Judges 10:17--11:11
assembled <06817> [gathered together. Heb. cried together. Mizpeh.]
one <0376> [What man.]
leader <07218> [he shall be.]
Jephthah <03316> [Jephthah.]
[called Jephthae. a mighty.]
mother <0802> [an harlot. Heb. a woman, an harlot.]
Probably {zonah} should be rendered as in Jos 2:1, a hostess, or inn-keeper: so Targum of Jonathan, {wehoo bar ittetha pundekeetha,} "and he was the son of a woman, a tavern-keeper." She was very probably a Canaanite, as she is called, ver. 2, a strange woman, {ishah achereth,} "a woman of another race;" and on this account his brethren drove him from the family, as not having a full right to the inheritance.
<01644> [thrust out.]
another <0312> [a strange.]
half-brothers <06440 0251> [from his brethren. Heb. from the face of. Tob.]
Probably the same as Ish-Tob; and appears to have been a part of Syria, near Zobah, Rehob, and Maachah, east of Jordan, and in the most northern part of the portion of Manasseh. If so, it could not be far from Gilead, the country of Jephthah. This country is called Tobie or Tubin, 1 Mac 5:13; and the Jews who inhabited this district Tubieni, 2 Mac 12:17. 2 Sa 10:6.
Lawless men <07386 0582> [vain men.]
time <03117> [A.M. 2817. B.C. 1187. An. Ex. Is. 304. in process of time.]
Heb. after days.
attacked <03898> [made war.]
<03947> [to fetch.]
hated <08130> [Did not ye hate.]
leaders <02205> [the elders.]
we pledge <07725> [we turn.]
back <07725> [If ye bring.]
Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
grievance ... have <08085> [be witness. be the hearer.]
do <06213> [if we do.]
leader <07218> [head.]
repeated <01696> [uttered.]
Jephthah ................ Jephthah repeated <01696 03316> [Jephthah uttered.]
That is, upon his elevation, he immediately retired to his devotion, and in prayer spread the whole matter before God, both his choice to the office, and his execution of the office, as one that had his eye ever toward the Lord, and would do nothing without him; that leaned not to his own understanding or courage, but depended on the Almighty God, and his favour. This is an ensample worthy of universal imitation; in All Our Ways, whether great or apparently subordinate, let us acknowledge God and seek his direction. So shall we make our way prosperous, and obtain that peace which passeth all understanding. Jephthah opened his campaign with prayer.
before <06440> [before.]
Mizpah <04709> [Mizpeh.]
This Mizpeh was east of Jordan in the mountains of Gilead (Ge 31:49); and hence called Mizpeh of Gilead (ver. 29), to distinguish it from another place of the same name, west of Jordan, in the tribe of Judah.
