Judges 11:10

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.

And the elders {H2205} of Gilead {H1568} said {H559} unto Jephthah {H3316}, The LORD {H3068} be witness {H8085} between us, if we do {H6213} not so according to thy words {H1697}.

The leaders of Gil'ad said to Yiftach, "ADONAI is witness that we promise to do what you have said."

And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, โ€œThe LORD is our witness if we do not do as you say.โ€

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Jehovah shall be witness between us; surely according to thy word so will we do.

Commentary

Judges 11:10 records a solemn oath made by the elders of Gilead to Jephthah, securing his commitment to lead them against the Ammonites. This verse is pivotal, marking a formal agreement between a desperate people and the leader they had previously rejected.

Context of Judges 11:10

The Book of Judges recounts a tumultuous period in Israel's history, characterized by cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance through God-appointed judges. Prior to this verse, the Ammonites were oppressing the Israelites in Gilead. The elders of Gilead, facing severe military threat, turned to Jephthah, a mighty warrior whom they had previously cast out because he was the son of a harlot (see Judges 11:1-3). Jephthah initially rebuked them for their past treatment, but they acknowledged their desperate need and offered him leadership over all of Gilead if he would save them (Judges 11:8-9). This verse, "And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words," is their binding pledge, reinforcing their commitment to honor their promise to him.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Solemn Oath and Covenant: The elders' declaration is a formal, binding oath, invoking God as the ultimate witness. This highlights the gravity of their promise and their desperate need for Jephthah's leadership. Such an oath was considered unbreakable in ancient Near Eastern culture.
  • Divine Witness and Oversight: By saying "The LORD be witness," the elders acknowledge God's omnipresence and His role in overseeing human agreements. It implies that breaking this promise would be an offense not just against Jephthah but against God Himself. This concept is seen elsewhere, such as in Laban and Jacob's covenant at Mizpah.
  • Trust and Integrity: The verse underscores the importance of mutual trust, especially when entering into critical agreements. The elders are attempting to reassure Jephthah that their offer is sincere and that they will uphold their end of the bargain.
  • Leadership in Crisis: The desperate situation of Gilead forced its leaders to put aside past grievances and seek out the most capable individual, regardless of his social standing, demonstrating that true leadership is often found where it is least expected.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "The LORD be witness" translates from the Hebrew ื™ึฐื”ื•ึธื” ืขึตื“ (YHWH โ€˜ed). YHWH is the sacred personal name of God, often translated as "LORD" in the KJV. โ€˜ed means "witness" or "testimony." The inclusion of YHWH emphasizes the divine sanction and inviolability of the oath. It's not merely a human promise but one made before the Almighty, carrying significant spiritual weight. The concluding clause, "if we do not so according to thy words," is a common Hebrew oath formula, implying a self-curse or divine judgment if the terms are not met.

Practical Application

Judges 11:10 offers several timeless lessons:

  • The Seriousness of Our Words: This verse reminds us that promises and oaths, especially those made before God, are not to be taken lightly. Our integrity is reflected in our faithfulness to our word (as Jesus taught in Matthew 5:37).
  • God as Our Witness: It reinforces the biblical truth that God sees and hears all our interactions and agreements. There is nothing hidden from Him.
  • Reconciliation and Necessity: Sometimes, dire circumstances compel us to overcome past conflicts and work together for a common good, even with those we have wronged or who have wronged us.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Jeremiah 42:5 (6 votes)

    Then they said to Jeremiah, The LORD be a true and faithful witness between us, if we do not even according to all things for the which the LORD thy God shall send thee to us.

  • Genesis 31:50 (5 votes)

    If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take [other] wives beside my daughters, no man [is] with us; see, God [is] witness betwixt me and thee.

  • Genesis 16:5 (3 votes)

    And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong [be] upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

  • Jeremiah 29:23 (3 votes)

    Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and [am] a witness, saith the LORD.

  • Malachi 3:5 (2 votes)

    And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in [his] wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger [from his right], and fear not me, saith the LORD of hosts.

  • Zechariah 5:4 (2 votes)

    I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof.

  • 2 Corinthians 11:31 (2 votes)

    The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.