Judges 10 9

Judges 10:9 kjv

Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.

Judges 10:9 nkjv

Moreover the people of Ammon crossed over the Jordan to fight against Judah also, against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed.

Judges 10:9 niv

The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim; Israel was in great distress.

Judges 10:9 esv

And the Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight also against Judah and against Benjamin and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was severely distressed.

Judges 10:9 nlt

The Ammonites also crossed to the west side of the Jordan and attacked Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. The Israelites were in great distress.

Judges 10 verses

Judges 10 9 Meaning

Judges 10:9 describes the deepening crisis faced by the Israelites during the period of the Judges. The Ammonites, who had already been oppressing the tribes east of the Jordan, intensified their campaign by crossing the Jordan River. Their invasion specifically targeted significant tribes west of the Jordan—Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim—indicating a widespread and severe military assault that brought immense suffering and anguish upon the entire nation of Israel. This verse highlights the profound extent of the Israelites' distress, serving as a critical moment leading to their eventual plea for divine intervention.

Judges 10 9 Context

Judges chapter 10 marks a transition point in the Book of Judges, introducing Jephthah, one of the last major judges. It follows an eighty-year period of rest under Jair and is preceded by previous cycles of apostasy, foreign oppression, and deliverance. Verses 6-8 describe Israel's profound spiritual relapse, specifically into the worship of Baals and Ashtaroth, and the gods of surrounding nations, leading Yahweh to give them over to the Philistines and Ammonites. The oppression by the Ammonites primarily afflicted the tribes east of the Jordan (Manasseh, Gilead), causing intense suffering (v. 8). Judges 10:9 escalates this crisis dramatically by depicting the Ammonites’ westward advance across the Jordan, thereby spreading the oppression to the western tribes of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim. This geographic expansion of suffering underscores the widespread nature of Israel's punishment and sets the stage for their desperate plea to Yahweh in verse 10, highlighting their deep anguish and realization of their dire situation. Historically, this period reflects the political fragmentation of Israel and the ongoing struggles with their immediate neighbors for dominance and control of land, often facilitated by Israel's religious backsliding.

Judges 10 9 Word analysis

• And: (Hebrew: וְוַיַּעַמְרוּ - waw) This conjunction links the expanding Ammonite aggression to the ongoing oppression previously described in the trans-Jordan region (v. 8), indicating an escalation rather than a new, isolated event. It highlights the progressive worsening of Israel's plight.
• the children of Ammon: (Hebrew: בְּנֵֽי־עַמּוֹן - b’ney-‘Ammôn) Descendants of Ben-Ammi, Lot's son by his younger daughter (Gen 19:38). They were perennial enemies of Israel, often characterized by their hostility and idolatry (e.g., Molech worship). Their aggression here demonstrates their consistent animosity.
• passed over: (Hebrew: עָֽבְר֞וּ - 'āv’rû) From the root ‘ābar, meaning "to cross, pass over, pass through." This word is significant, denoting a breach of a major geographical barrier (the Jordan River) that often served as a defensive boundary for Israel. It implies an aggressive military movement from their traditional territory in the east to the more central and southern parts of Israel's land.
• Jordan: (Hebrew: הַיַּרְדֵּן - hayyardēn) The Jordan River, a central geographic feature in Israel's history. God miraculously parted it for Israel's entry into the Promised Land (Josh 3). Here, the enemy crossing it signifies a profound reversal—what was once a path to triumph now becomes a conduit for invasion and subjugation.
• to fight also: (Hebrew: לְהִלָּחֵ֛ם גַּם־בְּ - lĕhillāḥēm gam-bê) "To fight" (lāḥam) implies direct military engagement and conflict. The addition of "also" (gam) emphasizes that this was an expansion of their existing oppression in Gilead, showing a broadened campaign of hostility that extended deep into Israelite territory.
• against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim: These three tribal names represent a significant geographic scope.
  • Judah: (Hebrew: יְהוּדָֽה - y’hûdâ) The prominent southern tribe, from which the Davidic monarchy would later emerge.
  • Benjamin: (Hebrew: בִּנְיָמִן - binyāmin) Situated between Judah and Ephraim, a strategically central and often contested tribe.
  • House of Ephraim: (Hebrew: בֵּית־אֶפְרַ֧יִם - bêt-’ep̄rayim) Ephraim was a large and influential northern tribe, often representing the northern kingdom later. Including Ephraim demonstrates that the invasion stretched from the south (Judah) through the center (Benjamin) to the central north. This wide geographical coverage highlights the severe and pervasive nature of the threat.
• so that: (Hebrew: וַתֵּ֤צֶר - wattēṣer) Consequential connector, indicating the result.
• Israel: (Hebrew: לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל - l’yiśrā’ēl) Refers to the collective nation of the twelve tribes. This suffering was not localized to a few frontier regions but was a national crisis affecting the heartland.
• was greatly distressed: (Hebrew: מְאֹֽד׃ - mə’ōd) The verb ṣarar means "to be narrow, cramped, compressed, confined, distressed." With m’od ("greatly" or "very much"), it indicates extreme pressure, severe anguish, and profound suffering. It implies a situation of great constraint, short of breath, and emotional oppression, echoing the physical distress of military subjugation.

Judges 10 9 Bonus section

The "great distress" (Hebrew: ṣarar m’od) described in Judges 10:9 is a common biblical theme for the discipline of God's people. It's often portrayed as a necessary consequence of covenant unfaithfulness and idolatry, leading to a state where the people realize their utter helplessness and are compelled to cry out to God for deliverance. This recurring pattern throughout Judges (e.g., Jdg 3:9; 4:3; 6:6; 10:10) demonstrates God's consistent method of using external pressures to bring His errant children back to Him. The specific mentioning of key tribes (Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim) indicates not only a broad geographical impact but also an attack on the foundational tribes often associated with leadership (Judah, later the royal line) and prominence (Ephraim, key to the northern confederacy). This wasn't just a border skirmish but an invasion striking at the very heart of the tribal structure.

Judges 10 9 Commentary

Judges 10:9 succinctly captures the escalating severity of Israel's judgment and plight. The Ammonite invasion was no mere border skirmish; their audacious crossing of the Jordan signified a full-scale assault into the core of Israelite settlement. The selection of Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim as targets underscores the widespread and comprehensive nature of the threat, impacting key southern and central tribal territories. This expansion from the Transjordan region westward intensified the anguish of the people, emphasizing the futility of their past reliance on foreign deities and their own strength. The phrase "greatly distressed" encapsulates not merely discomfort, but a deep, suffocating oppression that pressed down on the entire nation. This pervasive suffering served as God's severe but purposeful discipline, aiming to humble Israel and drive them to true repentance and reliance upon Him alone, preparing them to "cry out" in their desperation to the Lord, as recorded in the subsequent verse. It is a powerful example of the consequences of abandoning divine covenant and the necessary distress that precedes sincere spiritual turning.