Judges 11 21

Judges 11:21 kjv

And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.

Judges 11:21 nkjv

And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them. Thus Israel gained possession of all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country.

Judges 11:21 niv

"Then the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and his whole army into Israel's hands, and they defeated them. Israel took over all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country,

Judges 11:21 esv

And the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them. So Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country.

Judges 11:21 nlt

But the LORD, the God of Israel, gave his people victory over King Sihon. So Israel took control of all the land of the Amorites, who lived in that region,

Judges 11 verses

Judges 11 21 Meaning

Judges 11:21 declares that the Lord, the God of Israel, was the primary agent in Israel's victory over Sihon, king of the Amorites, and his people. The verse emphasizes divine initiative, stating that God "gave" Sihon and his forces into Israel's power, resulting in their complete defeat. This highlights God's sovereignty over nations and His active role in securing the land for His covenant people.

Judges 11 21 Context

Judges 11:21 is part of Jephthah's diplomatic message to the Ammonite king. The Ammonites had laid claim to lands in Gilead, arguing that Israel had unlawfully seized them when they came out of Egypt. Jephthah, as the appointed leader and a man knowledgeable in Israel's history and divine law, rebuts this claim. He details the historical events surrounding Israel's arrival in Transjordan, emphasizing that the disputed land was not taken from the Ammonites but from Sihon, king of the Amorites. Furthermore, he underscores that Israel’s victory over Sihon was a direct act of the Lord, their God, proving that their claim to the land was based on divine grant, not conquest from a legitimate owner. This historical recounting establishes the legal and theological basis for Israel's occupation of the territory.

Judges 11 21 Word analysis

• So: (Hebrew: וַיִּתֵּן - vayeet-tain) - A consequential connector, indicating the result or immediate outcome of preceding actions or circumstances. It introduces the divine action that follows from Israel's initial confrontation.
• the Lord: (Hebrew: יְהוָה - Yahweh) - The personal, covenant name of God, revealing His self-existent and ever-active nature. This name emphasizes His faithfulness to His promises and His unique relationship with Israel. By using "Yahweh," Jephthah identifies the specific deity who acted on Israel's behalf, distinct from pagan gods.
• the God: (Hebrew: אֱלֹהֵי - Elohei) - A plural noun referring to "God" but used in a singular sense (intensive plural) when referring to the one true God. This highlights God's supreme authority, power, and might.
• of Israel: (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisra'el) - Signifies God's special, exclusive covenant relationship with the nation of Israel. It denotes that this God is their patron, protector, and champion, acting on their behalf against their enemies.
• gave: (Hebrew: וַיִּתֵּן - vayeet-tain, root נָתַן - nathan) - A pivotal verb, meaning "to give," "to put," or "to hand over." Here, it signifies that the victory was a direct bestowal by God, an act of divine volition and power, not merely human accomplishment. It implies the enemy was divinely delivered into Israel's power.
• Sihon: (Hebrew: סִיחֹון - Sihon) - The king of the Amorites, who famously refused Israel passage and subsequently attacked them. His defeat was a foundational victory for Israel's Transjordanian claims.
• and all his people: (Hebrew: וְאֶת־כָּל־עַמּוֹ - ve'et-kol-ammo) - Indicates the completeness of the victory. Not just the king, but his entire fighting force and nation were subdued.
• into the hand of: (Hebrew: בְּיַד - b'yad) - A common biblical idiom meaning "into the power of," or "at the mercy of." It strongly conveys total subjugation and defeat where control is fully transferred.
• Israel: (Hebrew: יִשְׂרָאֵל - Yisra'el) - The nation of God's covenant people.
• and they defeated them: (Hebrew: וַיַּכּוּם - vayakkum, root נָכָה - nakah) - Meaning "to strike," "to smite," or "to defeat utterly." This verb describes the physical act of battle and its outcome, a direct result of God's initial "giving."

Words-group analysis:

• "So the Lord, the God of Israel, gave...": This phrase unequivocally attributes the initiation and success of the battle to God. It highlights divine sovereignty and agency, making Israel the instrument through which God executes His will. This establishes a theological rather than a purely military or human explanation for the conquest.
• "Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel": This idiomatic expression paints a clear picture of total conquest and subjugation. It underscores that God enabled Israel to gain complete control over their enemies, leaving no doubt about the decisiveness of the victory and its divine source. The transfer of power is complete.
• "and they defeated them": This concluding phrase presents the concrete outcome of God's act. While God "gave" the enemy, Israel was actively involved in the "defeating." It showcases the partnership between divine provision and human obedience and action in the unfolding of God's plan.

Judges 11 21 Bonus section

• Jephthah's recounting of history functions as a rib (covenant lawsuit) argument, a common legal structure in ancient Near Eastern treaties and biblical texts. He lays out Israel's historical defense against Ammon's claims by citing divine action.
• The defeat of Sihon and Og was a defining moment for Israel's entry into the promised land from the East. Their victories, divinely orchestrated, established the initial borders for some of the Transjordanian tribes (Reuben, Gad, half-Manasseh) before the conquest of Canaan proper.
• The emphasis on "the Lord, the God of Israel" served as a direct polemic against the pagan gods, like Chemosh (mentioned in Judges 11:24). Jephthah implicitly challenges the Ammonite king to consider who the true, powerful deity is, highlighting Yahweh's actual interventions in history.
• This verse illustrates a recurring theme in the book of Judges: when Israel trusts in the Lord, He delivers them. When they forget Him, they suffer oppression. It reinforces the importance of divine alliance over human might.

Judges 11 21 Commentary

Judges 11:21 serves as a foundational declaration within Jephthah's historical argument, asserting God's role as the active warrior on behalf of Israel. This concise statement encapsulates a core biblical truth: Israel's victories were not achieved by their own strength or strategic brilliance but by the sovereign will and power of Yahweh. The focus on "the Lord, the God of Israel" reaffirms His unique identity and covenant fidelity, particularly in fulfilling the promise of land. By recounting this pivotal historical moment, Jephthah refutes the Ammonite claim by establishing a divine legal precedent for Israel's ownership of the territory, demonstrating that it was God who had rightfully dispossessed the Amorites and granted their land to Israel. The phrase "gave... into the hand of Israel" emphasizes divine bestowal and ownership, providing a powerful theological underpinning for Israel's legitimate presence in the land.