The Meaning of Judges 11:20 Explained

Judges 11:20

KJV: But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

YLT: and Sihon hath not trusted Israel to pass over through his border, and Sihon gathereth all his people, and they encamp in Jahaz, and fight with Israel;

Darby: But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped at Jahaz, and fought with Israel.

ASV: But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But Sihon  trusted  not Israel  to pass  through his coast:  but Sihon  gathered  all his people  together,  and pitched  in Jahaz,  and fought  against Israel. 

What does Judges 11:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Judges 11:12-28 - A Warning From History
Jephthah acted with great prudence. Before rushing into war, he endeavored to argue the matter at issue in peaceful and courteous terms. In answer to the contention that Ammon was only trying to regain its own territories, he insisted that, when Israel came on the scene, they wrested the land, not from Ammon, but from the Amorites. Besides, the occupation of 300 years, which had never before been challenged, surely disproved the claim of the Ammonite king.
When a nation has right and justice on its side and is fighting against aggression, especially when the choice between two ideals is in the scale, there is every reason why it should appeal to the Lord, the Judge, to vindicate its cause. It was a question whether the worship of Jehovah or of Chemosh should dominate the country; on that issue there could be no vacillation nor hesitancy. It is interesting to notice how accurately Jephthah had studied the sacred annals of his people and how reverently he alludes to God. There is more religion in the hearts of men like Jephthah than certain Pharisees and priests give them credit for! [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 11

1  The covenant between Jephthah and the Gileadites, that he should lead
12  The treaty of peace between him and the Ammonites is in vain
29  Jephthah's vow
32  His conquest of the Ammonites
34  He performs his vow on his daughter

What do the individual words in Judges 11:20 mean?

But not did trust Sihon - Israel to pass through his territory so gathered together Sihon all his people and encamped in Jahaz and fought against Israel
וְלֹא־ הֶאֱמִ֨ין סִיח֤וֹן אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ עֲבֹ֣ר בִּגְבֻל֔וֹ וַיֶּאֱסֹ֤ף סִיחוֹן֙ כָּל־ עַמּ֔וֹ וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּיָ֑הְצָה וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם עִם־ יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

וְלֹא־  But  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
הֶאֱמִ֨ין  did  trust 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.
סִיח֤וֹן  Sihon 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: סִיחֹון  
Sense: king of the Amorites at the time of the conquest and defeated by Moses in Transjordan.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
עֲבֹ֣ר  to  pass 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
בִּגְבֻל֔וֹ  through  his  territory 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: גְּבוּל  
Sense: border, territory.
וַיֶּאֱסֹ֤ף  so  gathered  together 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָסַף 
Sense: to gather, receive, remove, gather in.
סִיחוֹן֙  Sihon 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: סִיחֹון  
Sense: king of the Amorites at the time of the conquest and defeated by Moses in Transjordan.
עַמּ֔וֹ  his  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ  and  encamped 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: חָנָה  
Sense: to decline, incline, encamp, bend down, lay siege against.
בְּיָ֑הְצָה  in  Jahaz 
Parse: Preposition-b, Proper Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: יַהַץ 
Sense: a place in Reuben east of the Dead Sea where Israel defeated Sihon king of the Amorites; site uncertain.
וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם  and  fought 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָחַם 
Sense: to fight, do battle, make war.
עִם־  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.