Judges 10:11

And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, [Did] not [I deliver you] from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians {H4714}, and from the Amorites {H567}, from the children {H1121} of Ammon {H5983}, and from the Philistines {H6430}?

ADONAI said to the people of Isra'el, "I saved you from the Egyptians, the Emorim, the people of 'Amon, and the P'lishtim, didn't I?

The LORD replied, “When the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, Philistines,

And Jehovah said unto the children of Israel, Did not I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?

Commentary

Judges 10:11 captures a pivotal moment in the book of Judges, where the LORD directly confronts the children of Israel for their repeated cycles of idolatry and unfaithfulness, despite His consistent acts of deliverance.

Context

This verse is found during a period of intense spiritual decline in Israel, often referred to as the "time of the Judges," where "every man did that which was right in his own eyes" (Judges 21:25). After a period of oppression by the Ammonites and Philistines due to their worship of foreign gods, Israel finally cried out to the LORD. Instead of immediate rescue, God issues a sharp rebuke, reminding them of His past faithfulness. This rhetorical question serves as a powerful reminder of His unwavering commitment to His covenant, juxtaposed with their persistent rebellion.

Key Themes

  • God's Unwavering Faithfulness: The verse highlights God's consistent character. He has delivered Israel from numerous powerful adversaries throughout their history, underscoring His reliability and power.
  • Israel's Persistent Unfaithfulness: Despite repeated acts of divine intervention, Israel consistently turned away from the LORD to worship idols. This pattern is central to the book of Judges.
  • Divine Rebuke and Call to Remembrance: God's question is not born of ignorance but serves as a strong indictment, prompting Israel to remember His past mercies and their own failures. Remembering God's past works is crucial for cultivating gratitude and encouraging repentance.
  • Consequences of Idolatry: The oppression suffered by Israel was a direct result of their spiritual adultery, demonstrating that turning away from God brings severe consequences.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV's phrasing, "Did not I deliver you?", is a powerful rhetorical question (known as an erotesis). It's not seeking information but emphasizing an undeniable truth. The Hebrew phrasing implies, "Was it not I who delivered you?" This places strong emphasis on the LORD's personal involvement and singular agency in their salvation. The specific mention of "Egyptians," "Amorites," "Ammonites," and "Philistines" covers a broad spectrum of historical threats, from the foundational Red Sea deliverance to the conquest of Canaan (Numbers 21:21-35) and ongoing conflicts within the Promised Land.

Practical Application

Judges 10:11 serves as a timeless reminder for believers today. We, too, can fall into a pattern of forgetting God's past mercies when new challenges arise or when we stray from His path. This verse calls us to:

  • Remember God's Track Record: Reflect on how God has faithfully provided, protected, and delivered us in our own lives and in the history of the church. This strengthens our faith in current difficulties.
  • Acknowledge Our Own Tendency to Stray: Humbly recognize our human propensity to forget God and turn to lesser things, even after experiencing His goodness.
  • Respond to Divine Correction: When God, through His Word or circumstances, brings our unfaithfulness to light, it is an invitation to repentance and renewed devotion, not condemnation. His rebukes are often expressions of His enduring love and desire for our true well-being, aiming to draw us back into right relationship with Him, just as He remains faithful even when we are faithless.
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Cross-References

  • Exodus 14:30 (4 votes)

    Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.

  • Numbers 21:21 (4 votes)

    ¶ And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,

  • Numbers 21:25 (4 votes)

    And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon, and in all the villages thereof.

  • Judges 3:31 (4 votes)

    ¶ And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.

  • Nehemiah 9:9 (2 votes)

    And didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and heardest their cry by the Red sea;

  • Nehemiah 9:11 (2 votes)

    And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.

  • 1 Samuel 12:8 (2 votes)

    When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.