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Judges 11 Bible study: The LORD the Judge
Jephthah's vow opens with the words of Israel's vow in Numbers 21:2. His message to Ammon retells Numbers and Deuteronomy and leaves the case with "the LORD the Judge" (11:27). And the text says he "did with her according to his vow" (11:39) without describing it, which is why Christians read that verse in more than one way.
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“Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me. May the LORD the Judge be judge today between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.”
Try it · Did you catch it?
“In Judges 11, Jephthah says Israel took the land from the Arnon to the Jabbok from the Amorites.”
Is that in Judges 11, or not? Make your call.
What's really going on
Driven out, then called back
"Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor. He was the son of a prostitute" (11:1) (tap mighty and prostitute). When the sons of Gilead's wife grew up, they "drove Jephthah out and said to him, ‘You will not inherit in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman’" (11:2). He "fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob" (11:3). Then Ammon made war, and "the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob" (11:5). They say, "Come and be our chief" (11:6) (tap chief). He answers, "Didn’t you hate me, and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?" (11:7). Chapter 10 ended with the princes of Gilead asking, "Who is the man who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead" (10:18). Now the elders say to Jephthah, "You will be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead" (11:8) (tap head). They agree, "The LORD will be witness between us" (11:10), and "Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD in Mizpah" (11:11).
Where it leads to Jesus
Named among the faithful
Judges 11:1leads toHebrews 12:2
"Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor" (11:1). Hebrews names him: "the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets" (Hebrews 11:32). It gives only his name, not an act. Of everyone in its list it says, "These all, having been commended for their faith, didn’t receive the promise" (Hebrews 11:39), and it calls its readers to run "looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith" (Hebrews 12:2).
Honest questions
Questions people ask about Judges 11
That was a taste
The rest of Judges 11 is waiting in Favor
- "May the LORD the Judge be judge"
- Whatever comes out to meet me
- Jephthah's history, beside Numbers and Deuteronomy
- Jephthah, remembered
- 19 questions as you read
- 14 more Hebrew words
- A short check at the end
- Your notes, saved as you go
Favor reads the Bible in order, so you'll reach Judges 11 with everything before it in view. First week free, then $10 a month per person.
The Hebrew word behind it
נֶדֶרnedersay NE-der
"Vow" (Brown-Driver-Briggs); Strong's gives "a promise (to God); also (concretely) a thing promised". "Jephthah vowed a vow to the LORD" (11:30): the verb nadar with its noun. At the end the text says his daughter "returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed" (11:39). These are the only two verses in Judges with the noun or the verb. In Hebrew, 11:30 follows the opening of Israel's vow in Numbers word for word, except for who vows and who is to be delivered: "Israel vowed a vow to the LORD, and said, ‘If you will indeed deliver this people into my hand’" (Numbers 21:2). The Law says, "When a man vows a vow to the LORD… He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth" (Numbers 30:2).
For your group
Judges 11 Bible study questions
- 1The elders who drove Jephthah out came to him "when you are in distress" (11:7). When has someone come to you only when they needed you? How did you answer, and how would you like to answer?
- 2Jephthah said, "I have opened my mouth to the LORD, and I can’t go back" (11:35). What promises have you made to God? How do you weigh your words before you make one?
- 3Jephthah told the king of Ammon, "May the LORD the Judge be judge today" (11:27). Is there a dispute in your life right now that you need to leave with God? What would that look like this week?
Leading a group? In Favor, everyone reads Judges 11 during the week and answers these questions privately. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together, and you can print the week's sheet.
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Questions
What is Favor?
Favor is a Bible study app that explains every chapter as you read: the Hebrew and Greek behind the words, the details most readers miss, and how each part of the Bible leads to Jesus. Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church.
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The World English Bible, a modern, readable translation in the public domain. God's name appears as "the LORD", as in most English Bibles.
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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Hebrew and Greek words are checked against the original-language texts and public-domain lexicons. What we believe · Favor home