Judges 11:29 - Then Yahweh’s Spirit came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.

Generated Verse: Judges 11:29

What does "Judges 11:29" mean?


Judges 11:29 describes a sequence of events in the life of Jephthah, a judge of Israel. Let's break down the verse:

"Then Yahweh's Spirit came on Jephthah...": This is a pivotal moment. "Yahweh's Spirit" (often translated as "the Spirit of the Lord") signifies divine empowerment. It implies that Jephthah was being specially equipped by God for a specific task. This isn't a permanent indwelling but rather a temporary empowering.

"...and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh...": This phrase indicates Jephthah's travel through these regions. Gilead and Manasseh were territories east and west of the Jordan River, respectively, populated by Israelite tribes. This suggests Jephthah was rallying support and troops from these areas.

"...and passed over Mizpah of Gilead...": Mizpah was a significant location in Gilead, likely a place for gathering and strategizing. By focusing on this location, it likely served as a base camp or initial gathering point.

"...and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.": This is the key destination. The "children of Ammon" (or Ammonites) were the enemy Jephthah was preparing to fight. This phrase indicates that after gathering his forces and strategizing, he was leading them into battle against the Ammonites.

In summary, the verse describes Jephthah being divinely empowered and mobilizing for war against the Ammonites. It illustrates:

Divine Enablement: Jephthah's leadership and actions were being divinely assisted.
Military Mobilization: Jephthah was rallying troops and moving them into position for battle.
Preparation for Conflict: Jephthah was gearing up for a major conflict with the Ammonites, a conflict that would test his leadership and Israel's faith.

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