Blog

by Katie Erickson

“Next they traveled through the wilderness, skirted the lands of Edom and Moab, passed along the eastern side of the country of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon. They did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was its border.
Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, and said to him, ‘Let us pass through your country to our own place.’ Sihon, however, did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. He mustered all his troops and encamped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.
Then the Lord, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and his whole army into Israel’s hands, and they defeated them. Israel took over all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country, capturing all of it from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan.
Now since the Lord, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before his people Israel, what right have you to take it over? Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the Lord our God has given us, we will possess. Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them?
For three hundred years Israel occupied Heshbon, Aroer, the surrounding settlements and all the towns along the Arnon. Why didn’t you retake them during that time? I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let the Lord, the Judge, decide the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.
The king of Ammon, however, paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him.” (Judges 11:18-28)

We’re continuing the story of Jephthah this week. You can read the context of his story here and here. At this point in the narrative, Jephthah is explaining to the Ammonites why Israel is occupying this particular area of land, after the Ammonites threatened to take it away from them.

When Israel had first come to this land, it was occupied by the Amorites. Israel fought against them, and Israel clearly won control of this land. There should be no conflict with the Ammonites or the Moabites, since Israel had clearly won possession of this land.

Back in those days, when there was a war, it was considered to be between the gods of the two lands. It was clear that God had given Israel this land by winning the battle for them. Therefore, the Ammonites should have no right to take it away. In verse 24, Jephthah refers to the god Chemosh. Chemosh was actually the god of Moab, but the nations of Moab and Ammon were very closely linked.

Finally Jephthah gives one more argument for Israel’s right to occupy the land: length of time. Israel had been in that land for over 300 years! That’s a pretty long time, and that should show that they have a valid claim to it.

Jephthah closes his discussion by saying that God is the one who will decide who gets this land in verse 27: “I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let the Lord, the Judge, decide the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.” Jephthah shows his faith in God here, that whatever God decides, that’s the way things should be.

So, Jephthah spends all this time clearly stating his argument to the king of Ammon, and he sets up a pretty good case for why Israel should stay in the land and Ammon should just drop the issue. But then in verse 28, “The king of Ammon, however, paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him.”

Jephthah truly tried to work things out before going to battle with Ammon. But even when we try our best to have a civil discussion to avoid a worse argument, there are times that the other party just won’t listen. When these times happen, that’s when we need to do as Jephthah did, and let God be the judge. Listen to what God is telling you to do in that situation, and trust Him that He is in control and will judge the situation and work out the outcome fairly - at least fair according to God’s plan.

This forum is meant to foster discussion and allow for differing viewpoints to be explored with equal and respectful consideration.  All comments are moderated and any foul language or threatening/abusive comments will not be approved.  Users who engage in threatening or abusive comments which are physically harmful in nature will be reported to the authorities.