The Ammonite Invasion

By the time Abimelech became king some of the Israelites had turned away from God, worshipping a god called Berith, as mentioned in Judges 9:46.  Abimelech’s destruction of Shechem and his death, coupled with the leadership by Tola and Jair suppressed the spread of idolatry for another forty five years, but when Jair died, It quickly became a problem, as Judges 10:6 describes.  “And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.”   

 

Their idolatry led to attacks by the Philistines on the west and Invasion by the Ammonites on the east, as Judges 10:7-9 describes.  “And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.  And that year they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.  Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.”

 

While the younger generations had heard stories about how bad the Midianite occupation had been and how God had delivered them, they were just stories.  They had not experienced it for themselves and the stories made little impression until they began to feel what it was like when God was not protecting them.  Finally, they began to consider the stories and seek his help, in Judges 10:10.  “And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.”

 

God not immediately deliver them, wanting to drive home their dependence on him, as Judges 10:11-14 tells us.  “And the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?  The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.  Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will deliver you no more.  Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.”

 

When they got serious about serving the Lord, putting their idols away, he took pity on them as Judges 10:15-16 tells us.  “And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.  And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.”

 

The land of Gilead lay between Ammon and Israel, so the Trans-Jordan tribes in Gilead bore the brunt of the invasion.  They began to look for someone to lead their forces against the Ammonites, in Judges 10:17-18.  “Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.  And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

 

Many years before, a man named Gilead had had a son by a prostitute, and  Gilead’s legitimate sons had driven him away, as Judges 11:1-3 describes.  “Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.  And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.  Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.”

 

Jepthah had gathered a following among those who had no serious business of their own, and when the Ammonites invaded they realized he was their best hope, in Judges 11:4-6.  “And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.  And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.”

 

After the way they had treated him, Jephthah was hesitant about going back, questioning them, in Judges 11:7-11.  “And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?

 

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

 

And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?

 

And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.  Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.”  Convinced they would no longer treat him like dirt, Jephthah went with them, praying for guidance.