FROM BEING JUDGED TO BEING THE JUDGE (JUDGES 11:1-33)
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The closest I was caught up in chaos was when the MTR in Hong Kong suddenly closed all the rail system at 430 p.m. (October 6, 2019) because of the battle between protesters and the police. I was having high tea near church with four young men when church coworkers broke the news in our chat group. After finishing our meal we made sure the non-native young man living furthest away from church could get to the bus depot and get in line.
The street by then was filled with protesters and pedestrians trying to get away just in case the police were coming. The buses were full and the passengers were moody, so the last young man and I walked as fast as we could to the next major shopping center (Mei Foo) to board a bus that took us to our destination another two train stops away, where we boarded a bus safely to my island residence. It was a harrowing and unforgettable experience!
The young man who lived furthest away got home two hours later because of the crowded streets and passengers. Another two young men with us walked one and a half hours home. A church staff in our department took four hours to catch a bus home. A person in a different fellowship walked more than five hours home!
The book of Judges was the scene of the most chaotic, cruel, crippling, catastrophic and calamitous period in Israel’s history. One of the judges featured in the book was Jephthah, who was one of the saddest, strongest but “sickest” characters in the Bible. Bullied at home in Gilead that was east of the Jordan and north of the Ammonites, he bonded with outsiders, battled Ammonite foes and brought outright victory to Israel. Like other judges, however, he was as unruly, unpredictable and unwise as it comes, and it caught up to him at home, where it all began.
While we are not immune to society’s upheavals, how are we to safeguard our sanity in an upside down world? What are the values we hold to? Why are we to do what is right in the Lord’s eyes, and not in our own eyes?
Survive Your Setbacks
1 Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. His father was Gilead; his mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead's wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a group of adventurers gathered around him and followed him.
It is related that Michelangelo, the famous Italian sculptor, painter, and poet, once stood before a great block of marble that had been rejected by builders and cast aside. As he stood there with eyes staring straight at the marble, a friend approached and asked what he was looking at. “An angel,” came the reply. He saw what the mallet, the chisel, and patient skill could do with that rejected stone. He set to work and produced one of his masterpieces. Likewise, God sees possibilities in us. (illustrations of Bible Truths # 636)
Strong warrior (v 1) or not, Jephthah’s story is different from most folks’ story in the Bible - more miserable because he was the “son of an harlot” (KJV), a first in the Bible. He had no choice in or counsel for his background and his mother was presumably dead. His upbringing must be tough, tumultuous and troubling. Harlot and Gilead’s wife (v 2) are contrasts, suggesting the present wife and her sons (plural) wanted nothing to do with him or his tainted background. He was ridiculed and resented by family, clan and neighbors but the greatest insult was the family saying, “Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman” (KJV) in verse 2. The reason (gar) was straightforward, but subtle. The adjective “another” or “strange” comes from the root word “after” (acher), which can be translated as stay (Gen 32:4), defer (Gen 34:19), delay (Ex 22:29), slack (Deut 7:10), tarry (Judg 5:28), late (Ps 127:2) and (Isa 5:11).
The speculation and slight included his mother’s reputation outside and rank at home. Many commentators suggested his mother was a concubine, a foreigner, or even both. Notice the contrast of “our father” (v 3) and “strange/another woman.” Not only did the brothers reject Jephthah because of his mother, they refused him a part to the inheritance his father.
The strong warrior Jephthah could not believe or bear the scolding, shame and struggle he had at home, so he gladly fled (v 3). The verb “fled” implied he was out of place, out of favor and out of sight. He was in a hurry and undoubtedly glad to go. “Scoundrels” (v 3) is also translated as “vain men” (KJV) and they are never any good in the Bible (Judg 9:4, 2 Sam 6:20, 2 Chron 13:7, Prov 12:11, 28:19). Holman called them men “lawless men,” but most versions, including the NASB, RSV and even the New KJV simply called them “worthless fellows.” Even unworthy, ungainly and unfamiliar men were much better than his bullying and blunt family. It is so ironic that the land of Tob (“good”) was associated with no-good men. It was supposed to be nearby Jordan River, to the outskirt countryside as far away as possible from his ancestral home.
Soften Your Stance
4 Some time later, when the Ammonites made war on Israel, 5 the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 “Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.” 7 Jephthah said to them, “Didn't you hate me and drive me from my father's house? Why do you come to me now, when you're in trouble?” 8 The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be our head over all who live in Gilead.” 9 Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me - will I really be your head?” 10 The elders of Gilead replied, “The Lord is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.
Here are some refreshing leadership quotes:
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams
“If you are boss or are taking control of a bad situation, you are a leader. If you follow the crowd, you are a sheep.”
“Leadership is about making others better as a result of your presence and making sure that impact lasts in your absence.” (Harvard Business School definition of leadership)
“If you are willing to stand up, speak out and step up, then you are a leader.”Brett Esslinger
“You are a leader if, and only if, you are restless for change, impatient for progress, and deeply dissatisfied with the status quo.” Carmine Gallo
“True leaders don’t create followers. They create more leaders.”
“Great leaders don’t set out to be leaders. They set out to make a difference.”
Judges 11 is the most combative and confrontational chapter in the Bible because the verb “fight/war” occurs 11 times in the chapter (vv 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 12, 20, 25 twice, 27, 32), more than Joshua’s battle against the five kings of the Amorites (Josh 10:5, 14, 25, 29, 31, 36, 38, 42), which will be mentioned later in the chapter.
