11:1-3 Jephthah was born to a man and a prostitute. But Jephthah grew up among his brothers who were recognized as legitimate children of his father (they were the children of Jephthah's father's wife). He was not accepted by his brothers and fled Gilead to save his life. Like Abimelech once had, Jephthah began to live and work with a group of reckless men living a violence lifestyle.
11:4-7 At this point in Israel's history, they have once again abandoned God. Their lifestyles are in turmoil. Even the "good" among them, are really not all that good. The people of Ammon make war against Israel and they turn to Jephthah for help; they ask him to be their commander.
11:7 Jephthah rhetorically asks: Don't you hate me? Didn't you cause me to run away? Why do you want me now? All natural reactions. Jephthah is imperfect, as we all are, but perhaps his brothers rejection of him from an early age contributed to him becoming a raider and associating with "worthless" men.
11:8 The elders of Gilead tell Jephthah that they have come to him for help. They wish for him to be their commander in the war against Ammon.
11:9-11 Jephthah wants to know if becoming their commander will establish him as head of the children of Israel. The elders agree to keep their word and establish Jephthah as their head.
11:12 Jephthah opens the line of communication between Israel and Ammon. He asks the king of Ammon why they have declared war against the children of Israel.
11:13 The king of Ammon responds: their complaint against Israel is that they believe Israel has taken their land. They want it back.
11:14-18 The keys words in this verse are "Thus says Jephthah." Jephthah did not take counsel with God. Jephthah's response is denial. He explains that the children of Israel did not take away their land; instead, they tried to pass through their land but were refused. He explains that the children of Israel camped outside of their land.
11:19-22 Jephthah explains that in Israel's defeat over Sihon, they took possession of the territory.
11:23-24 Jephthah tells the king of Ammon that the children of Israel followed their God, just as the Ammonites follow theirs. Jephthah also subtly mocks the Ammonite's god, as their inanimate god has not actually lead them anywhere.
11:25-28
New King James Version Study Bible commentary 11:12-28
A lengthy account now covers diplomatic negotiations between Jephthah and the Ammonites, consisting largely of an impressive speech from Jephthah through messengers to the king of Ammon, answering the king’s charges against Israel. In this speech, Jephthah’s verbal gifts are readily apparent. Interestingly enough, Jephthah’s name means “He Opens.”
Israel took away my land: The Ammonites claimed that Israel had taken their land. Jephthah responded with a careful rebuttal. He declared that the Lord God of Israel Himself had dispossessed these peoples (vv. 21, 23, 24) and that Israel was not an aggressor but merely a recipient of the Lord’s generosity. The Ammonites had brought their misfortune upon themselves by hindering Israel’s advance into the Promised Land. Israel would not have taken Ammonite land, since God had expressly commanded them not to (Deut. 2:19).
Later, Sihon king of the Amorites had taken some Ammonite territory (Num. 21:26), and then Israel had taken Sihon’s land (Num. 21:25). Thus the Ammonites were only indirectly affected by Israel’s expansion. In addition, the Ammonites never really had true claim to the land to begin with; it was in fact the land of the Amorites (vv. 19–22). The limits of the Amorite land in v. 22 are precisely what the Ammonites claimed as theirs in v. 13 (Num. 21:24 also rebuts the Ammonites’ claim). Also, Israel had occupied the land in dispute for at least 300 years, long enough to make a legitimate claim on it (v. 26).
Jephthah ended his speech with an appeal to God to judge the opposing claims (v. 27).
11:29-33 The deep flaw in Jephthah's faith is revealed here. He promises God that we will sacrifice the first thing to walk into his house if God will win the battle for Israel. We must understand God's love! God does not require us to purchase His love and protection. He offers it freely... we need only to walk freely into it.
11:34-35 Jephthah's daughter is the first to walk through his door after the victory and he panics. He does not want to sacrifice his daughter. God does not want him to sacrifice his daughter. But Jephthah lives in a corrupt time and the Israelite's faith is so crooked that they do not understand the compassionate nature of their God. This is why we must spend time with Him, reflecting on the beautiful scripture He has given us.
11:36-40 Jephthah's daughter requests two months to say goodbye to life on earth. This would be unnecessary if either of them understood or were familiar with God.
