11:11 At the end of the negotiations, Jephthah was sworn in as both ruler and commander. • This Mizpah (“watchtower”) was a shrine east of the Jordan in Gilead, which was Jephthah’s home (10:17; 11:29, 34); it should not be confused with Mizpah in Benjamin, the place near Bethel where the tribes later assembled and swore oaths for the final battle of Judges (20:1; 21:1). • The ceremony at Mizpah in the presence of the Lord appears to have been the making of a suzerain-vassal covenant, in which a ruler (the suzerain) promises to protect and defend a vassal people in exchange for authority over them (see study note on Exod 20:1–23:33; see also Deuteronomy Book Introduction, “Literary Form”).

11:1-2 great warrior: Jephthah had military prowess and possibly social prominence (see study note on 6:12, where great warrior is translated “mighty hero”). Gilead was a descendant of Manasseh (Num 26:29-33; 32:39-40; 1 Chr 7:14-17). Jephthah’s social standing raised his visibility despite the ignominy of his prostitute mother. His half brothers had no obligation to accept Jephthah’s status or leadership.

11:12-28 Jephthah initially tried to solve the problem by diplomatic rather than military means (cp. Deut 20:10-11). • Unlike the nomadic, marauding Midianites of Gideon’s day, the Ammonites were a settled tribe whose territory lay to the east of Israel’s holdings in Transjordan (east of the Jordan); Rabbah was the Ammonite capital. The Ammonites, like the Moabites (both descendants of Lot) and the Edomites (Esau’s descendants), were to be left alone, as their territories were assigned to them by the Lord (Deut 2:16-23). • Contrary to the Ammonite king’s contention, the Amorites, not Ammon or Moab, lived between the Arnon and Jabbok rivers at the time of the conquest. In response to Sihon’s refusal to let Israel pass, the Lord had given the land of the Amorite kings Sihon and Og to Israel. The Ammonite king had no legitimate quarrel with Israel.

11:1-3 In Jephthah, inspired leadership took a new turn. He had humble origins, attracted followers, was eloquent in debate, and had Spirit-filled military prowess, but all of these were overshadowed by the fatal flaws of his untimely vow (11:30-31, 34-35) and his petulant civil war with Ephraim (12:1-6). Even his victory was short-lived (“six years,” 12:7). The period of decline was underway, which increased the demand for kingship.