Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 11:7
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?
7. and drive me out of my father’s house ] See Jdg 11:2 n. Apparently custom allowed certain rights to the sons of concubines, as in the ancient Babylonian code of ammurabi; S. A. Cook, Moses and ammurabi, p. 141.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This gives a wider signification to Jdg 11:2-3, and shows that Jephthahs brethren include his fellow tribesmen.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Did not ye expel me out of my fathers house, and deprive me of all share in my fathers goods, which, though a bastard, was due to me? This expulsion of him was the act of his brethren; but he here ascribes it to the elders of Gilead; either because some of them were among these elders, as is very probable from the dignity of this family; or because this act, though desired and promoted by his brethren, was executed by the decree of the elders, to whom the determination of all controversies about inheritances belonged; and therefore it was their fault that they did not protect him from the injuries of his brethren, as their duty was.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7-9. Jephthah said, Did not ye hateme?He gave them at first a haughty and cold reception. It isprobable that he saw some of his brothers among the deputies.Jephthah was now in circumstances to make his own terms. With hisformer experience, he would have shown little wisdom or prudencewithout binding them to a clear and specific engagement to invest himwith unlimited authority, the more especially as he was about toimperil his life in their cause. Although ambition might, to acertain degree, have stimulated his ready compliance, it isimpossible to overlook the piety of his language, which creates afavorable impression that his roving life, in a state of socialmanners so different from ours, was not incompatible with habits ofpersonal religion.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead,…. In answer to their request; who though not backward to engage in the war with them, yet thought it proper to take this opportunity to upbraid them with their former unkindness to him:
did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? for it seems some of these elders at least were his brethren; for who else could be thought to hate him, and through hatred to thrust him out of his father’s house, but they? nor is it at all improbable that they were among the elders of Gilead, considering what family they were of: though indeed the magistrates of the city might be assisting to Jephthah’s brethren in the expulsion of him, or however connived at it, when they should, as he thought, have protected him, and taken care that he had justice done him; for even though illegitimate, a maintenance was due to him:
and why are ye come unto me now, when ye are in distress? intimating, that it was not love and respect to him, but necessity, that brought them to him with this request; and that since they used him so ill, they could not reasonably expect he should have any regard unto them.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Jephthah expressed to the elders his astonishment that they had formerly hated and expelled him, and now came to him in their distress, sc., to make him their leader in time of war. Thus he lays his expulsion upon the shoulders of the elders of Gilead, although it was only by his brethren that he had been driven away from his father’s house, inasmuch as they had either approved of it, or at all events had not interfered as magistrates to prevent it. We cannot indeed infer from this reproach, that the expulsion and disinheriting of Jephthah was a legal wrong; but so much at all events is implied, namely, that Jephthah looked upon the thing as a wrong that had been done to him, and found the reason in the hatred of his brethren. The Mosaic law contained no regulation upon this matter, since the rule laid down in Deu 21:15-17 simply applied to the sons of different wives, and not to a son by a harlot.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(7) Did not ye hate me?The elders of Gilead must at least have permitted his expulsion by his brethren.
Therefore.i.e., with the express desire to repair the old wrong.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
7. Did not ye hate me Jephthah treats all the Gileadites as partakers in the abuse and violence which expelled him from his father’s house. Probably the act of Gilead’s sons in thrusting out Jephthah was generally approved by the elders, for in the next verse they seem to acknowledge their wrong.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me, and drive me from my father’s house? And why are you now come to me, when you are in distress?” ’
Jephthah’s reply demonstrates that in his time of need he had found no help from the elders. They had sided with Gilead’s true born sons and had had no time for his bastard. He had been in distress but they had been stony-faced and unwilling to help. Why did they now think that when they were in distress he would be any different? Why should he listen to them?
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
If the Reader connects with this view of Jephthah, the history of Joseph with his brethren, he will discover some similarity. But if he spiritualizeth the subject with a greater than Joseph, and recollects how the Lord Jesus was despised of his brethren, of whom it is said, that neither did they believe on him, he will find a greater beauty still. Joh 7:3-5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
“Handfuls of Purpose”
For All Gleaners
“Why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress? ” Jdg 11:7 .
A proper inquiry to address to all applicants. A rebuke is implied in the terms of the question. The men had not come before. Up to this time they had disowned Jephthah; now in distress they wished to make use of him. Circumstances test friendships and the reality and unselfishness of appeals. God is always exposed to this kind of prayer. Why thus ill-treat and dishonour God in the very act, as we suppose, of recognising his existence and goodness? God does not ask us why we have come to him, but why we have come to him in distress; the coming itself is right, but the time namely, the time of distress may give peculiar significance to our approach. This is a great hold which God has upon the human race. The time of distress comes in every life, and in that hour men ask the greatest questions, and are, as it were, forced into the exercise of prayer. When pain seizes the body, or when difficulty perplexes the circumstances, when severe family affliction clouds the house, when death has sent its forecast into the heart of the family, then men may begin to cry out for the living God. God interrogates us, as Jephthah interrogated the elders of Gilead. Our answer must often be one of pitiful humiliation. God does not intend to disown us or repel us by asking the question; his purpose is to make us acquainted with ourselves, and to show us how complex is the structure and action of human motives. Selfishness cannot pray. Selfishness can beg, implore, intreat, whine, and make tragical appeals; but selfishness cannot get near enough to God to commune with him, or in the true sense to ask a favour at his hands. The prayers of the wicked are an abomination unto the Lord. If the prayer of our selfishness is answered, it is not because it is a selfish prayer, but because of God’s infinite graciousness.
Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker
Jdg 11:7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father’s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?
Ver. 7. Did not ye hate me, and expel me? ] It may be some of his brethren were elders, or at least they cast him out formula iuris, by an order of the elders giving judgment against him.
And why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Did not ye hate: Gen 26:27, Gen 37:27, Gen 45:4, Gen 45:5, Pro 17:17, Isa 60:14, Act 7:9-14, Rev 3:9
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 11:7. Did ye not hate me, and expel me And deprive me of all share in my fathers goods, which, though a bastard, was due to me? This expulsion of him was the act of his brethren; but he here ascribes it to the elders of Gilead; either because some of his brethren were among these elders, as is very probable from the dignity of this family; or because this act, though desired by his brethren, was executed by the decree of the elders, to whom the determination of all controversies about inheritances belonged; and therefore it was their faults they did not protect him from the injuries of his brethren.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
11:7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and {f} expel me out of my father’s house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?
(f) Often those things which men reject, God chooses to do great enterprises by.