And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, 'Let the LORD be our witness, we promise we will do exactly what you have asked.'
The elders are making a solemn promise to Jephthah, calling on God to witness their commitment to keep their word.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Judges, Jephthah was a warrior from Gilead who had been rejected by his half-brothers but was later approached by the elders of Gilead to lead them against the Ammonites due to his military skills. As part of their agreement, the elders swore an oath invoking the Lord as a witness to ensure they would honor Jephthah's terms, reflecting the ancient Israelite practice of using divine oaths to bind agreements and prevent deception. This occurred during a time of repeated cycles of Israelite rebellion, oppression by enemies, and deliverance by judges raised up by God.
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