And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands.
When I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands. The straightforward answer of Jephthah shows that their charge was false, their complaint of not being treated as confederates and allies entirely without foundation, and their boast of a ready contribution of their services came with an ill grace from people who had purposely delayed appearing until the crisis was past.