Judges 11 33

Judges 11:33 kjv

And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

Judges 11:33 nkjv

And he defeated them from Aroer as far as Minnith?twenty cities?and to Abel Keramim, with a very great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

Judges 11:33 niv

He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.

Judges 11:33 esv

And he struck them from Aroer to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a great blow. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.

Judges 11:33 nlt

He crushed the Ammonites, devastating about twenty towns from Aroer to an area near Minnith and as far away as Abel-keramim. In this way Israel defeated the Ammonites.

Judges 11 verses

Judges 11 33 Meaning

Judges 11:33 describes the successful and comprehensive military campaign led by Jephthah against the Ammonites. It highlights that the Lord granted Jephthah a great victory, allowing him to defeat the Ammonites with significant destruction, pushing them back from their territory through a wide geographical area extending from Aroer to the vicinity of Minneh and Abel Ceramim. This verse directly links Jephthah's military success to divine intervention, underscoring that the battle was won because "the Lord delivered them into his hand." The extent of the victory demonstrates the fulfillment of God's promise to give the Ammonites to Israel.

Judges 11 33 Context

This verse is part of the narrative concerning Jephthah, the Gileadite judge, in Judges chapter 11. Prior to this, Israel had been oppressed by the Ammonites for eighteen years (Judg 10:8). Jephthah, though initially rejected by his brethren, was recalled to lead Gilead against the Ammonite threat (Judg 11:1-11). After attempting to negotiate with the king of Ammon, during which Jephthah recounted Israel's history with the Ammonites and their divine right to the land, the Ammonite king refused (Judg 11:12-28). Consequently, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, empowering him for war (Judg 11:29). It is immediately after this that Jephthah makes his infamous vow to the Lord: that if God granted him victory over the Ammonites, he would sacrifice whatever came out of his house first to meet him upon his return (Judg 11:30-31). Verse 33 thus describes the direct outcome and divine fulfillment of the first part of that conditional vow, the victory itself, before the tragic implications of the vow are revealed. The geographical scope mentioned highlights the totality of the Ammonite defeat in their territories across Transjordan.

Judges 11 33 Word analysis

• And he struck them (וַיַּכֵּם, vayyakem): From the root נָכָה (nakah), meaning "to strike," "smite," "slay." Implies a decisive and powerful defeat. It is a direct and forceful action by Jephthah.
• from Aroer (מֵעֲרוֹעֵר, me'arōʻēr): "Aroer" (עֲרוֹעֵר, ʻArôʻêr) is a city typically associated with the northern border of Moabite territory (and sometimes Gadite territory), located on the Arnon River (cf. Num 21:28, Deut 2:36, Josh 13:25). It marks the southern extent of Jephthah's campaign against the Ammonites in this description. Its inclusion signifies the comprehensive sweep of his victory from south to north or west to east.
• as far as Minnith (וְעַד מִנִּית, veʻad Minnît): "Minnith" (מִנִּית, Minnît) is generally identified with a place within Ammonite territory or near their border. Its exact location is debated among scholars, but it indicates a significant distance traveled during the rout. The Septuagint translates it as "even to the entrance" or "as far as Gabaa" in some texts, implying a path or entrance, reinforcing the idea of a passage or journey. The mention of specific geographical points illustrates the vastness and thoroughness of the victory.
• twenty cities (עֶשְׂרִים עִיר, ʻeśrîm ʻîr): This numeric detail emphasizes the scale of the conquest and the devastation inflicted upon the Ammonite holdings. It underscores a wide-ranging, rather than localized, military success.
• and as far as Abel-cheramim (וְעַד אָבֵל כְּרָמִים, veʻad ʼĀḇēl Kəramîm): "Abel-cheramim" (אָבֵל כְּרָמִים, ʼĀḇēl Kəramîm) translates to "meadow of vineyards." This location is also identified as being deep within Ammonite territory or on its border, possibly northeast of Rabbah of Ammon. Its name, "meadow of vineyards," suggests a fertile and desirable region. The sequence of Aroer, Minnith, and Abel-cheramim defines the widespread territorial impact of Jephthah's offensive.
• with a very great slaughter (מַכָּה גְּדוֹלָה מְאֹד, makkah gəḏôlâ meʼôḏ): This phrase emphasizes the severity and magnitude of the defeat suffered by the Ammonites. The Hebrew makkeh gedolah me'od is an intensive description, indicating not just a victory but a crushing blow, an exceedingly great slaughter.
• So the Lord delivered them (וַיִּתְּנֵם יְהוָה, vayyitənēm YHVH): This is a crucial theological statement. It directly attributes the victory not to Jephthah's military prowess alone, but to the sovereign act of Yahweh. The Hebrew natǎn ("gave" or "delivered") signifies that the outcome was divinely ordained and orchestrated. This fulfills the earlier promise Jephthah invoked (Judg 11:21-23) and highlights God's faithfulness in upholding His covenant.
• into his hand (בְּיָדוֹ, beyaḏô): Implies complete control and decisive victory given by God to Jephthah.

Judges 11 33 Bonus section

The mention of twenty cities between Minnith and Abel Ceramim (though some interpretations see "twenty cities" as simply further description of Minnith/Abel Ceramim) paints a vivid picture of the destruction and emphasizes the absolute nature of the defeat. The Ammonites, known for their raids on Transjordan, suffered a critical blow to their military capacity and territorial control in this event. This extensive territorial acquisition also set the stage for later conflicts over the Transjordan lands (e.g., Moab, Ammon), confirming that the possession of these lands was a recurring point of contention. The victory, divinely granted, would inevitably lead to Jephthah fulfilling the second, tragic, part of his vow. This highlights a recurring tension in Judges: God provides victory and deliverance, but human sin, foolishness, and lack of true devotion (as seen in rash vows or foreign worship) persist.

Judges 11 33 Commentary

Judges 11:33 serves as the direct fulfillment of Jephthah's war objective and the conditional aspect of his vow: "If you will give the Ammonites into my hand..." (Judg 11:30). The Lord, indeed, delivers them. The geographical markers—from Aroer to Minnith and Abel-cheramim—are key to understanding the victory's scope. This was not a skirmish but a far-reaching military campaign that decimated Ammonite strength. Aroer marked a common boundary point, implying Jephthah struck from the traditional border region. Minnith and Abel-cheramim, further north or east, suggest the pursuit penetrated deeply into Ammonite territory, covering some twenty cities. The phrase "with a very great slaughter" further accentuates the devastating impact on the Ammonites, ensuring their subjugation.

Crucially, the verse ends with the affirmation "So the Lord delivered them into his hand." This statement shifts the focus from Jephthah's generalship to divine agency. In the book of Judges, successes are consistently attributed to God's empowerment and direct action, often through an otherwise unlikely figure. This reassertion of Yahweh's sovereignty despite the morally ambiguous nature of Jephthah's subsequent actions regarding his vow is paramount. It reminds the reader that even when human actors make questionable decisions or operate within difficult cultural frameworks, God remains faithful to His covenant purposes, empowering His chosen to deliver His people. The victory itself was pure deliverance, demonstrating God's justice against Israel's oppressors.