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Judges 11:18

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Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon [was] the border of Moab.

Then they went along {H3212} through the wilderness {H4057}, and compassed {H5437} the land {H776} of Edom {H123}, and the land {H776} of Moab {H4124}, and came {H935} by the east side {H4217}{H8121} of the land {H776} of Moab {H4124}, and pitched {H2583} on the other side {H5676} of Arnon {H769}, but came {H935} not within the border {H1366} of Moab {H4124}: for Arnon {H769} was the border {H1366} of Moab {H4124}.

Then they walked through the desert, around the territory of Edom and the territory of Mo'av, past the east border of the territory of Mo'av, and pitched camp on the other side of the Arnon; but they did not cross the border into Mo'av, for the Arnon was the border of Mo'av.

Then Israel traveled through the wilderness and bypassed the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the territory of Moab, since the Arnon was its border.

Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they came not within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.

Commentary

Context of Judges 11:18

Judges 11:18 is part of Jephthah's detailed historical argument to the king of the Ammonites, who was disputing Israel's claim to certain territories. Jephthah, the leader of Gilead, recounts Israel's journey from Egypt, emphasizing their respect for the established borders of neighboring nations during their wilderness wanderings. This particular verse highlights how Israel, under divine instruction, carefully navigated around the lands of Edom and Moab. This historical accuracy underscores Israel's peaceful intentions and their adherence to God's commands not to provoke these nations, even when they could have.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Respect for Boundaries: The verse explicitly states that Israel "came not within the border of Moab," acknowledging the Arnon River as its clear boundary. This demonstrates a principle of respecting sovereign territory, even of nations that were often hostile. This adherence to boundaries was crucial in their journey, as commanded by God. The Israelites were specifically instructed not to meddle with the descendants of Esau (Edom) or the Moabites, as God had given them their respective territories (Deuteronomy 2:4, Deuteronomy 2:9).
  • Divine Guidance and Protection: Israel's journey through the "wilderness" (Hebrew: midbar, often denoting open pastureland or arid regions) and their successful circumvention of powerful nations like Edom and Moab, speaks to God's faithful leading. They were guided and protected, avoiding unnecessary conflict and ensuring their path was according to His will.
  • Historical Precedent for Land Claims: Jephthah uses this historical account to establish that the land Israel possessed was not taken from Ammon or Moab directly, but from the Amorites, whose territory extended to the Arnon. This meticulous recounting of events strengthens Israel's claim to the disputed land, which they had inherited by conquest from the Amorites (Numbers 21:24).

Linguistic Insights

The term "Arnon" refers to the deep canyon of the Arnon River (Wadi Mujib today), which served as a significant natural and political boundary in ancient times. Its mention here reinforces the geographical precision of the narrative and the recognized demarcation lines between territories. The explicit statement that "Arnon [was] the border of Moab" highlights the importance of this geographical feature in defining national limits, a point crucial to Jephthah's argument.

Practical Application

Judges 11:18 offers several timeless lessons. Firstly, it underscores the importance of respecting established agreements and boundaries, whether in personal relationships, community interactions, or international affairs. This principle promotes peace and prevents unnecessary conflict. Secondly, it reminds us of the faithfulness of God in guiding His people through challenging circumstances, providing clear paths and protecting them from unnecessary conflict. Just as Israel was led through the wilderness, believers today can trust in divine direction for their lives. Finally, the verse highlights the value of understanding history and context when resolving disputes; a clear, factual account can be a powerful tool for justice and peace.

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 (May 20, 2025) 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 2:1 (4 votes)

    ¶ Then we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the LORD spake unto me: and we compassed mount Seir many days.

  • Deuteronomy 2:8 (4 votes)

    ¶ And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath, and from Eziongaber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.

  • Numbers 33:37 (3 votes)

    And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.

  • Numbers 33:44 (3 votes)

    And they departed from Oboth, and pitched in Ijeabarim, in the border of Moab.

  • Numbers 22:36 (3 votes)

    ¶ And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which [is] in the border of Arnon, which [is] in the utmost coast.

  • Numbers 21:4 (3 votes)

    ¶ And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way.

  • Numbers 21:13 (3 votes)

    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.