Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 10:17
Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
17. On this and the following verse see above. The Ammonites occupied the district which lay to the N.E. of Moab, bordered by the eastern desert. Their chief city was Rabbath-ammon, in Greek Philadelphia, now ‘Ammn, near the source of the Jabbok; their other cities (Jdg 11:33, 2Sa 12:31) were insignificant. Like the Moabites, the Ammonites were regarded as akin to Israel, but with feelings of repugnance, Gen 19:36 ff.; probably also, like the Moabites, they spoke a language closely allied to that of Israel. In the days of Saul (1 Samuel 11) and David (2 Samuel 10-12) their hostility broke out afresh. The Bedouin on the edge of the Syrian desert have always been ready to plunder the agricultural country within reach.
encamped in Gilead ] Here apparently a city, cf. Hos 6:8, perhaps the modern Jal‘d, on the high ground a little S. of the Jabbok.
encamped in Mizpah ] Cf. Jdg 11:11; Jdg 11:34, apparently = Mizpeh of Gilead Jdg 11:29; the name (which belongs to several places) means ‘outlook point,’ LXX here , and implies a situation commanding a view; Jebel sha‘, near es-Salt, not far S. of Jal‘d, would suit the conditions. Among other sites proposed, that of al‘at er-Raba, N. of Jal‘d and of the Jabbok, may be mentioned. At Mizpah was a sanctuary of Jehovah, and the home of Jephthah (Jdg 11:11; Jdg 11:34). The Israelites gathered to the camp, but as yet they had no leader.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The historian, having related the preliminary incidents, now comes to the final issue which forms the subject matter of his narrative. On a certain occasion, as on many previous ones, the Ammonites were encamped in Gilead, with the intention of dispossessing the Israelites of the whole country, or at least as far as the river Jabbok Jdg 11:13, and of invading the West-Jordanic tribes. The children of Israel on the East of Jordan assembled together to resist them, and pitched their camp in Mizpeh. The narrative proceeds to detail what happened.
Mizpeh – , as its name, watch-tower or look-out indicates was situated on a height of Mount Gilead, and was, as such, a strong post. It is almost always written, THE Mizpeh, or watch-tower. Four or five places of the name occur in Scripture.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 17. The children of Ammon were gathered together] Literally, they cried against Israel-they sent out criers in different directions to stir up all the enemies of Israel; and when they had made a mighty collection, they encamped in Gilead.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
That Mizpeh which was beyond Jordan in Gad or Manasseh; of which see Gen 31:49; Jos 18:26; Jdg 10:17; 11:11,29,34. There were other cities of that name in Scripture.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17, 18. the children of Ammon weregathered togetherFrom carrying on guerrilla warfare, theAmmonites proceeded to a continued campaign. Their settled aim was towrest the whole of the trans-jordanic territory from its actualoccupiers. In this great crisis, a general meeting of the Israelitishtribes was held at Mizpeh. This Mizpeh was in eastern Manasseh (Jos11:3).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Then the children of Ammon were gathered together,…. By a crier, as Jarchi; they had passed over Jordan, as in Jud 10:9 and had been distressing three of the tribes of Israel on that side; but now being informed, by an herald at arms, that the children of Israel, on the other side Jordan, were risen up in defence of their country, rights, and liberties, the children of Ammon came back and crossed over Jordan again:
and encamped in Gilead; in the land of Gilead, part of which belonged to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the other part to the half tribe of Manasseh:
and the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped at Mizpeh: of which name there were several cities in the land of Israel, on both sides Jordan; this must design a place on the other side Jordan, either in the tribe of Gad or Manasseh, for it seems there was of this name in each, see Ge 31:49.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(17) Then.Rather, and, a general note of time.
Were gathered together.Literally, were cried together. Conclamati sunt.