Jephthah was straight, square and sharp with the elders. The verb “hate” (v 6) is translated as enemies (Ex 1:10), foes (Est 9:16) and odious (Prov 30:23). He exposed his raw emotions, explored their thorny past and expected the matter solved. The verb “expel” is a forceful piel stem, meaning “surely,” “evidently” or “certainly” drove him out or thrust him out. His purpose was not to dig out the past, but to deal with the past. Could his people forgive and forget the heated, hostile and hurtful past? Jephthah reclaimed his father’s house – “my father” (v 4) - without mentioning the inheritance. He was more interested in the name, identity and recognition rather than the land, property and enemies. Ironically and inexplicably, his inheritance was bigger now as the head (v 8, 11) and captain (v 11) of the whole clan – with “captain” as the military leader.
Jephthah, to his credit, did not ask for the task, the truce or the title even though he had to set the record straight and correct any possible misunderstanding. He did nothing but asked questions (vv 7, 9). Curiously readers did not have the privilege to hear what Jephthah say before the Lord (v 10), but he was now received, respected and reassured, instead of being resisted, rejected and resented. He did not burn the bridge with his family, blame the elders for taking sides and buried the hatchet on the past. Thomas Constable noted that Jephthah used the name of Yahweh more frequently than any other person in Judges.
Show Your Strength
12 Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against us that you have attacked our country?” 13 The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah's messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took away my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, all the way to the Jordan. Now give it back peaceably.” 14 Jephthah sent back messengers to the Ammonite king, 15 saying: “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites. 16 But when they came up out of Egypt, Israel went through the desert to the Red Sea and on to Kadesh. 17 Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, 'Give us permission to go through your country,' but the king of Edom would not listen. They sent also to the king of Moab, and he refused. So Israel stayed at Kadesh. 18 “Next they traveled through the desert, 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. 19 “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.' 20 Sihon, however, did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. He mustered all his men and encamped at Jahaz and fought with Israel. 21 “Then the Lord, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his men into Israel's hands, and they defeated them. Israel took over all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country, 22 capturing all of it from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan. 23 “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? 24 Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the Lord our God has given us, we will possess. 25 Are you better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them? 26 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? 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.” 28 The king of Ammon, however, paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him. 29 Then the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites. 30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31 whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord's, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.” 32 Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands. 33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.
A serviceman wrote about a bit of unintended comedy he witnessed in the army. It happened during a company inspection at the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, the U.S. Army’s guided missile school. The inspection was being conducted by a full colonel. Everything had gone smoothly until the officer came to the man standing just next to the soldier who recalled the incident.
The colonel stopped, looked the man up and down, and snapped, “Button that pocket, trooper!”
The soldier, more than a little rattled, stammered, “Right now, sir?”
“Of course right now!” was the reply.
Whereupon the soldier very carefully reached out and buttoned the flap on the colonel’s shirt pocket.
The Ammonites grew in power from collaboration with Moabites and Amalekites (Judg 3:12-13) and then with Philistines (Judg 10:7), but presently striding out on their own to attack Israel (Judg 10:9). Not only did they attack Gilead, they afflicted (v 7) them. Not only did they cause mayhem, they caused misery (10:16). Not only did they cause dread, they caused “distress” (11:7, KJV) – its first in the book and in the new settlement.
Jephthah reasoned with the Ammonites in vain. The differences between the three kings were the three “not” - that the king of Edom would “not listen/hearken” (v 17) even though war was averted (Num 20:20), while the king of Moab would “refused/not consent” (v 17) and the Amorites “not trust” (v 20) and “gathered” (v 20) all his men and “fought” Israel (Num 21:23)
Verse 21 marked the first time Israel “possessed” anything – from the Amorites, not the Ammonites, as alleged. Jephthah insulted the Ammonites by using twice the adjective “good” and “strive” (v 25) and judge (v 27). Big-hearted leader as he was, he used “I have sinned” (v 27) not “we have sinned,” taking the responsibility on his own shouders.
The phrase “the Spirit of the Lord” surprisingly occurs for the first time in Judges (Judg 3:10, 6:34, 13:25, 14:6, 19, 15:14), and more than any book in the Bible. Verse 33’s Minnith,is eastward (Josh 11:8), all the way to Moab (1 Sam 22:3). Even though Jephthah was a warrior, he could not do it with supernatural help and the children of Israel (v 33) and with help from the scoundrels (v 3) for a reason: the Spirit of the Lord would not share His glory with anyone, worthless or mighty men. The greatest tribute or honor to Jephthah was that his victory over the Ammonites was compared to Joshua’s “very great slaughter” (KJV, v 33) over the five kings of the Amorites (Josh 10:20), but unlike Joshua, Jephthah had no twelves tribes backing him. It was a feat unimaginable because Gilead over east of Jordan was not a tribe but just a region or place, as opposed to Ephraim and Manasseh which the Gileadites will have to battle with later (Judg 12:4). Gilead could stand for the mountains east of Jordan, the land East of Jordan or for the tribe of Gad (Judg 5:17), according to International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia.
Conclusion: Have you made peace with your own background? Are there things unearthed, unsettled and unreconciled? Do you know how to talk to people, work with others and live with them? Are you scared of commitment, connecting and cooperating? Have you worked on the art and skill of communication, confrontation and conflict?
