So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.
Here is, I. The distress which the children of Israel were in upon the Ammonites' invasion of their country, Jdg 11:4. Probably this was the same invasion with that mentioned, Jdg 10:17, when the children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in or against Gilead.
Commenting on Judges 11:4-11
Then Jephthah went with the elders of Israel,.... From the land of Tob into the land of Gilead, his native country: and the people made him head and captain over them; ratified and confirmed what the elders had promised, and by a general unanimous vote appointed him both to be the captain of their forces, and to be the chief ruler and governor of them.
THE GILEADITES COVENANT WITH JEPHTHAH. (Jdg 11:4-11) in process of time--on the return of the season. the children of Ammon made war against Israel--Having prepared the way by the introduction of Jephthah, the sacred historian here resumes the thread of his narrative from Jdg 10:17. The Ammonites seem to have invaded the country, and active hostilities were inevitable.
Commenting on Judges 11:4-11