John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel , etc.] 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.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-11 - Men ought not to be blamed for their parentage, so long as they by their personal merits roll away any reproach. God had forgiven Israel therefore Jephthah will forgive. He speaks not with confidence of his success, knowing how justly God might suffer the Ammonites to prevai for the further punishment of Israel. Nor does he speak with an confidence at all in himself. If he succeed, it is the Lord deliver them into his hand; he thereby reminds his countrymen to look up to God as the Giver of victory. The same question as here, in fact, is put to those who desire salvation by Christ. If he save you, will ye be willing that he shall rule you? On no other terms will he save you. I he make you happy, shall he make you holy? If he be your helper, shal he be your Head? Jephthah, to obtain a little worldly honour, wa willing to expose his life: shall we be discouraged in our Christia warfare by the difficulties we may meet with, when Christ has promise a crown of life to him that overcometh?
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 כאשׁר834 נלחמו3898 בני1121 עמון5983 עם5973 ישׂראל3478 וילכו1980 זקני2205 גלעד1568 לקחת3947 את853 יפתח3316 מארץ776 טוב׃2897
