Judges 11:23
New International Version
“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?

New Living Translation
“So you see, it was the LORD, the God of Israel, who took away the land from the Amorites and gave it to Israel. Why, then, should we give it back to you?

English Standard Version
So then the LORD, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel; and are you to take possession of them?

Berean Standard Bible
Now since the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from before His people Israel, should you now possess it?

King James Bible
So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?

New King James Version
‘And now the LORD God of Israel has dispossessed the Amorites from before His people Israel; should you then possess it?

New American Standard Bible
And now the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from His people Israel; so should you possess it?

NASB 1995
‘Since now the LORD, the God of Israel, drove out the Amorites from before His people Israel, are you then to possess it?

NASB 1977
‘Since now the LORD, the God of Israel, drove out the Amorites from before His people Israel, are you then to possess it?

Legacy Standard Bible
So now Yahweh, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before His people Israel. Are you then to possess it?

Amplified Bible
And now the LORD God of Israel has dispossessed and driven out the Amorites from before His people Israel, so [why] should you possess it?

Christian Standard Bible
“The LORD God of Israel has now driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, and will you now force us out?

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD God of Israel has now driven out the Amorites before His people Israel, and will you now force us out?

American Standard Version
So now Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess them?

Contemporary English Version
The messengers also told the king of Ammon that Jephthah had said: The LORD God of Israel helped his nation get rid of the Amorites and take their land. Now do you think you're going to take over that same territory?

English Revised Version
So now the LORD, the God of Israel, hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess them?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"The LORD God of Israel forced the Amorites out of the way of his people Israel. So what right do you have to take it back?

Good News Translation
So it was the LORD, the God of Israel, who drove out the Amorites for his people, the Israelites.

International Standard Version
Now then, since the LORD God of Israel expelled the Amorites right in front of his people Israel, are you going to control their territory?

Majority Standard Bible
Now since the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from before His people Israel, should you now possess it?

NET Bible
Since the LORD God of Israel has driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, do you think you can just take it from them?

New Heart English Bible
So now the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess them?

Webster's Bible Translation
So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldst thou possess it?

World English Bible
So now Yahweh, the God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess them?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, YHWH, God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorite from the presence of His people Israel, and you would possess it!

Young's Literal Translation
'And now, Jehovah, God of Israel, hath dispossessed the Amorite from the presence of His people Israel, and thou wouldest possess it!

Smith's Literal Translation
And now Jehovah the God of Israel drove out the Amorites from the face of his people Israel, and shalt thou inherit it?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
So the Lord the God of Israel destroyed the Amorrhite, his people of Israel fighting against him, and wilt thou now possess this land?

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, it was the Lord, the God of Israel, who overthrew the Amorites, by means of his people Israel fighting against them. And now you wish to possess his land?

New American Bible
Now, then, it was the LORD, the God of Israel, who dispossessed the Amorites for his people, Israel. And you are going to dispossess them?

New Revised Standard Version
So now the LORD, the God of Israel, has conquered the Amorites for the benefit of his people Israel. Do you intend to take their place?
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So now after the LORD God of Israel has destroyed the Amorites from before his people Israel, are you to possess their land?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And behold, LORD JEHOVAH God destroyed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and are you inheriting them?
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
So now the LORD, the God of Israel, hath dispossessed the Amorites from before His people Israel, and shouldest thou possess them?

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now the Lord God of Israel has removed the Amorite from before his people Israel, and shalt thou inherit his land?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jephthah Delivers Israel
22seizing all the land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan. 23Now since the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites from before His people Israel, should you now possess it? 24Do you not possess whatever your god Chemosh grants you? So also, we possess whatever the LORD our God has granted us.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 2:24-25
“Arise, set out, and cross the Arnon Valley. See, I have delivered into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession of it and engage him in battle. / This very day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you upon all the nations under heaven. They will hear the reports of you and tremble in anguish because of you.”

Deuteronomy 2:31-33
Then the LORD said to me, “See, I have begun to deliver Sihon and his land over to you. Now begin to conquer and possess his land.” / So Sihon and his whole army came out for battle against us at Jahaz. / And the LORD our God delivered him over to us, and we defeated him and his sons and his whole army.

Numbers 21:21-24
Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, saying, / “Let us pass through your land. We will not turn aside into any field or vineyard, or drink water from any well. We will stay on the King’s Highway until we have passed through your territory.” / But Sihon would not let Israel pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered his whole army and went out to confront Israel in the wilderness. When he came to Jahaz, he fought against Israel. ...

Joshua 24:8-10
Later, I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived beyond the Jordan. They fought against you, but I delivered them into your hand, that you should possess their land when I destroyed them before you. / Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, / but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.

Psalm 135:10-12
He struck down many nations and slaughtered mighty kings: / Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kings of Canaan. / He gave their land as an inheritance, as a heritage to His people Israel.

Psalm 136:17-22
He struck down great kings His loving devotion endures forever. / and slaughtered mighty kings—His loving devotion endures forever. / Sihon king of the Amorites His loving devotion endures forever. ...

Nehemiah 9:22-24
You gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner of the land. So they took the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and of Og king of Bashan. / You multiplied their descendants like the stars of heaven and brought them to the land You had told their fathers to enter and possess. / So their descendants went in and possessed the land; You subdued before them the Canaanites dwelling in the land. You delivered into their hands the kings and peoples of the land, to do with them as they wished.

