Judges 11 8

Judges 11:8 kjv

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

Judges 11:8 nkjv

And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is why we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the people of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

Judges 11:8 niv

The elders of Gilead said to him, "Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be head over all of us who live in Gilead."

Judges 11:8 esv

And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the Ammonites and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

Judges 11:8 nlt

"Because we need you," the elders replied. "If you lead us in battle against the Ammonites, we will make you ruler over all the people of Gilead."

Judges 11 verses

Judges 11 8 Meaning

Judges 11:8 details the elders of Gilead's urgent plea to Jephthah. They, desperate for military leadership against the oppressive Ammonites, implored Jephthah – whom they had previously rejected and exiled – to return, fight alongside them, and assume the position of supreme leader over all Gilead. This request signifies their pragmatic shift, driven solely by extreme necessity and their recognition of his military prowess.

Judges 11 8 Context

The book of Judges details a cyclical pattern of apostasy, oppression by foreign enemies, the Israelites crying out to God, and God raising up deliverers (judges). Chapters 10 and 11 describe the Ammonite oppression, which had plagued Israel in Transjordan for eighteen years. In distress, Israel cried out to God, acknowledging their sin of idolatry. Though initially chastised by God for their repeated unfaithfulness, His compassion for their misery was stirred. Amidst this suffering, the men of Gilead recognized their desperate need for a military leader against the Ammonites. Judges 11:1-3 had previously revealed Jephthah's background as an illegitimate son, rejected and driven out by his half-brothers. This verse therefore presents a stark reversal: the very elders who likely participated in his expulsion, or at least benefitted from it, now humbling themselves and turning to him out of absolute necessity. They previously scorned his origin and exiled him; now their survival depended on his military skill, making their appeal entirely pragmatic.

Judges 11 8 Word analysis

• And the elders (וְזִקְנֵי - vezikenê) of Gilead (גִּלְעָד - gil‘ad):
  • elders: Zeqenim refers not just to older men, but to respected, authoritative community leaders responsible for judicial and civic matters. Their collective action here signifies an official and binding decision by the ruling class of Gilead. They are the representatives of the people who previously scorned Jephthah (Jdg 11:7).
  • Gilead: A significant region east of the Jordan River, frequently exposed to incursions from nomadic tribes and kingdoms like Ammon. It’s where the Ammonite threat was most keenly felt.
• said unto Jephthah (אֶל־יִפְתָּח - ʾel yip̄tāḥ):
  • Jephthah: His name, Yiphtakh, possibly means "He (God) will open" or "He will open (the womb)." Ironically, he himself was outcast and his path needed "opening" for his return. The direct approach by those who wronged him underscores their current desperation.
• Therefore (לָכֵן - lāḵēn): "For this reason," or "because of this." This conjunction emphasizes that their current dire circumstances, specifically the Ammonite oppression, are the sole catalyst for their reversal of stance towards Jephthah. It highlights a cause-and-effect relationship based on expediency.
• we turn again to thee (שַׁבְנוּ אֵלֶיךָ - šavnu ʾêleḵā):
  • turn again: From the root shuv, meaning to "return," "turn back," or "repent." Here, it signifies their returning to Jephthah, reversing their earlier banishment and neglect. It implies a change of direction regarding him, though not necessarily repentance for their past mistreatment, but a pragmatic recognition of his military prowess now desperately needed.
• now (עַתָּה - ʿattāh): Emphasizes the immediacy and urgency of their need. Their timing is purely opportunistic, as they had not sought him earlier.
• that thou mayest go with us (וְהָלַכְתָּ עִמָּנוּ - vehālaḵtā ʿimmānu): An invitation to military action and alliance. They seek his physical presence and active participation in their conflict. It’s a direct call to lead them into battle.
• and fight against (וְנִלְחַמְתָּ בִּבְנֵי - venilḥamtā bivnê) the children of Ammon (עַמּוֹן - ʿammon):
  • fight: Nilhamtā is from the root lakham, meaning "to fight, make war." This clearly defines Jephthah's primary and immediate task.
  • children of Ammon: Bene Ammon. The specific enemy causing their distress, known for their persistent hostility towards Israel (e.g., in Moses' time, Saul's time, David's time, and Nehemiah's time).
• and be our head (וְהָיִיתָ לָּנוּ לְרֹאשׁ - vehāyîtā lānu lerōʾš):
  • head: Ro'sh. A potent metaphor signifying supreme leader, chief, commander, or ruler. This is an offer of comprehensive authority, far beyond just a military commander; it's a political and military leadership position over the entire region.
• over all the inhabitants of Gilead (לְכֹל יֹשְׁבֵי גִלְעָד - leḵōl yōšḇê gil‘āḏ): The offer extends full jurisdiction and leadership over everyone in the Gilead region, solidifying his role as their ultimate authority.

Words-group analysis

• "And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now": This phrase perfectly illustrates the opportunistic nature of the elders' "return." The use of "therefore" immediately links their current desperation (the Ammonite threat) to their complete reversal of attitude towards Jephthah. It signifies a humble request born of dire necessity rather than genuine reconciliation or repentance for their past injustice. They had once cast him out, but now, only under duress, they desperately appeal to him.
• "that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead": This progression highlights the escalating nature of their appeal and the authority they are willing to grant. It begins with simply joining them in military action ("go with us"), progresses to leading the fight against their specific oppressor ("fight against...Ammon"), and culminates in an offer of absolute and comprehensive leadership ("be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead"). This demonstrates the depth of their desperation and the full extent of the power they are prepared to yield to the man they once ostracized.

Judges 11 8 Bonus section

• The elders' desperate appeal to Jephthah demonstrates a fundamental biblical principle: human systems often exhaust themselves before turning to God-appointed solutions or to individuals whom society has cast aside, illustrating God's sovereignty in using unlikely and previously rejected instruments.
• This verse sets the stage for Jephthah's internal struggle and external negotiations, validating his perceived worth by those who initially spurned him, providing him leverage in setting conditions for his return to lead them. It represents a vindication of sorts, elevating him from his former outcast status to a position of indispensable leadership and honor.

Judges 11 8 Commentary

Judges 11:8 is a powerful display of human expediency and desperation. The elders of Gilead, representing a community suffering under relentless Ammonite oppression, abandon their pride and prior prejudice to appeal to Jephthah, the very individual they had banished due to his illegitimacy. Their offer is pragmatic: military leadership and supreme authority over Gilead in exchange for deliverance. This "turning again" (a variant of shuv, typically meaning repentance or return to God) is not born out of regret for their mistreatment of Jephthah, but rather from a profound self-interest for survival. It reflects the Israelites' recurrent pattern of remembering God's power and seeking His help only when facing imminent destruction, and similarly, their pragmatic search for a deliverer from unexpected sources when their self-reliance fails. The elders' willingness to grant ultimate leadership to an outcast underscores the severity of the crisis and highlights how circumstances can compel individuals and communities to abandon past grievances for a greater perceived good.