1. Another round of the vicious cycle 10:6-16)

a) Israel again deed evil/sight/Lord by serving the Baal, Ashtaroth & the gods of surrounding nations.

b) The Lord’s anger burned against them. He sold them into the hands of 2 nations from opposite sides. Philistines –
west, Ammon – east (this section). They were greatly distressed for 18 years.

c) When they cried out to the Lord & confessed their sin, He pointed out the many times He delivered them only to
be forsaken again. He refused to help & told them to cry out to the gods they had chosen.

d) Israel again confessed their sin, urgently pleaded for help, put away their gods & began to serve the Lord. “He
could bear the misery of Israel no longer” – God’s compassion for His undeserving people.

2. Desperate for a leader (10:17-11:11)

a) Ammon gathered its forces in Gilead for another attack. Israel gathered but had no one to lead.

b) Jephthah was a valiant warrior from Tob in the NE. Since he was the son of a harlot, his half-brothers drove him
away. Worthless fellows gathered around him & developed into a formidable force.

c) The elders/Gilead invited Jephthah to become their chief/military leader & fight Ammon. When Jephthah pointed
to their earlier hatful treatment of driving/allowing him to be drive away, they expressed their willingness to
make him head in Gilead.

d) Jephthah expressed faith in the Lord- “the Lord gives” & wanted their word he would be head. The elders called
the Lord as witness that this would happen. He was given this position before the Lord.

3. Sincere attempt at negotiations (11:12-28)

a) Jephthah negotiated with the king/Ammon. The King charged Israel with stealing his land & demanded it back
peacefully.

b) Jephthah gave an accurate report of what happened historically. Israel did not take any land from Edom, Moab or
Ammon. However, the Lord gave the territory of the Amorites to His people (vs. 21-24). At that time
Balak/Moab did not contest this land (which formerly was taken from them, Num. 21:27f), nor did Ammon for
the 300 years Israel occupied this land.

c) He declared he had not sinned against Ammon, but Ammon was wronging them by making war. He called on the
Lord, the Judge to judge this disagreement. The king did not listen. Negotiation failed – war was inevitable.

4. The Lord gives victory (11:29-33)

a) “The Spirit/Lord came upon Jephthah (3:10 Othniel). He gathered his army. Since he wanted to be sure of the
Lord’s help in battle, he vowed if he was victorious, whatever/whoever came out of his house when he returned
he would give to the Lord & offer it as a burnt offering (total dedication).

b) “The Lord gave” Ammon into his hand. He struck them with a great slaughter and recovered 20 cities. Ammon
was subdued (4:23) before Israel.