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Judges 11:4

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 11:4 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And it came to pass after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And it came to pass after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.
Judges 11:4 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 11

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
1Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.
2And Gilead`s wife bare him sons; and when his wife`s sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father`s house; for thou art the son of another woman.
3Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him.
4And it came to pass after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.
5And it was so, that, when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob;
6and they said unto Jephthah, Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
7And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and drive me out of my father`s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?
← Judges 11:3Judges 11:5 →
← Full Chapter 11 Judges Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And it came to pass in process of time, etc.] Some time after Jephthah had been expelled from his father’s house, and he was become famous for his martial genius, and military exploits; or at the close of the eighteen years’ oppression of the children of Israel by the Ammonites, or some few days after the children of Israel were gathered together at Mizpeh, that the people and princes of Gilead were preparing for war with Ammon, and were thinking of a proper person to be their general: that the children of Ammon made war against Israel; not only passed over Jordan again, and encamped in Gilead, but began to attack them in some place or another, at least threatened them with it, and made…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“THE GILEADITES COVENANT WITH JEPHTHAH. (Jdg 11:4-11) in process of time--on the return of the season. the children of Ammon made war against Israel--Having prepared the way by the introduction of Jephthah, the sacred historian here resumes the thread of his narrative from Jdg 10:17. The Ammonites seem to have invaded the country, and active hostilities were inevitable.”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Made war - The Ammonites had vexed and oppressed them eighteen years, and now the Israelites begin to make opposition, they commence a war against them. Judges 11:5”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“am 2817, bc 1187, An, Ex, Is, 304 in process of time: Heb. after days. Jdg 11:4 Judges 11:5”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“But when the Ammonites made war upon Israel some time afterwards, the elders of Gilead (= "the princes of Gilead," Jdg 10:18) went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob, to make this brave warrior their leader. In Jdg 11:4 the account of the war between the Ammonites and Israel, which is mentioned in Jdg 10:17, is resumed, and its progress under Jephthah is then more fully described. "In process of time" (מיּמים, a diebus, i.e., after the lapse of a long period, which cannot be more precisely defined), sc., after the expulsion of Jephthah from his home (see Jdg 14:8; Jdg 15:1; Jos 23:1). קצין signifies a leader in war ( Jos 10:24), and is therefore distinguished in Jdg 11:11 from ראשׁ, a…”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification