Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, “What have you to do with me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?”
Parallel translations
- KJV And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land?
- BSB Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?”
- NKJV Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, saying, “What do you have against me, that you have come to fight against me in my land?”
- NASB So Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, “What conflict do you and I have, that you have come to me to fight against my land?”
- NLT Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of Ammon, asking, “Why have you come out to fight against my land?”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jephthah sends envoys to the Ammonite king, asking why he wages war on Israel's land. He seeks a peaceful resolution first.
Overview
Before fighting, Jephthah opens diplomacy, challenging the basis of Ammon's aggression. His attempt at negotiation shows prudence and a desire to avoid needless bloodshed. The exchange that follows will rest Israel's case on history and on the LORD's prior dealings, modeling reasoned appeal before resorting to war.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Matt 18:15–16“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.
- Deut 2:26I sent messengers out of the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace, saying,
- Prov 25:8–9Don’t be hasty in bringing charges to court. What will you do in the end when your neighbor shames you?
- Num 21:21Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying,
- Num 20:14Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, saying: “Thus says your brother Israel: You know all the travail that has happened to us;
- Deut 20:10–11When you draw near to a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace to it.
- 2 Kgs 14:8–12Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.
How Judges 11:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.