Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 11:5
And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:
5. And it was so against Israel ] These words, which merely repeat Jdg 11:4, presuppose that the history has already begun, and were perhaps inserted to connect with Jdg 10:17 f. In some recensions of the LXX they are wanting, in others Jdg 11:4 is omitted.
the elders of Gilead ] means no more than the sheikhs of the district.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
By direction or instinct from God, who both qualified him for and called him to the office of a judge. See Jdg 12:7; Heb 11:32. Otherwise they might not have chosen a bastard, Deu 23:2. Unless we will say, that there being no other person among them fit for and willing to this work, necessity dispensed with this law, as it did with other positive laws, as those of the sabbath and sacrifices.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5, 6. the elders of Gilead went tofetch JephthahAll eyes were directed towards him as the onlyperson possessed of the qualities requisite for the preservation ofthe country in this time of imminent danger; and a deputation of thechief men was despatched from the Hebrew camp at Mizpeh to solicithis services.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel,…. Were preparing for it, and had assembled their forces near them, and had began to make some efforts against them:
the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob; they did not send messengers to him, but went themselves, partly to show greater respect to him, and partly in hopes of better success, being aware of objections he would make, which they could better answer themselves than a deputation.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) When the children of Ammon made war.The allusion is to some special threat of invasion (acriter instantibus, Vulg.) at the close of the eighteen years of oppression (Jdg. 10:9).
To fetch Jephthah.Because by this time he had made himself a great name as a brave and successful chieftain of marauders, who would doubtless come with him to lead the Gileadites.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Elders of Gilead went These were doubtless delegates from the assembly of princes of Gilead, mentioned Jdg 10:18. There the question was raised, Who shall be our leader against Ammon? and this verse shows that their choice had fallen on Jephthah. His fame as a bold and warlike chieftain was doubtless the reason of this choice.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah from the land of Tob.’
Recognising the imminence of the coming main attack the elders swallowed their pride, and some went personally themselves to see Jephthah to plead with him to come to their assistance. Here was one trained fighting general who would know how to deal with the enemy. It had been one thing in a fit of zeal to destroy the Ammonite idols (Jdg 10:16) and withhold tribute, it was another thing now that war was inevitable and the size of the opposing army had been verified.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 11:5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:
Ver. 5. The elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah. ] Whereunto they were necessitated: for else a bastard might not bear office, Deu 23:2 for an admonition of chastity in regard of the infamy and contempt of such a polluted posterity. Upon a like necessity of the Catalinarian conspiracy breaking out in Rome, M. Tullius Cicero was made consul, though a new man, and none of the ancient nobility: which when it was objected unto him, he answered, Satius est meis gestis florere, quam maiorum opinione uti, &c., a that it was better to be a foundation of nobility to his posterity, and a pattern of virtue, than to be famous only for his noble ancestors. Two things he said he had to support him under whatsoever crosses or obloquies of men, Optimarum artium scientiam et maximarum rerum gloriam, b the knowledge of good arts, and the glory of his great acts: the one whereof should never be taken from him whilst alive; the other, no not when he was dead.
a Sallust.
b Epist. Famil., lib. vii.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
made war: Jdg 10:9, Jdg 10:17, Jdg 10:18
to fetch: 1Sa 10:27, 1Sa 11:6, 1Sa 11:7, 1Sa 11:12, Psa 118:22, Psa 118:23, Act 7:35-39, 1Co 1:27-29
Reciprocal: 2Sa 10:6 – Ishtob
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
11:5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the {d} elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:
(d) Or, ambassadors, sent for that purpose.