Judges 11:3 - Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob. Outlaws joined up with Jephthah, and they went out with him.
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What does "Judges 11:3" mean?
Judges 11:3 tells us about the circumstances that led to Jephthah becoming a military leader:
"Then Jephthah fled from his brothers...": This refers back to Judges 11:1-2, where it is explained that Jephthah was the son of a prostitute, and his half-brothers drove him out of the family inheritance because they didn't want him sharing their land. He was ostracized and essentially disinherited.
"...and lived in the land of Tob.": Tob was a region located east of Gilead (where Jephthah's family lived), possibly a less settled, more lawless area. It provided him with a refuge from his brothers.
"Outlaws joined up with Jephthah...": Because of his own marginalized status and presumably his skills as a fighter or leader, he attracted a group of "outlaws" (Hebrew: reqim), which could mean "empty ones" or "reckless men." These were likely men who were also social outcasts or had reason to live outside the regular societal structure.
"...and they went out with him.": This suggests that Jephthah became the leader of this band of outlaws, and they engaged in activities together, likely raids, mercenary work, or generally surviving in a difficult environment.
In summary, this verse shows Jephthah's journey from being rejected by his family to becoming a leader of a band of outlaws in a borderland region. This sets the stage for his eventual return to Gilead as a military leader when the Ammonites threaten Israel. It emphasizes his marginalized background and the unusual path he took to power.
Judges 11:3 - Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob. Outlaws joined up with Jephthah, and they went out with him.
What does "Judges 11:3" mean?
Judges 11:3 tells us about the circumstances that led to Jephthah becoming a military leader:
"Then Jephthah fled from his brothers...": This refers back to Judges 11:1-2, where it is explained that Jephthah was the son of a prostitute, and his half-brothers drove him out of the family inheritance because they didn't want him sharing their land. He was ostracized and essentially disinherited.
"...and lived in the land of Tob.": Tob was a region located east of Gilead (where Jephthah's family lived), possibly a less settled, more lawless area. It provided him with a refuge from his brothers.
"Outlaws joined up with Jephthah...": Because of his own marginalized status and presumably his skills as a fighter or leader, he attracted a group of "outlaws" (Hebrew: reqim), which could mean "empty ones" or "reckless men." These were likely men who were also social outcasts or had reason to live outside the regular societal structure.
"...and they went out with him.": This suggests that Jephthah became the leader of this band of outlaws, and they engaged in activities together, likely raids, mercenary work, or generally surviving in a difficult environment.
In summary, this verse shows Jephthah's journey from being rejected by his family to becoming a leader of a band of outlaws in a borderland region. This sets the stage for his eventual return to Gilead as a military leader when the Ammonites threaten Israel. It emphasizes his marginalized background and the unusual path he took to power.