And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, 'That's exactly why we're coming back to you now—so you can go with us and fight against the Ammonites, and be our leader over everyone who lives in Gilead.'
The elders are acknowledging that they need Jephthah's leadership and are asking him to become their military commander and ruler over their region.
📚 Historical Context
This takes place during Israel's time of the Judges, when the nation was organized by tribes without a central king. Jephthah had been rejected by his family and community earlier because he was born to a prostitute, but now the Ammonites were threatening Gilead (a region east of the Jordan River). The elders were desperate enough to swallow their pride and ask the very person they had previously rejected to save them.
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