Judges 11:18 kjv
Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.
Judges 11:18 nkjv
And they went along through the wilderness and bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, came to the east side of the land of Moab, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
Judges 11:18 niv
"Next they traveled through the wilderness, skirted the lands of Edom and Moab, passed along the eastern side of the country of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon. They did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was its border.
Judges 11:18 esv
"Then they journeyed through the wilderness and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab and arrived on the east side of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab.
Judges 11:18 nlt
"Finally, they went around Edom and Moab through the wilderness. They traveled along Moab's eastern border and camped on the other side of the Arnon River. But they never once crossed the Arnon River into Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.
Judges 11 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| Num 20:14 | Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the hardship that has befallen us… Please let us pass through your land… | Israel's initial request to Edom for passage. |
| Num 20:20-21 | Edom came out against them with a large army and a strong force... Israel turned away from him. | Edom refused passage, forcing Israel to detour. |
| Num 21:10-13 | And the people of Israel set out and encamped at Oboth. And they set out from Oboth and encamped at Iye-abarim… From there they set out and encamped in the Valley of Zered… From there they set out and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. | Chronicles Israel's journey approaching Transjordan, skirting nations. |
| Num 21:24 | Israel defeated him with the edge of the sword and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok… | Israel's conquest of Sihon's territory (Amorites), whose land extended to Arnon. |
| Num 21:26 | For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab and taken all his land out of his hand, as far as the Arnon. | Explains why Arnon was a key boundary disputed between Moab and Amorites. |
| Deut 2:4-5 | “…do not contend with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as a foot's length, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.” | God's specific command not to dispossess Edom. |
| Deut 2:8 | So we went on, away from our brothers the people of Esau, who live in Seir, away from the Arabah road… and passed by Elath and Ezion-geber. | Details Israel's circumvention of Edom. |
| Deut 2:9 | And the Lord said to me, “Do not harass Moab or contend with them in battle, for I will not give you any of their land for a possession, because I have given Ar to the people of Lot as a possession.” | God's specific command not to dispossess Moab. |
| Deut 2:18-19 | “…Today you are to cross over the territory of Moab, Ar, and when you approach the frontier of the Ammonites, do not harass them or contend with them…” | Reinforces the instruction to respect Moab's (and Ammon's) territory. |
| Deut 2:24 | “Arise, take your journey and cross over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land…” | Marks the Arnon as the boundary to begin the conquest of the Amorites. |
| Deut 3:8 | So at that time we took the land from the hand of the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon. | Confirms Israel's possession of Transjordan territory from the Arnon. |
| Josh 12:2 | Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon… His territory extended from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the middle of the valley… | Reconfirms the Arnon as a key southern boundary of Amorite kingdom. |
| Josh 13:16 | Their territory was from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley… | Further defines Reuben's tribal territory from the Arnon. |
| Neh 9:16-18 | “But they and our fathers acted proudly, hardened their necks… did not remember Your wondrous works… They made for themselves a molded calf… but You, in Your great mercies, did not forsake them in the wilderness…” | Though Israel rebelled, God remained faithful in guiding them through the wilderness. |
| Psa 78:52 | He led forth his people like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. | God's providential leading of Israel through their desert journey. |
| Psa 105:40-41 | He brought them quails for meat and satisfied them with bread from heaven… He opened the rock, and water gushed out; it flowed in the desert like a river. | Highlights God's care for Israel during the wilderness journey. |
| Isa 43:19 | Behold, I am doing a new thing… I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. | Future prophetic echo of God's miraculous provision and guidance in difficult paths. |
| 1 Cor 10:5-6 | Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things took place as examples for us… | Wilderness journey as a warning and example for later believers. |
| Heb 3:17 | And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? | Wilderness experience cited as a lesson on unbelief and its consequences. |
| Jude 1:5 | Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. | Echoes the consequence of disobedience during the Exodus wilderness journey. |
Judges 11 verses
Judges 11 18 Meaning
Judges 11:18 describes a specific leg of Israel's journey during the Exodus wanderings, recounted by Jephthah to the king of Ammon. It states that after leaving Kadesh, Israel traveled through the wilderness, carefully circumventing the territories of both Edom and Moab. They reached the eastern border of Moab and encamped by the Arnon River, specifically noted as Moab's northern boundary. The verse emphasizes that Israel did not enter or trespass into Moabite territory, thereby demonstrating their respect for established boundaries. This historical detail serves as a crucial point in Jephthah's defense against the Ammonite king's false claims of Israelite aggression.
Judges 11 18 Context
Judges chapter 11 opens with the dramatic rise of Jephthah, a mighty warrior and the son of a prostitute, who was driven out by his half-brothers. When the Ammonites wage war against Israel (specifically Gilead, east of the Jordan), the elders of Gilead, in their desperation, recall Jephthah to lead them. Before engaging in battle, Jephthah attempts to resolve the conflict diplomatically by sending messengers to the Ammonite king. The Ammonite king claims Israel unlawfully seized their land upon leaving Egypt.
Jephthah's response (Judges 11:15-27) is a detailed historical and theological argument, refuting the Ammonite claim. He recounts Israel's wilderness wanderings, their journey from Egypt to Kadesh, their request for passage through Edom, and Edom's refusal. This verse (11:18) is a crucial part of his narrative, illustrating Israel's adherence to God's command not to trespass upon the lands God had given to Edom or Moab. Jephthah explains that Israel thus skirted Edom and Moab, settling eventually in the Amorite land east of the Jordan, which they had conquered not from Ammon or Moab, but from King Sihon, whom God had delivered into Israel's hand. This entire discourse highlights Israel's legitimacy in the land through divine grant and their respectful conduct towards other nations when commanded by God.
