Focused Passage

Judges 11:16-22

Jephthah's Rise, Covenant Argument, and Tragic Vow

Jephthah rises from rejected son and outlaw leader to covenant spokesman and Spirit-empowered deliverer against Ammon, yet his unnecessary vow turns victory into domestic tragedy and exposes the dangerous mixture of faith, courage, ignorance, and disordered worship in Israel's leadership.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

16But when Israel came up out of Egypt, they traveled through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.

17Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let us pass through your land,’ but the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel stayed in Kadesh.

18Then Israel traveled through the wilderness and bypassed the lands of Edom and Moab. They came to 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, since the Arnon was its border.

19And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land into our own place.’

20But Sihon would not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So he gathered all his people, encamped in Jahaz, and fought with Israel.

21Then the LORD, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, who defeated them. So Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites who inhabited that country,

22seizing all the land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 16

Original words

Butכִּ֖יH3588Conjunctionwhen [Israel] came upבַּעֲלוֹתָ֣םH5927Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine pluralout of Egyptמִמִּצְרָ֑יִםH4714Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular[they]יִשְׂרָאֵ֤לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singulartraveledוַיֵּ֨לֶךְH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthrough the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּר֙H4057Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singulartoעַד־H5704Prepositionthe Redס֔וּףH5488Noun - masculine singularSeaיַם־H3220Noun - masculine singular constructand cameוַיָּבֹ֖אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto Kadeshקָדֵֽשָׁה׃H6946Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular

BSB notes

  • Or the Sea of Reeds
Verse 17

Original words

Then Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֣לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularsentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularmessengersמַלְאָכִ֣ים׀H4397Noun - masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe kingמֶלֶךְ֩H4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Edomאֱד֨וֹם׀H123Noun - proper - masculine singularsayingלֵאמֹ֜רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructPleaseנָּ֣אH4994Interjectionlet us passאֶעְבְּרָה־H5674Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common singularthrough your landבְאַרְצֶ֗ךָH776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularbut the kingמֶ֣לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Edomאֱד֔וֹםH123Noun - proper - masculine singularwould notוְלֹ֤אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlelistenשָׁמַע֙H8085Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularThey alsoוְגַ֨םH1571Conjunctionsentשָׁלַ֖חH7971Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularmessengers toאֶל־H413Prepositionthe kingמֶ֧לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructof Moabמוֹאָ֛בH4124Noun - proper - feminine singularbut he would notוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleconsentאָבָ֑הH14Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularSo Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularstayedוַיֵּ֥שֶׁבH3427Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularin Kadeshבְּקָדֵֽשׁ׃H6946Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 18

Original words

Then [Israel] traveledוַיֵּ֣לֶךְH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularthrough the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּ֗רH4057Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularand bypassedוַיָּ֜סָבH5437Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe landsאֶ֤רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof Edomאֱדוֹם֙H123Noun - proper - masculine singularandוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerאֶ֣רֶץאֶ֣רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructMoabמוֹאָ֔בH4124Noun - proper - feminine singularThey cameוַיָּבֹ֤אH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoמִמִּזְרַח־H4217Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular constructthe east sideשֶׁ֙מֶשׁ֙H8121Noun - common singularof the landלְאֶ֣רֶץH776Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular constructof Moabמוֹאָ֔בH4124Noun - proper - feminine singularand campedוַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּןH2583Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nunon the other sideבְּעֵ֣בֶרH5676Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof the Arnonאַרְנ֑וֹןH769Noun - proper - feminine singularBut they did notוְלֹא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleenterבָ֙אוּ֙H935Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralthe territoryבִּגְב֣וּלH1366Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof Moabמוֹאָ֔בH4124Noun - proper - feminine singularsinceכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionthe Arnonאַרְנ֖וֹןH769Noun - proper - feminine singularwas its borderגְּב֥וּלH1366Noun - masculine singular construct-מוֹאָֽב׃H4124Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 19

Original words

And Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙H3478Noun - proper - masculine singularsentוַיִּשְׁלַ֤חH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularmessengersמַלְאָכִ֔יםH4397Noun - masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413PrepositionSihonסִיח֥וֹןH5511Noun - proper - masculine singularkingמֶֽלֶךְ־H4428Noun - masculine singular constructof the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֖יH567Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularwho ruledמֶ֣לֶךְH4428Noun - masculine singular constructin Heshbonחֶשְׁבּ֑וֹןH2809Noun - proper - feminine singular-יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularand saidוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto himלוֹ֙Preposition | third person masculine singularPleaseנָּ֥אH4994Interjectionlet us passנַעְבְּרָה־H5674Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common pluralthrough your landבְאַרְצְךָ֖H776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singularintoעַד־H5704Prepositionour own placeמְקוֹמִֽי׃H4725Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Verse 20

Original words

But Sihonסִיח֤וֹןH5511Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerwould notוְלֹא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particletrustהֶאֱמִ֨יןH539Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙H3478Noun - proper - masculine singularto passעֲבֹ֣רH5674Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructthrough his territoryבִּגְבֻל֔וֹH1366Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularSo [he]סִיחוֹן֙H5511Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markergatheredוַיֶּאֱסֹ֤ףH622Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructhis peopleעַמּ֔וֹH5971Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularencampedוַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּH2583Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralin Jahazבְּיָ֑הְצָהH3096Preposition-b | Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singularand foughtוַיִּלָּ֖חֶםH3898Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwithעִם־H5973PrepositionIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 21

Original words

Then the LORDיְהוָ֨הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Godאֱלֹהֵֽי־H430Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֜לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerdeliveredוַ֠יִּתֵּןH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularSihonסִיח֧וֹןH5511Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerand allכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructhis peopleעַמּ֛וֹH5971Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularinto the handבְּיַ֥דH3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularwho defeated themוַיַּכּ֑וּםH5221Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural | third person masculine pluralSo Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֵ֚תH853Direct object markertook possession ofוַיִּירַשׁ֙H3423Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe landאֶ֣רֶץH776Noun - feminine singularof the Amoritesהָאֱמֹרִ֔יH567Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularwho inhabitedיוֹשֵׁ֖בH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularthatהַהִֽיא׃H1931Article | Pronoun - third person feminine singularcountryהָאָ֥רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singular
Verse 22

Original words

seizingוַיִּ֣ירְשׁ֔וּH3423Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural-אֵ֖תH853Direct object markerallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthe landגְּב֣וּלH1366Noun - masculine singular construct. . .הָאֱמֹרִ֑יH567Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularfromוּמִן־H4480Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe Arnonמֵֽאַרְנוֹן֙H769Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singulartoוְעַד־H5704Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe Jabbokהַיַּבֹּ֔קH2999Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularand from the wildernessהַמִּדְבָּ֖רH4057Article | Noun - masculine singulartoוְעַד־H5704Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃H3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.