Judges 11:1-7

Judges 11:1-7

[1] Now Jephthah  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.  [3] Then Jephthah  fled  from  his brethren,  and dwelt  in the land  of Tob:  and there were gathered  vain  men  to Jephthah,  and went out  with him. [4] And it came to pass in process of time,  that the children  of Ammon  made war  against Israel.  [5] And it was so, that when the children  of Ammon  made war  against Israel,  the elders  of Gilead  to fetch  Jephthah  out of the land  of Tob:  [6] And they said  unto Jephthah,  and be our captain,  that we may fight  with the children  of Ammon.  [7] And Jephthah  said  unto the elders  of Gilead,  Did not ye hate  me, and expel  me out of my father's  house?  and why are ye come 

What does Judges 11:1-7 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

To prepare for the recital of Israel"s victory over the Ammonites the writer provided the reader with some background information concerning the man God raised up to lead this deliverance. Like Gideon, Jephthah was an unlikely hero who got off to a good start but ended poorly.