Judges 11 18 Word analysis
- Then they went along (וַיֵּלְכוּ vayyel'khoo): The Hebrew verb "went" indicates continued movement and a specific itinerary. This highlights Israel's guided progress through challenging terrain, respecting the boundaries mentioned.
- through the wilderness (בַּמִּדְבָּר bammidbār): "Wilderness" here refers to the vast, sparsely populated desert regions surrounding the cultivated lands of settled nations. It implies a route that was difficult but deliberately chosen to avoid conflict. Israel's journey in the wilderness was often divinely guided and provided for (Deut 8:2-4).
- and went around (וַיָּסֹבּוּ vayyāsobbū): This verb means "to turn around," "to surround," or "to bypass." It strongly emphasizes that Israel intentionally encircled, or skirted, the specified lands. This wasn't accidental; it was a deliberate choice reflecting obedience to divine instruction and avoiding hostile engagement (Deut 2:4-9).
- the land of Edom (אֶרֶץ אֱדוֹם eretz Ĕdōm): Edom was located to the southeast of the Dead Sea. Descendants of Esau (Gen 36:8), Israel's "brother," they were specifically commanded by God not to be encroached upon (Deut 2:4-5) because God had given them their land as an inheritance. Israel had already sought direct passage and been refused (Num 20:14-21).
- and the land of Moab (וְאֶרֶץ מוֹאָב v'eretz Mō'āḇ): Moab lay to the east of the Dead Sea. Descendants of Lot (Gen 19:37), they were also kin to Israel, and God likewise commanded Israel not to dispossess them (Deut 2:9). This emphasis reinforces Israel's strict adherence to divine command concerning their related peoples.
- and came to the east side (וַיָּבֹאוּ מִמִּזְרַח־שֶׁמֶשׁ vayyāvō'ū mimmizraḥ-shemesh): Literally "they came from the rising of the sun," meaning the eastern side. This pinpoints their geographical approach, confirming they moved around the southern and eastern edges of Moab's territory rather than through its central inhabited areas.
- of the land of Moab (אֶרֶץ מוֹאָב eretz Mō'āḇ): Reiterates their destination, highlighting they approached, but did not enter, the settled region.
- and encamped (וַיַּחֲנוּ vayyaḥănū): "To encamp," "to pitch a tent," "to settle down for a stay." It describes a temporary stop before continued movement, significant as they had reached a strategic point, ready to proceed with their main objective, which was beyond Moab.
- on the other side of the Arnon (בְּעֵבֶר אַרְנוֹן bə‘ēḇer ‘Arnon): "On the other side" or "across" the Arnon River. The Arnon River was a natural boundary, deep gorge, flowing into the Dead Sea from the east. It consistently served as a border between territories, crucially defining the limit of Moabite influence to the north (Num 21:13; Deut 2:24).
- But they did not enter (וְלֹא־בָאוּ vəlo’-vā’ū): The "not" (לֹא lo') is an emphatic negative, powerfully asserting that Israel did not trespass. This directly refutes the Ammonite king's accusation by demonstrating Israel's meticulous respect for established boundaries.
- the territory of Moab (בִּגְבוּל מוֹאָב bigvul Mō'āḇ): "Within the boundary of Moab." This re-emphasizes that Israel remained outside the sovereign jurisdiction of Moab, even when encamping nearby.
- for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab (כִּי הָאַרְנוֹן גְּבוּל מוֹאָב ki hā’arnon gəḇul Mō'āḇ): The reason for not entering. The Arnon was unequivocally recognized as Moab's legitimate border. This statement is a critical point in Jephthah's argument, demonstrating precise historical and geographical knowledge and validating Israel's actions according to acknowledged international law of the time.
Judges 11 18 Bonus section
The careful articulation of Israel's journey and their respect for the Edomite and Moabite borders reveals a theological truth about God's sovereignty over all lands and nations, not just Israel. God had explicitly given territories to Esau (Edom) and Lot's descendants (Moab and Ammon) (Deut 2:5, 9, 19). Israel's actions demonstrate a recognition of this divine prerogative even for non-Israelite nations. Jephthah's legal and historical defense showcases the importance of divine ownership and a nation's "historical memory" in justifying land claims in the ancient Near East. This strategic circumvention of related peoples also underlines the moral and diplomatic guidelines within the Mosaic Law, emphasizing that not all non-Israelite peoples were to be eradicated; rather, specific instructions from Yahweh dictated engagement. This distinction sets Israel apart from mere territorial aggressors, rooting their conquests in divine command and justice, not simply military might or desire for land.
Judges 11 18 Commentary
Judges 11:18 forms a crucial historical anchor in Jephthah's argument to the Ammonite king, emphasizing Israel's historical integrity and respect for divine commands concerning land ownership. It explicitly refutes the Ammonite accusation by detailing Israel's meticulously non-aggressive posture towards Edom and Moab. By skirting these nations and stopping at the Arnon, Israel demonstrated strict obedience to God's prohibition against seizing their kin's divinely granted lands. The verse highlights the Arnon River not merely as a geographical feature, but as a universally acknowledged sovereign boundary. This obedience to boundaries, even in arduous circumstances, underscores a principle: legitimate possession (in this case, of Amorite land, which God granted Israel to conquer from Sihon) arises from divine sanction and adherence to justice, not from unprovoked territorial expansion against others. It serves as a reminder that the land occupied by Israel in Transjordan was conquered from the Amorites, who themselves had previously taken it from Moab, rather than from Moab directly by Israel.