In Mizpeh.A very common name, since it means watch-tower. This is doubtless the Mizpeh in Gilead (Jdg. 11:29; Jos. 11:3), also called Ramoth-Mizpeh, or Ramoth-Gilead (Jos. 13:26; Jos. 20:8). (Comp. Gen. 31:49).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
PREPARATIONS FOR WAR, Jdg 10:17-18.
These two verses serve as an introduction to the history of Jephthah, and ought not to have been separated from it by a division of chapters. Chapter 11 should have begun here.
17. Were gathered together Literally, let themselves be called together. Clarke’s rendering, they cried against Israel, is not allowable.
Gilead The mountainous tract of country on the east of the Jordan, extending from the northern end of the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee. In what particular part of this region the Ammonites encamped is not said, but probably at the southern base of Mount Gilead, (Jebel Osha,) or between that place and Rabbah, their capital. This whole region was wrested from the Ammonites and ruled by Jephthah. See map, page 234.
Mizpeh Probably identical with Mizpeh of Gilead, (Judges 2:29,) and the Ramoth-mizpeh of Jos 13:26, near or at the modern es-Salt. It was the great gathering place of the Israelites east of the Jordan. “About three miles northwest of es-Salt is the highest peak east of the Jordan, commanding one of the widest and most interesting views in the country.
Its top is broad and flat, and would form a fine gathering place for a nation of warriors. On its northern shape is an ancient ruin called Jiliad. It is probable that this is the true site of Mizpeh of Gilead, the gathering-place of the eastern tribes. Mizpeh was situated close to the frontier of the Ammonites, and apparently near their capital, Rabbath, (Jdg 11:29😉 consequently it must have been on the south side of the Jabbok, and could not have been identical, as some have thought, with the Mizpeh where Jacob and Laban met. Gen 31:49.” Porter.
The Conflict With Ammon and The Rise and Victory of Jephthah ( Jdg 10:17 to Jdg 11:40 ).
Jdg 10:17 ‘Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead.’
It may well be that the Ammonites and their allies saw the religious reformation in Israel as an act of rebellion. The Ammonites had placed their gods in Gilead and now they had been torn down, and what was more, the people of Israel here had been consorting with others in their tribal confederacy (a result of the reformation). This could only spell danger. It may also be that they had withheld tribute. So the armies of Ammon and their allies invaded Gilead, and encamped there, to find out what was happening, and to frighten Gilead into submission. ‘Gilead’ here probably represents the whole of the Beyond Jordan tribes.
Jdg 10:17 b
‘And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped at Mizpah.’
In conformity with their renewed faith in Yahweh, and recognising that they must prepare to fight with Ammon, Israel also gathered together and set up camp. ‘Israel’ here probably means the Beyond Jordan tribes. But they had one problem, they needed a champion.
Mizpah. The word means ‘watchtower’. There were thus a number of Mizpahs. This one was in Gilead and was where Jephthah set up house. It may be the same as Ramath-Mizpeh – ‘the height of Mizpah’ (Jos 13:26). Some have thus connected it with Ramoth Gilead, but this is uncertain.
Repentance followed by energy, concord, and mutual confidence.
Jdg 10:17-18.
17Then [And] the children [sons] of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children [sons] of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh [Mizpah]. 18And the people and princes [the people (namely) the chiefs] of Gilead said one to another, What man is he [Who is the man] that will [doth] begin to fight against the children [sons] of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
EXEGETICAL AND DOCTRINAL
The call of Gideon to be a deliverer took place just when the national distress was at its greatest height, and Midian had entered on a new expedition of pillage and plunder. A like coincidence marked the present crisis. The sons of Ammon were just making a new incursion into Gilead, when they met with a new spirit. The signature of apostasy and sin, is discord and weakness, despondency and self-seeking, issuing in failure and disaster, whenever action be undertaken. The sign of conversion and true penitence is concord and confidence, leading, by Gods assistance, to victory.
