Judges 10 11

Judges 10:11 kjv

And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?

Judges 10:11 nkjv

So the LORD said to the children of Israel, "Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites and from the people of Ammon and from the Philistines?

Judges 10:11 niv

The LORD replied, "When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines,

Judges 10:11 esv

And the LORD said to the people of Israel, "Did I not save you from the Egyptians and from the Amorites, from the Ammonites and from the Philistines?

Judges 10:11 nlt

The LORD replied, "Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines,

Judges 10 verses

Judges 10 11 Meaning

Judges 10:11 presents God's rhetorical question to the Israelites, directly challenging their amnesia regarding His past faithful acts of deliverance. Through this question, God recalls specific instances where He rescued them from powerful oppressors – the Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, and Philistines. This serves as a stark reminder of His covenant loyalty and power, contrasting with Israel's repeated forsaking of Him for foreign gods. It highlights His consistent benevolence despite their persistent spiritual infidelity and calls them to acknowledge His sovereignty and faithfulness.

Judges 10 11 Context

Judges chapter 10 marks a significant low point in the cyclical narrative of Judges, often referred to as a "descent" in Israel's spiritual state. After the short terms of two minor judges, Tola and Jair, the Israelites relapse into a deeper and more widespread apostasy. They not only worship Baal and Ashtaroth but also adopt the gods of neighboring peoples: Syria, Sidon, Moab, Ammon, and the Philistines (Jdg 10:6). This unprecedented multi-national idolatry provokes God's severe judgment, leading Him to hand them over to the oppression of the Ammonites and Philistines for eighteen years (Jdg 10:7-8). The oppression is particularly harsh, affecting both sides of the Jordan River. Overwhelmed by suffering, the Israelites finally cry out to the LORD (Jdg 10:10), admitting their sin. Judges 10:11-14 presents God's remarkable, direct, and severe response to their plea. Instead of immediate deliverance, God delivers a scathing rebuke, expressing His exasperation and initially refusing to rescue them further (Jdg 10:13). Verse 11 is the very beginning of this divine reprimand, designed to awaken their conscience by reminding them of His consistent, unilateral grace in the past. It sets the stage for a spiritual showdown, compelling Israel to truly repent and remove their foreign gods (Jdg 10:15-16).

Judges 10 11 Word analysis

• Did I not (הֲלֹא - hălōʾ): This is a strong rhetorical question in Hebrew. It expects an affirmative answer ("Indeed, You did!"). Its purpose is not to solicit information but to emphasize, highlight, and confront. It expresses astonishment or dismay, essentially asking, "Surely, you haven't forgotten, have you?" This underlines the Israelites' profound ingratitude and spiritual amnesia, while simultaneously asserting God's unquestionable past actions.

• deliver you (הוֹשַׁעְתִּי אֶתְכֶם - hôšaʿtî ʾetkem): The verb is yashaʿ (ישע), meaning "to save," "to deliver," "to rescue." It is often translated as "salvation" and is the root for the name "Joshua" (and Jesus, Yeshua). Here, it's in the past tense, indicating completed actions. The emphasis is on God as the active agent, the one who performed these saving deeds.

• from the Egyptians (מִמִּצְרַיִם - mimmiṣrāyim): This refers to the foundational deliverance, the Exodus, from slavery in Egypt. It signifies the start of their nationhood and covenant relationship with God. It is the definitive act of God's redemptive power in Israel's history.

• and from the Amorites (וּמִן־הָאֱמֹרִי - ûmin-hāʾěmōrî): The Amorites were a powerful pre-Israelite people in Canaan, famously led by Sihon and Og, whose lands were conquered by Israel east of the Jordan. God delivered Israel from their powerful kings (Num 21; Deut 2-3). This shows God empowering Israel to overcome strong tribal enemies for the promised land.

• from the children of Ammon (מִן־בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן - min-bênê ʿammôn): The Ammonites were descendants of Lot, often hostile to Israel. There's an ironic point here: God had already delivered Israel from the Ammonites in the past, yet now they were again being oppressed by them, due to their renewed sin (Jdg 3:12-14 refers to Ammon and Amalek with Moab, and later specific instances not detailed in a grand 'deliverance event' for this period but implied by their settlement in Gilead). God had explicitly forbidden warring against Ammon in Deuteronomy 2:19, showing a divine boundary, but their constant hostility led to conflict from which God protected Israel. The fact that the Ammonites are the present oppressors (Jdg 10:7) makes this reminder particularly poignant.

• and from the Philistines (וּמִן־פְּלִשְׁתִּים - ûmin-pelištîm): The Philistines, originating from the Aegean Sea, became Israel's recurring antagonists in the Judges and early Monarchy periods. Early Judges doesn't record a major specific 'deliverance from the Philistines' event, though they were a constant threat, implying many minor interventions by God. This general mention serves to cover multiple divine assistances against this formidable coastal foe, setting the stage for more pronounced conflicts and deliverances, such as Samson's exploits later in Judges or the ark's return, and especially under Samuel and David.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "Did I not deliver you...?": This entire rhetorical phrase serves as a direct, convicting accusation and a powerful lament from God. It highlights divine long-suffering and patience, yet also expresses God's righteous indignation at Israel's ungratefulness. It demonstrates a judicial moment, where God recounts His faithfulness in contrast to their treachery, thus justifying His present withdrawal of aid and the suffering they endure. It emphasizes God's personal involvement ("I") in their history of salvation.

Judges 10 11 Bonus section

• This divine speech (Jdg 10:11-14) is unique in Judges as it's a direct monologue from God Himself, not through a prophet or judge. This emphasizes the gravity of the situation and the depth of God's frustration with Israel's chronic apostasy.
• The recurrence of these specific enemies throughout Israel's history, even after prior deliverances, underscores a theological principle: human forgetfulness of divine grace often leads to repeated failures and recurring challenges. Deliverance from a problem does not prevent its re-emergence if the underlying spiritual issue (unfaithfulness to God) remains unaddressed.
• The rhetorical question here is an example of divine pedagogy – God teaches and rebukes through recalling historical truth and moral responsibility. This serves to strip away Israel's self-pity and move them towards active repentance.
• The verse hints at a 'waiting game' on God's part. He delays immediate help to allow the consequence of their choices to fully sink in, making their eventual turning back (if it occurs) more authentic and heartfelt.

Judges 10 11 Commentary

Judges 10:11 encapsulates a critical moment of divine interaction with His wayward people. God, having tolerated cycles of sin and repentance for centuries, now engages directly in a verbal rebuke. The rhetorical question, "Did I not deliver you?" is heavy with lament, disappointment, and accusation. It lays bare the sheer ingratitude of Israel, reminding them that their existence and freedom were solely due to His sovereign power and unwavering commitment, not their own might or faithfulness.

By listing specific oppressors – Egyptians, Amorites, Ammonites, and Philistines – God systematically catalogues His interventions, drawing upon significant historical markers. The mention of the Egyptians anchors the remembrance in the Exodus, the very foundation of Israel's national identity and covenant with Yahweh. The Amorites recall the conquest of Transjordan, while the Ammonites are particularly cutting, as they are presently one of Israel's tormentors, revealing a cyclical failure to learn. The inclusion of the Philistines, though not yet fully explored in Judges, points to a persistent struggle where God continually provided relief.

This verse reveals God's consistent character: He is a delivering God, faithful to His promises and covenant, even when His people are not. It also underscores the severity of Israel's sin, implying a deep-seated spiritual blindness or deliberate rejection, for they "forgot" what God had demonstrably done. This forgetting is not mere amnesia but an active turning away and a spiritual rebellion against the covenant. God's question challenges Israel's perception of their own predicament, urging them to recognize that their suffering is not arbitrary but a consequence of their sin and a lack of dependence on their true Deliverer. The ultimate purpose of this divine interrogation is to move them towards genuine repentance and a turning away from the false gods who cannot save.