Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 11:20
But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
20. Jahaz ] Num 21:23, Deu 2:32; a strong place on the high table-land ( mshor) of Moab (Jer 48:21), in the country north of the Arnon given to Reuben (Jos 13:18 P), near Kedmoth (Jos 21:36 f.), and thus in the S.E. of Sihon’s territory, between Dibon and Medebah (Euseb., Onom. 264, 96); but the exact site is unknown. Generally it was a Moabite city (Moabite Stone, lines 19, 20, Isa 15:4, Jer 48:34).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
So Sihon was the aggressor or beginner of the war; and the Israelites were forced to it for their own defence.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through, his coast,…. For fear they should seize upon his dominions, and retain them; and the more fearful he might be, as he knew that his people were one of the seven nations of the Canaanites, whose land they were going to possess, and whom they were to destroy:
but Sihon gathered all his people together; in some certain place, and armed them, and went out in an hostile manner against Israel in the wilderness, to attack them; whereby it appears that he was the aggressor, and therefore Israel was not to be blamed, as not for fending themselves, so neither for seizing and possessing his country when they had conquered him:
and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel; there was a battle between them at the place mentioned, and the victory was on Israel’s side, see Nu 21:23.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(20) Trusted not Israel.Sihon did not believe their promise to pass peacefully through his land.
Pitched in Jahaz.Num. 21:33; Isa. 15:4; Jer. 48:3. The site of the battle has not been ascertained.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
“ But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his border. But Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. And Yahweh, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them. So Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.”
Jephthah stressed that they had been forced to fight Sihon and the Amorites against their will. But that when they had had to do so, Yahweh had delivered it into their hands. It had thus clearly been Yahweh’s intention that they should have the land. So they had divine rights to it. Then he carefully stressed that it was the Amorites who were the actual inhabitants of the country at that time, not the Moabites, so that Israel had not taken it from Moab but from its inhabitants, from the Amorites.
He also probably hoped that the king of Ammon would note in passing what had happened to Sihon and the Amorites as a result of them confronting Yahweh.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 11:20 But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
Ver. 20. See Trapp on “ Jdg 11:19 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
trusted = stayed or rested on. See App-69.
coast = border.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Num 21:23, Deu 2:32, Lord God, Neh 9:22, Psa 135:10-12, Psa 136:17-21, they smote, Num 21:24, Num 21:25, Deu 2:33, Deu 2:34, so Israel, Jos 13:15-32
Reciprocal: Num 20:20 – Thou shalt Deu 2:30 – for the Lord Isa 15:4 – Jahaz
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
11:20 But Sihon {g} trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.
(g) He trusted them not to go through his country.