Judges 11:25

“And now art thou anything better than Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab? etc.] This argument seems to strengthen the conjecture, that this king was king of Moab at this time, and so Balak was one of his predecessors. Now he is asked, whether he thought he was a wiser and more knowing prince than he, as to what was his right and due; or whether he had a better claim, or any additional one to the land in dispute the other had not; or whether he judged he was more able to regain what belonged to him: did he ever strive against Israel? for the land they took away from Sihon formerly in the possession of the Moabites? did he ever lay any claim to it, or enter into any dispute, or litigate with…”

“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…”

“Than Balak - Art thou wiser than he? Or hast thou more right than he had? Balak, though he plotted against Israel, in defence of his own land, which he feared they would invade and conquer, yet never contended with them about the restitution of those lands which Sihon took from him or his predecessors. Judges 11:26”

“Balak: Num. 22:2-21; Deu 23:3, Deu 23:4; Jos 24:9, Jos 24:10; Mic 6:5 Judges 11:26”