Judges 11:24

“Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? etc.] Chemosh was the idol of the Moabites, (see <042129>Numbers 21:29), which has led some to think, that the present king of Ammon was also king of Moab, and who insisted on that part of the country, which formerly belonged to Moab, to be delivered to him, as well as that which had belonged to Ammon. Now since the land, which they now inhabited, as well as what they had lost, they had taken away from others, (<050210>Deuteronomy 2:10,11,20,21), having conquered them, and which they ascribed to the help and assistance they had from their idol, and possessed as his gift; Jephthah argues with them “ad hominem”, from the…”

“Consult the marginal references. If the ark with the copy of the Law Deuteronomy 31:26 was at Mizpeh, it would account for Jephthah’s accurate knowledge of it; and this exact agreement of his message with Numbers and Deuteronomy would give additional force to the expression, “he uttered all his words before the Lord” Judges 11:11. Judges 11:17 No mention is made of this embassy to Moab in the Pentateuch. Judges 11:19 Into my place - This expression implies that the trans-Jordanic possessions of Israel were not included in the land of Canaan properly speaking. Judges 11:21 The title “God of Israel” has a special emphasis here, and in Judges 11:23. in a narrative of transactions relating to…”

“Wilt not thou - He speaks according to their absurd opinion: the Ammonites and Moabites got their land by conquest of the old inhabitants, whom they cast out; and this success, though given them by the true God, for Lot's sake, Deu 2:9, Deu 2:19, they impiously ascribe to their god Chemosh, whose gift they owned to be a sufficient title. Judges 11:25”

“Wilt not thou possess: This is simply an argumentum ad hominem; in which Jephthah argues on this principles recognized by the king of Ammon. As if he had said, "You suppose that the land which you possess was given you by your god Chemosh; and therefore will not relinquish what you believe you hold by a divine right. Now we know that Jehovah, our God, has given us the land of the Israelites; and therefore we will not give it up." Chemosh: Num 21:29; Kg1 11:7; Jer 48:7, Jer 48:46 whomsoever: Deu 9:4, Deu 9:5, Deu 18:12; Jos 3:10; Psa 44:2, Psa 78:55; Mic 4:5 Judges 11:25”