Acts 13:19
And having vanquished seven nations in Canaan, He gave their land to His people as an inheritance.

Romans 9:17
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

Exodus 23:31
And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.

Deuteronomy 7:1-2
When the LORD your God brings you into the land that you are entering to possess, and He drives out before you many nations—the Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, seven nations larger and stronger than you— / and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy.

Deuteronomy 9:1-3
Hear, O Israel: Today you are about to cross the Jordan to go in and dispossess nations greater and stronger than you, with large cities fortified to the heavens. / The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?” / But understand that today the LORD your God goes across ahead of you as a consuming fire; He will destroy them and subdue them before you. And you will drive them out and annihilate them swiftly, as the LORD has promised you.

Joshua 2:9-11
and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you. / For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction. / When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.

Joshua 11:20-23
For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts to engage Israel in battle, so that they would be set apart for destruction and would receive no mercy, being annihilated as the LORD had commanded Moses. / At that time Joshua proceeded to eliminate the Anakim from the hill country of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah and of Israel. Joshua devoted them to destruction, along with their cities. / No Anakim were left in the land of the Israelites; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any survive. ...

1 Kings 21:26
He committed the most detestable acts by going after idols, just like the Amorites whom the LORD had driven out before the Israelites.)


Treasury of Scripture

So now the LORD God of Israel has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess it?

Jump to Previous
Amorite Amorites Dispossessed Driven Drove Israel Possess Possession Presence Right Shouldest Shouldst
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Amorite Amorites Dispossessed Driven Drove Israel Possess Possession Presence Right Shouldest Shouldst
Judges 11
1. The covenant between Jephthah and the Gileadites, that he should lead
12. The treaty of peace between him and the Ammonites is in vain
29. Jephthah's vow
32. His conquest of the Ammonites
34. He performs his vow on his daughter.














Now since the LORD, the God of Israel,
This phrase emphasizes the covenant relationship between the LORD and Israel. The use of "LORD" (YHWH) signifies the personal name of God, highlighting His sovereignty and faithfulness. The title "God of Israel" underscores His unique relationship with the nation, chosen to be His people (Exodus 6:7). This sets the stage for understanding the divine authority behind Israel's actions.

has driven out the Amorites
The Amorites were a significant Canaanite group inhabiting the land before Israel's conquest. This phrase recalls God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land (Genesis 15:16). The driving out of the Amorites is a fulfillment of divine judgment against their iniquity and a demonstration of God's power and faithfulness to His promises.

from before His people Israel,
This indicates the direct intervention of God in history to benefit His chosen people. It reflects the broader narrative of the Exodus and conquest, where God acts on behalf of Israel to establish them in the Promised Land. This divine action is a recurring theme, showing God's commitment to His covenant and His role as a warrior for Israel (Exodus 14:14).

should you now possess it?
This rhetorical question challenges the legitimacy of any claims to the land by others, specifically the Ammonites in this context. It implies that since God has given the land to Israel, any attempt to reclaim it is against divine will. This reflects the biblical principle that the land belongs to God, and He grants it according to His purposes (Leviticus 25:23). The question underscores the futility of opposing God's decrees and serves as a warning to those who would challenge His plans.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Jephthah
A judge of Israel, known for his leadership and vow. He was a Gileadite and a mighty warrior who led Israel against the Ammonites.

2. The LORD (Yahweh)
The God of Israel, who is portrayed as the divine warrior and deliverer of His people, having driven out the Amorites.

3. The Amorites
A group of ancient people who occupied the land before the Israelites. They were defeated by Israel under God's command.

4. The Israelites
The chosen people of God, who were given the land of Canaan as their inheritance.

5. The Ammonites
A neighboring nation to Israel, who were in conflict with Israel over territorial claims.
Teaching Points
Divine Sovereignty and Ownership
God is the ultimate owner of all lands and peoples. His decisions and actions in history demonstrate His sovereignty and authority.

God's Faithfulness to His Promises
The conquest of the Amorites is a fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel the land. Believers can trust in God's faithfulness to His promises today.

Righteousness in Conflict
Jephthah's argument is based on historical and divine justice. In conflicts, believers should seek righteousness and truth, relying on God's past actions as a foundation.

God as Deliverer
Just as God delivered Israel from their enemies, He delivers believers from spiritual battles. Trust in God's power and provision.

Historical Context in Faith
Understanding the historical context of God's actions helps believers appreciate His ongoing work in their lives and the world.(23) Shouldest thou possess it?--Is it likely that Israel would fight battles solely to benefit Ammon and Moab?



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now since
וְעַתָּ֞ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

the LORD,
יְהוָ֣ה ׀ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the God
אֱלֹהֵ֣י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

has driven out
הוֹרִישׁ֙ (hō·w·rîš)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin

the Amorites
הָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י (hā·’ĕ·mō·rî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 567: Amorites -- perhaps 'mountain dwellers', a Canaanite tribe

from before
מִפְּנֵ֖י (mip·pə·nê)
Preposition-m | Noun - common plural construct
Strong's 6440: The face

His people
עַמּ֣וֹ (‘am·mōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

should you now
וְאַתָּ֖ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

possess it?
תִּירָשֶֽׁנּוּ׃ (tî·rā·šen·nū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3423: To occupy, to seize, to rob, to inherit, to expel, to impoverish, to ruin


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OT History: Judges 11:23 So now Yahweh the God of Israel (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 11:22
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