It was remarked in the preceding chapter, that the men of Gilead were consulting who to appoint as their leader, to go out with them to battle against the Ammonites. The Lord was about to appear for their deliverance. And when the Lord comes forth for this purpose, he never needs an instrument in order to accomplish his gracious designs. The distinction that is here made between the children of lawful wedlock, and those sprung from unlawful connections, is uniformly marked through the bible. There is indeed more in it, in a spiritual sense, than is gene rally considered. The married state is expressly said to be a figure of the union between Christ and his church. So the apostle explains it; Ephesians 5:24-32. But notwithstanding all this, we find instances in scripture, in which the Lord is pleased to show that publicans and harlots are not disqualified for participating in the mercies of Jesus. Perhaps a more illustrious instance cannot be found than in that of Rahab the harlot. And was not this a type of the call of the Gentiles, to whom the Lord was not married as to Israel? Compare Joshua 2:1-14. with James 2:25; Hebrews 11:31.
Related Commentaries of Judges 11:1
Judges 11:1-2
1 Now Jephthaha the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
2 And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.