the LORD {H3068} came upon Jephthah {H3316}, and he passed over {H5674} Gilead {H1568}, and Manasseh {H4519}, and passed over {H5674} Mizpeh {H4708} of Gilead {H1568}, and from Mizpeh {H4708} of Gilead {H1568} he passed over {H5674} unto the children {H1121} of Ammon {H5983}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the spirit of ADONAI came upon Yiftach; and he passed through Gil'ad and M'nasheh, on through Mitzpeh of Gil'ad, and from there over to the people of 'Amon.

Berean Standard Bible

Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, then through Mizpah of Gilead. And from there he advanced against the Ammonites.

American Standard Version

Then the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 11:29 marks the divine empowerment of Jephthah, signifying God's direct intervention in Israel's crisis with the Ammonites. Following the failure of diplomatic efforts, the Spirit of the LORD "came upon" Jephthah, an act of special anointing that equipped him with the necessary spiritual and physical prowess for the impending military confrontation. This divine enablement propelled him to strategically traverse the territories of Gilead and Manasseh, gathering forces and advancing towards Mizpeh of Gilead, a key rallying point, before moving on to engage the Ammonite forces, thereby setting the stage for the climactic battle.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows a lengthy and detailed diplomatic exchange between Jephthah and the king of Ammon in [Judges 11:12-28](/judges/11-12 "Judges 11:12-28 - Jephthah's Diplomatic Exchange with Ammon"). Jephthah, acting as Israel's representative, meticulously lays out the historical claim of Israel to the disputed territory, recounting the Exodus, the conquest of the Transjordan, and the long-standing occupation. Despite his compelling argument, the Ammonite king rejects Israel's claim, refusing to withdraw. This diplomatic failure signifies the exhaustion of all peaceful options, making military conflict inevitable. The arrival of the Spirit of the LORD upon Jephthah, therefore, serves as the divine endorsement and enablement for the military action that is now the only recourse, shifting the narrative from negotiation to confrontation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jephthah emerges as a leader in a tumultuous period of Israel's history, as depicted in the [Book of Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges"). The Israelites were frequently oppressed by surrounding nations due to their disobedience to God. Jephthah himself had a complex background, being the son of a prostitute and rejected by his half-brothers, forcing him to live as an outcast with a band of "worthless fellows" ([Judges 11:1-3](/judges/11-1 "Judges 11:1-3 - Jephthah's Background")). However, when the Ammonite threat became unbearable, the elders of Gilead sought him out and made him their commander ([Judges 11:4-11](/judges/11-4 "Judges 11:4-11 - Jephthah Called to Lead")). The "Spirit of the LORD coming upon" an individual was a common motif in this era, signifying a temporary, empowering anointing for a specific divine task, often related to delivering Israel from oppression. This was not an indwelling Spirit as in the New Covenant, but a special endowment for a particular mission.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme underscored by this verse is **Divine Empowerment for Deliverance**. The phrase "the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah" highlights God's active involvement in the affairs of His people, providing supernatural strength and wisdom to His chosen agents to accomplish His will, particularly in times of national crisis. This aligns with the broader theme in Judges that God raises up deliverers, or "judges," in response to Israel's cries for help. Furthermore, the verse subtly reinforces the theme of **God's Sovereign Choice of Leaders**, demonstrating that God often uses unconventional or imperfect individuals, like Jephthah with his controversial past, to fulfill His divine purposes. Jephthah's subsequent movements—passing through Gilead and Manasseh—illustrate the theme of **Human Effort in Conjunction with Divine Enablement**, showing that while God provides the power, the leader still exercises strategic planning and physical exertion in preparation for battle.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Spirit (Hebrew, _ruach'_):** This term refers to the breath, wind, or spirit. In this context, _ruach Yahweh_ (Spirit of the LORD) denotes the active, empowering presence of God. It is a divine force that supernaturally equips an individual for a specific task, often involving leadership, prophecy, or extraordinary feats of strength, as seen with other judges like Samson ([Judges 14:6](/judges/14-6 "Judges 14:6 - Samson's Empowerment")). It signifies a special, temporary anointing for a divine mission, distinct from the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit in New Covenant believers.
* **Came upon (Hebrew, _hayah al'_):** This phrase describes the dynamic, external, and often sudden manifestation of God's Spirit. It implies an active, forceful descent or 'falling upon' an individual, indicating that the person is being divinely seized or enveloped by God's power. This is not an internal, character-transforming presence but an external empowerment for a specific, immediate purpose, enabling the recipient to act beyond their natural capabilities.
* **Passed over (Hebrew, _avar'_):** This verb means to cross over, pass through, or advance. In the context of Jephthah's movements, it conveys a sense of strategic progression and mobilization. He is not merely wandering but purposefully moving through territories to gather forces, rally support, and position his army for the impending conflict with the Ammonites. This word highlights the practical, military aspect of Jephthah's leadership, which is now divinely enabled.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah,"**: This opening clause is the theological heart of the verse, marking a decisive turning point. It signifies God's direct and supernatural intervention, empowering Jephthah for the task of delivering Israel. This divine anointing validates Jephthah's leadership, despite his unconventional background, and assures that the upcoming military campaign is divinely sanctioned and aided.
* **"and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh,"**: Following the divine empowerment, Jephthah immediately takes action. "Gilead" refers to the Transjordanian territory where Jephthah was from and where the Ammonite threat was most pressing. "Manasseh" refers to the half-tribe of Manasseh that also settled east of the Jordan. Jephthah's movement through these regions indicates a strategic mobilization, gathering troops and consolidating support from the Israelite tribes in the Transjordan in preparation for battle.
* **"and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead,"**: Mizpeh of Gilead was a significant location, likely serving as a central rallying point or a base of operations for Jephthah's forces. It was here, according to [Judges 11:11](/judges/11-11 "Jephthah made head and captain"), that Jephthah had previously been confirmed as the leader before the LORD. His return or passage through Mizpeh emphasizes the consolidation of his forces and the final preparations before engaging the enemy.
* **"and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over [unto] the children of Ammon."**: This final clause describes Jephthah's direct advance towards the enemy. Having been divinely empowered and having marshaled his forces, he moves from the strategic staging ground at Mizpeh directly into the territory of the Ammonites, signaling the imminent commencement of hostilities. This movement is the culmination of the diplomatic failure and the divine enablement, leading directly to the military confrontation.

