This chapter gives as the history of Jephthah, another of Israel’s judges, and numbered among the worthies of the Old Testament, that by faith did great things , though he had not such an extraordinary call as the rest there mentioned had. Here we have, I. The disadvantages of his origin, Judg.

The princes and people of Gilead we left, in the close of the foregoing chapter, consulting about the choice of a general, having come to this resolve, that whoever would undertake to lead their forces against the children of Ammon should by common consent be head over all the inhabitants of…

Here is, I. The distress which the children of Israel were in upon the Ammonites’ invasion of their country, Judg. 11:4. Probably this was the same invasion with that mentioned, Judg. 10:17, when the children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in or against Gilead.

We have here the treaty between Jephthah, now judge of Israel, and the king of the Ammonites (who is not named), that the controversy between the two nations might, if possible, be accommodated without the effusion of blood. I.

We have here Jephthah triumphing in a glorious victory, but, as an alloy to his joy, troubled and distressed by an unadvised vow. I. Jephthah’s victory was clear, and shines very brightly, both to his honour and to the honour of God, his in pleading and God’s in owning a righteous cause. 1.