Judges 11

v1-3: Though there was no one better qualified that Jephthah was, he was still a surprising choice of a saviour for Israel. God chooses to save Israel “through someone born illegitimately and someone forced to flee into exile.” God’s ways are not our ways.

v4-11: God prepares His people “for the service he intends for them, and even makes their troubles work to guide them on their way.” It was through his exile because of his brothers’ unkindness, that Jephthah had the opportunity “to exercise and make the most of his military skills, and so distinguish himself and become famous.”

v12-28: “War should be the last resort and should not be used until all other methods of ending a dispute have been tried in vain. It is to be the final course of action. This rule should also be observed in going to court. The sword of justice, as well as the sword of war, must not be appealed to until the disputing parties have first tried by gentler means to reconcile their differences and settle conflicting matters.”

v29-40: “Jephthah’s vow is tragic and casts a dark shadow over his success,” even though we can’t be sure what fulfilling this vow meant for his daughter. It shows that even in the greatest of saints, there is “weakness and indiscretion.”

Judges 12

v1-7: Jephthah “does not take the glory of the success to himself,” but “gives it all to God.” The Ephraimites should have joined in giving praise to God for what He had done through Jephthah, but instead they are full of resentment that they missed out on sharing in the honour of victory. The sin of pride in the Ephraimites, is exposed by their attitude and behaviour. “Proud people want to draw attention to themselves and think they are the only ones who should be honoured.”

v8-15: Unlike Jephthah whose daughter never married, Ibzan had sixty children who all married. To some the Lord gives increase, while others are reduced, but both are from Him.