#### Literary Devices
The verse effectively employs **Divine Intervention** as a primary literary device, immediately establishing that the ensuing events are not merely human endeavors but are supernaturally enabled. The phrase "the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah" functions as a **Foreshadowing** of the military success that is about to unfold, indicating that Jephthah's campaign will be victorious because God is with him. The detailed description of Jephthah's movements through specific geographical locations (Gilead, Manasseh, Mizpeh of Gilead) utilizes **Geographical Realism**, grounding the narrative in a tangible setting and lending credibility to the account of military mobilization. Furthermore, the verse presents a form of **Narrative Progression**, swiftly moving from a state of diplomatic impasse and personal background to one of divine empowerment and strategic action, propelling the story towards its climax.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 11:29 powerfully illustrates God's commitment to His covenant people, even when they are in a state of spiritual decline and facing oppression. The "coming of the Spirit of the LORD" upon Jephthah underscores the theological truth that God is not limited by human imperfections or unconventional backgrounds; rather, He sovereignly chooses and empowers individuals to accomplish His purposes. This divine enablement is a testament to God's active involvement in history, raising up deliverers to rescue His people from their enemies. It reveals that true strength and success in God's work come not from human might or cleverness, but from divine anointing and power, preparing His chosen instrument for the task ahead.

* [Judges 3:10](/judges/3-10 "Judges 3:10 - Othniel Empowered by the Spirit")
* [Judges 6:34](/judges/6-34 "Judges 6:34 - Gideon Empowered by the Spirit")
* [Judges 14:6](/judges/14-6 "Judges 14:6 - Samson Empowered by the Spirit")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jephthah's story, particularly the moment the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, offers profound encouragement for believers today. It reminds us that God is not constrained by our past mistakes, our perceived inadequacies, or our unconventional backgrounds. Just as He empowered Jephthah for a specific mission, He continues to equip and enable His people for the tasks He calls them to. While the Old Testament experience of the Spirit's "coming upon" was often temporary and for specific acts of deliverance, the New Covenant promises the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit for all believers, empowering us for daily living, witness, and service ([John 14:16-17](/john/14-16 "John 14:16-17 - The Indwelling Spirit")). This verse challenges us to recognize that our effectiveness in God's kingdom is not dependent on our own strength or wisdom, but on His divine enablement. It calls us to step out in faith, trusting that when God calls, He also equips, enabling us to face our "Ammonites"—whether they are personal struggles, spiritual battles, or societal challenges—with His power.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jephthah's background inform our understanding of God's choice of leaders, and what does this mean for our own sense of calling?**
* **In what ways do you experience the Holy Spirit's enablement in your daily life, and how might you lean into that power more intentionally?**
* **What "Ammonites" or seemingly insurmountable challenges are you facing, and how can the principle of divine empowerment from Judges 11:29 encourage you?**
* **How does the temporary anointing of the Spirit in the Old Testament contrast with the permanent indwelling of the Spirit in the New Covenant, and what are the implications for Christian living?**