Jdg 10:17. And the sons of Ammon were gathered together . . . . the sons of Israel also assembled themselves. The phrase sons of Israel does not always include all the tribes. The men of any single tribe may be so designated. The narrator uses the expression here, however, in order to intimate that though Gilead alone actually engages in the war it is nevertheless done as Israel, according to the mind and spirit of the whole nation. As soon as Israel repents, the collective national spirit, the consciousness of national unity through the calling of God, reawakes in each of the tribes. The localities at which the respective armies are said to have assembled and prepared for the conflict, will be considered under Jdg 11:29.
Jdg 10:18. And the body of the nobles of Gilead said. The hitherto cowed Israelites assembled themselves; but that was not all: they were moreover united in all they did. The narrative says expressly , the people of the nobles of Gilead, i. e. all, without exception.7 No envious, self-seeking voice of protest or dissent was heard. In times in which distress is recognized with real repentance, private interests cease to govern. People then begin to honor truth and actual merit. No deference is then paid to personal vanity, family connections, or wealth; but, all by-views and self-seeking being set aside, he is sought after who renders service. The nobles of Gilead could not more clearly indicate their new temper, than by unitedly promising to subordinate themselves to him who begins to render the banners of Israel once more victorious, as their head.
It is to be noted that they say, whoso beginneth to fight against the sons of Ammon. In him who first again gains an advantage over the enemy in battle, it will be manifest that God is with him. He, accordingly, is to be, not what Gideons legions desired him to become, their , ruler, nor what the sinful people of Shechem made of Abimelech, their , king, but their , leader. Him, who conquers with God, they desire to follow unanimously, as a common head.
And this one soon appeared.
Footnotes:
[7][Dr. Cassel evidently takes as stat. const. Scarcely correct. First, because of the article (cf. Ges. Gram. 110, 2); and, secondly, because never stands for the mere notion of totality. It is better to take as standing in apposition to ; the people (namely) the chiefs of Gilead, i. e. the people through their chiefs, as represented by them.Tr.]
When the Lord is about to appear for the deliverance of his people, he soon raiseth instruments for the purpose. That is a blessed scripture, for the encouragement of God’s afflicted ones in all ages, when the Lord hath prepared their minds for his mercy; we may be sure that the mercy is prepared for them. For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy; now will I arise, saith the Lord. Psa 12:5 .
Jdg 10:17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
Ver. 17. Then the children of Ammon were gathered together. ] But, that they might be “broken in pieces” Isa 8:9
And the children of Israel assembled. gathered = gathered by proclamation. Note the extended alternation in this verse “children, gathered, encamped”.
Turning to a Rejected Leader
Jdg 10:17-18; Jdg 11:1-11
The life of Jephthah is a great consolation to those whose birth has been irregular. The sin of his parents was not allowed permanently to injure his career. He is also distinctly mentioned in Heb 11:1-40 as one of the heroes of faith. See Eze 18:14-17.
Driven from his home, Jephthah took to the life of a bandit-chieftain, probably in much the same fashion as David in after-years when he protected, for payment, the cattle of the Hebrew grazers from Ammonite forays. See 1Sa 25:15. Jephthahs wife apparently had died; but his sweet and noble daughter grew up amid that wild horde, and they were all in all to each other. As David influenced a similar band, so did this father and child lift the tone and morale of their followers, until the story of it filled the land and brought the, elders, who years before had sided with Jephthahs brethren, to entreat him to lead the fight for freedom. What a beautiful suggestion of our Lord! He came to His own and they crucified Him. He comes to us and we at first refuse Him. But His love never faileth. Being reviled, He blesses; being persecuted, He endures; being defamed, He entreats, 1Co 4:12.
gathered together: Heb. cried together
Mizpeh: Jdg 11:11, Jdg 11:29, Gen 31:49
Reciprocal: Jos 13:26 – Ramathmizpeh Jos 18:26 – Mizpeh Jdg 3:31 – Israel Jdg 11:5 – made war Jdg 11:34 – Mizpeh Jdg 20:1 – in Mizpeh
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Fuente: A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical by Lange
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge