KJV ORIGINAL
Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
However, the king of the Ammonites did not listen to the message that Jephthah sent him.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The writer is showing that despite Jephthah's reasonable diplomatic efforts, the Ammonite king refused to listen and chose conflict over peace.
📚 Historical Context
This verse concludes Jephthah's diplomatic attempt to avoid war with the Ammonites, who were claiming Israelite territory east of the Jordan River. Jephthah had sent a detailed message explaining Israel's historical right to the land and offering peaceful resolution. The Ammonite king's refusal to listen meant that military conflict was now inevitable.
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