### FAQ
**What does "the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah" signify in the context of the Book of Judges?**

Answer: In the [Book of Judges](/judges/1 "The Book of Judges"), this phrase signifies a special, temporary endowment of divine power, wisdom, and courage given by God to an individual for a specific mission, usually to deliver Israel from oppression. It means that God supernaturally equipped Jephthah for the military leadership and battle against the Ammonites, enabling him to achieve victory beyond his natural abilities. This was not a permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit as experienced by New Covenant believers, but a functional anointing for a particular task, similar to what happened with Othniel ([Judges 3:10](/judges/3-10 "Judges 3:10 - Othniel Empowered")), Gideon ([Judges 6:34](/judges/6-34 "Judges 6:34 - Gideon Empowered")), and Samson ([Judges 14:6](/judges/14-6 "Judges 14:6 - Samson Empowered")).

**Why did Jephthah "pass over" these specific regions (Gilead, Manasseh, Mizpeh of Gilead)?**

Answer: Jephthah "passed over" these regions as a strategic military maneuver. Gilead was his home territory and the primary area threatened by the Ammonites. Manasseh refers to the half-tribe of Manasseh on the east side of the Jordan, also part of the Transjordanian Israelite territory. Mizpeh of Gilead was a significant assembly point where Jephthah had previously been confirmed as leader ([Judges 11:11](/judges/11-11 "Judges 11:11 - Jephthah made head and captain")). By traversing these areas, Jephthah was effectively mobilizing and consolidating the Israelite forces from the Transjordanian tribes, gathering his army, and preparing for the direct confrontation with the Ammonites. This demonstrates his human effort and military strategy working in conjunction with the divine empowerment he had just received.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Jephthah's anointing by the Spirit of the LORD was a temporary empowerment for a specific task of deliverance, it foreshadows the ultimate and perfect anointing of Jesus Christ. Unlike the judges, whose empowerment was episodic and for limited purposes, Jesus was uniquely and eternally filled with the Holy Spirit from His conception ([Luke 1:35](/luke/1-35 "Luke 1:35 - The Holy Spirit and Jesus' Conception")) and baptism ([Matthew 3:16](/matthew/3-16 "Matthew 3:16 - Jesus' Baptism and the Spirit's Descent")). He is the true and final Deliverer, the one upon whom the Spirit of the LORD rested not just for a battle, but for a lifetime of perfect obedience, miraculous ministry, and ultimately, the ultimate act of salvation on the cross. Jesus, the Lamb of God, takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), delivering humanity from the bondage of sin and death, a far greater deliverance than any judge could achieve. His Spirit is now permanently poured out on all believers, indwelling them and empowering them for witness and service ([Acts 2:17](/acts/2-17 "Acts 2:17 - The Spirit Poured Out")), fulfilling the promise of a New Covenant where God's Spirit transforms hearts from within, not just empowering for external tasks ([Ezekiel 36:27](/ezekiel/36-27 "Ezekiel 36:27 - God's Spirit within His People")).

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

Numbers 11:25

And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that [was] upon him, and gave [it] unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, [that], when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.

Judges 3:10

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

Judges 13:25

And the Spirit of the LORD began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol.

1 Chronicles 12:18

Then the spirit came upon Amasai, [who was] chief of the captains, [and he said], Thine [are we], David, and on thy side, thou son of Jesse: peace, peace [be] unto thee, and peace [be] to thine helpers; for thy God helpeth thee. Then David received them, and made them captains of the band.

Judges 6:34

But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.

1 Samuel 10:10

And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

Judges 10:17

Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.