The Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. — A weaker expression is used than that which is applied to Gideon in Judges 6:34. It implies, as R. Tanchum rightly says, that he was endowed with the courage and wisdom without which success would have been impossible. The phrase no more involves a complete inspiration of Jephthah than it does in the case of Samson; nor is it meant to imply the least approval of many of his subsequent actions. It furnished the power which he needed to work out the deliverance — and that only. To hold up characters like Jephthah and Samson as religious examples, except (as is done in Hebrews 11:32) in the one special characteristic of faith displayed at memorable crises, is to sacrifice the whole spirit of Scripture to the mis-interpretation of a phrase.
(29) He passed over Gilead and Manasseh. — Rather, he went through (Vulg., circuiens). His object clearly was to collect levies and rouse the tribes — “He swept through the land from end to end to kindle the torch of war and raise the population” (Ewald).
Passed over Mizpeh. — Perhaps, as in the next clause, to Mizpeh.
Passed over unto the children of Ammon. — i.e., went to attack them.