Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Judges 11

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 (Hebrews 11:32), though he had not such an extraordinary call as the rest there mentioned had. Here we have, I. The disadvantages of his origin, Judges 11:1-11:3. II. The Gileadites’ choice of him to be commander-in-chief against the Ammonites, and the terms he made with them, Judges 11:4-11:11. III. His treaty with the king of Ammon about the rights of the two nations, that the matter might be determined, if possible, without bloodshed, Judges 11:12-11:28. IV. His war with the Ammonites, which he enters upon with a solemn vow (Judges 11:29-11:31), prosecutes with bravery (Judges 11:32), and ends with a glorious victory, Judges 11:33. V. The straits he was brought into at his return to his own house by the vow he had made, Judges 11:34-11:40. MHBCC 223.1