Judges 11:19 kjv
And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.
Judges 11:19 nkjv
Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, "Please let us pass through your land into our place."
Judges 11:19 niv
"Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, 'Let us pass through your country to our own place.'
Judges 11:19 esv
Israel then sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon, and Israel said to him, 'Please let us pass through your land to our country,'
Judges 11:19 nlt
"Then Israel sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites, who ruled from Heshbon, asking for permission to cross through his land to get to their destination.
Judges 11 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 20:14 | And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom... | Moses' original request to Edom. |
| Num 20:18 | And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me... | Edom's refusal of passage. |
| Deut 2:4 | ...ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir... | God's command to respect Edomite territory. |
| Deut 2:5 | Meddle not with them; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a foot breadth... | God forbade taking Edomite land. |
| Num 21:21-22 | And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, Let me pass through thy land... | Similar request to Sihon, who also refused. |
| Deut 2:26 | And I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon... | Moses recalling the similar message to Sihon. |
| Josh 24:7 | ...ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season. And I brought you into the land of the Amorites... | Divine leading through wilderness to Canaan. |
| Ex 3:8 | ...a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites... | God's promise of the land of Canaan. |
| Gen 12:7 | ...Unto thy seed will I give this land... | Initial promise of land to Abraham. |
| Gen 25:23 | ...two nations are in thy womb... | Esau and Jacob (ancestors of Edom and Israel). |
| Deut 23:7 | Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother... | God's instruction for Israel's conduct toward Edom. |
| Judg 11:12 | And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon... | Jephthah's initial diplomacy to Ammon. |
| Deut 2:27 | Let me pass through thy land by the highway: I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. | Promise to stay on designated path. |
| Deut 8:2 | And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness... | Remembrance of wilderness journey. |
| Ps 78:3 | Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. | Passing on historical knowledge. |
| Josh 1:3 | Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you... | God's provision of territory for Israel. |
| Isa 43:18-19 | Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing... | Contrast with remembering past events (divine perspective). |
| Heb 11:9 | By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country... | Journeying to the land of promise by faith. |
| Rom 12:18 | If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. | Principle of seeking peaceful resolution. |
| 2 Tim 3:16 | All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine... | The authority and truth of historical accounts. |
| Mal 1:3 | And I hated Esau, and laid his mountains and his heritage waste for the dragons of the wilderness. | Later divine judgment on Edom. |
| Obad 1:10 | For thy violence against thy brother Jacob shame shall cover thee... | Prophecy against Edom for violence towards Israel. |
| Num 33:37 | And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom. | Geographic location near Edom. |
Judges 11 verses
Judges 11 19 Meaning
Judges 11:19 is part of Jephthah's diplomatic message to the king of the Ammonites. In this verse, Jephthah recounts a specific historical event where Israel, during their journey from Egypt to the promised land, sent messengers to the king of Edom requesting peaceful passage through their territory to reach their own appointed destination. This highlights Israel's intent to respect established boundaries and seek peace, contrasting with any perception of aggressive land-taking.
Judges 11 19 Context
Judges chapter 11 narrates the story of Jephthah, who becomes the leader (judge) of Israel during a time of Ammonite oppression. Before engaging in battle, Jephthah initiates diplomatic negotiations with the Ammonite king, who claims Israel has stolen land from Ammon. Verses 15-28 comprise Jephthah's detailed response, acting as a historian and lawyer for Israel. He systematically refutes the Ammonite king's claim by tracing Israel's history from the Exodus to their settlement in Transjordan. Verse 19 specifically recounts Israel's attempt to gain peaceful passage through Edomite territory, a part of their larger journey to Canaan. This historical detail underscores Israel's commitment to avoiding conflict and respecting the boundaries of neighboring nations, especially those with kinship ties (Edom descended from Esau, Jacob's brother). It serves as a preamble to explaining that Israel's later conquest was against the Amorites (who refused passage and initiated war), not the Ammonites, and therefore the land rightfully belongs to Israel.
Judges 11 19 Word analysis
- And Israel sent messengers: The term "Israel" (Hebrew: Yisra'el, יִשְׂרָאֵל) here refers to the entire nation, emphasizing the unified, formal, and authoritative nature of the request. "Sent messengers" (Hebrew: shalach mal'akhim, שָׁלַח מַלְאָכִים) signifies a standard diplomatic procedure in the Ancient Near East for initiating negotiations or requests between nations. Mal'akhim refers to official envoys, not casual travelers. This shows Israel's adherence to international custom.
- unto the king of Edom: Edom (Hebrew: 'Edowm, אֱדוֹם), descendants of Esau, was a brother nation to Israel. This relationship made the request for passage particularly sensitive, implying an expectation of amicable reception based on kinship. The reference to the "king" indicates an established kingdom with a defined political authority, highlighting the formality of the diplomatic interaction.
- saying: This is a standard biblical phrase used to introduce a direct quotation or the content of a message, underscoring its exactness and historical weight within Jephthah's argument.
- Let us, I pray thee, pass through thy land: The phrase "I pray thee" (Hebrew: na', נָא) is a polite and deferential particle, conveying a humble and earnest request, not a demand. "Pass through" (Hebrew: na'avorah, נַעְבְּרָה) implies temporary transit, not settlement or invasion. This underscores Israel's peaceful intention and a desire to avoid any transgression of Edom's sovereignty. They simply wanted to traverse the land along established routes, avoiding populated areas where possible, as specified in Numbers 20:17.
- into my land: The possessive "my land" (Hebrew: artzi, אַרְצִי) refers to the land of Canaan, the divine inheritance promised to Israel (Gen 12:7, Ex 3:8). This specifies Israel's ultimate destination, emphasizing that their transit through Edom was not to seize Edomite territory, but solely to reach their divinely appointed home. It reinforces their claim to Canaan as legitimate and divinely sanctioned.
Judges 11 19 Bonus section
- Jephthah's detailed historical exposition in Judges 11 is remarkable for a book primarily focused on military leaders. It demonstrates that the role of a "judge" included not only military leadership but also diplomatic, historical, and theological understanding crucial for defending Israel's identity and divine inheritance.
- This verse contributes to the overall "lawsuit" framework of Jephthah's interaction with Ammon, where Jephthah acts as an advocate presenting evidence to support Israel's land claim based on historical precedent and divine grant.
- The incident recalled here (Numbers 20:14-21) underlines the sometimes strained, "brother-against-brother" relationship between Israel and Edom, setting a pattern for later conflicts. Despite the kinship, Edom prioritized their own sovereignty over assisting their brethren.
Judges 11 19 Commentary
Judges 11:19 is a key historical detail within Jephthah's legal defense against the Ammonite king's claim. By recalling Israel's respectful request to Edom for passage, Jephthah establishes Israel's historical practice of peaceful diplomacy and territorial respect towards their neighbors, especially kindred nations. This was not an act of aggression but a simple plea to traverse, underscoring their aim to reach their own promised land without violating existing borders. Edom's subsequent refusal, detailed elsewhere in scripture, necessitated a detour, reinforcing the idea that Israel did not take land unlawfully but proceeded only after respectful overtures were rejected, and even then, only fought when provoked, as was the case with the Amorites later recounted by Jephthah. This strategic recounting of past events highlights Jephthah's theological understanding that Israel's possession of the land was legitimate, having been given by God and acquired only through justified conflict or peaceful passage, contrasting sharply with any accusation of theft. It reinforces that divine instruction (Deut 2:5) to avoid conflict with Edom was meticulously followed.