Judges 11:9 - Forerunner Commentary

Judges 11:9

7 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, ^a“Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in¹ distress?”

8 ^aAnd the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have ^bturned again to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the people of Ammon, and be ^cour head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

9 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back home to fight against the people of Ammon, and the Lord delivers them to me, shall I be your head?”

10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, ^a“The Lord will be a witness between us, if we do not do according to your words.”

11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him ^ahead and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words ^bbefore the Lord in Mizpah.

12 Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, saying, ^a“What do you have against me, that you have come to fight against me in my land?”

13 And the king of the people of Ammon answered the messengers of Jephthah, ^a“Because Israel took away my land when they came up out of Egypt, from ^bthe Arnon as far as ^cthe Jabbok, and to the Jordan. Now therefore, restore those lands peaceably.”

Verse Comparison: Judges 11:9

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American Standard Version
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Jehovah deliver them before me, shall I be your head?

Amplified® Bible
Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If you bring me home again to fight against the Ammonites and the Lord gives them over to me, [understand that] I will be your head.

Contemporary English Version
"All right," Jephthah said. "If I go back with you and the LORD lets me defeat the Ammonites, will you really make me your ruler?"

Darby English Version
Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight with the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head."

Good News Bible
Jephthah said to them, "If you take me back home to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives me victory, I will be your ruler."

King James Version
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?

New American Standard Bible
So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you take me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the LORD gives them up to me, will I become your head?"

New International Version
Jephthah answered, "Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them to me—will I really be your head?"

New King James Version
So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back home to fight against the people of Ammon, and the LORD delivers them to me, shall I be your head?”

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you take me back to fight against the sons of Ammon and the LORD gives them up to me, will I become your head?"

Revised Standard Version
Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight with the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head."

Young's Literal Translation
And Jephthah saith unto the elders of Gilead, `If ye are taking me back to fight against the Bene-Ammon, and Jehovah hath given them before me -- I, am I to you for a head?'

New English Translation
Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, “All right!¹ If you take me back to fight with the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me,² I will be your leader.”³

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