Judges 11 - Introduction - Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Bible Comments

J U D G E S

CHAP. XI.

      This chapter gives as the history of Jephthah, another of Israel's judges, and numbered among the worthies of the Old Testament, that by faith did great things (Hebrews 11:32), though he had not such an extraordinary call as the rest there mentioned had. Here we have, I. The disadvantages of his origin, Judges 11:1-3. II. The Gileadites' choice of him to be commander-in-chief against the Ammonites, and the terms he made with them, Judges 11:4-11. III. His treaty with the king of Ammon about the rights of the two nations, that the matter might be determined, if possible, without bloodshed, Judges 11:12-28. IV. His war with the Ammonites, which he enters upon with a solemn vow (Judges 11:29-31), prosecutes with bravery (Judges 11:32), and ends with a glorious victory, Judges 11:33. V. The straits he was brought into at his return to his own house by the vow he had made, Judges 11:34-40.