The Lord's People & Leaders	Jephthah: Leader Children of Israel; The Gileadites.
The Enemy's People & Leaders	Ammon, King Ammonites, long the enemies of Israel
Object of the Battle	Jephthah, because of his questionable parentage, was not accepted by his brothers, sons of Gilead. He and what are described as "vain persons" leave to go the the land of 'Tob'. When Ammon rises in war against Israel (not for the first time) Jephthah is called to lead Israel into battle. Ammon is enraged and seeks to take back the land of Moab and Ammon that they feels Israel took wrongfully away. Ammon insists Israel restore the land. Israel however gained the land when they came up from Egypt. (vs 11:15). Ammon threatens war and Israel seeks to put down the uprising.
Strategies of the Battle	Jephthah is called back from a 'degraded' exile to lead Israel In the interchange between Jephthah and Ammon, as Ammon claims rights to the land; he is countered with the history of how Israel rightfully took the land . [vs 11:15-16] The Kings of Edom and Moab are solicited to let Israel pass through the Land; they refuse. Vs 11:18: "then they went along thorugh the wilderness and compassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab." Sihon, King of Amorites is sought for permission to go through his land.. Sihon instead fights against Israel,not trusting them. Israel wins and possesses land of the Amorites allowing passage. A warning is sent to Ammon not to trust in his false god, Chemosh to save him. Jephthah, trusting in the God of Israel, declares that God will decide between him and Ammon. The Poignant story of Jephthah's vow then occurs: "If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands, Then it shall be that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD'S and I will offer it up for a burnt offering."
Place of the Battle	Arnon, outside of Moab is where Israel camps. Heshbon is passed through after conquering. The route of Jephthah: passes over Gilead, Manasseh, Mizpeh of Gilead, to the land of the Children of Ammon.
Intelligence	Most described is out in the open. The one interesting interchange is the 'gauntlets' thrown down by Ammon declaring the land was always theres and that Israel possessed it wrongfully, and Israel replying that that it is rightfully theirs, and since they came up from Egypt, it was lawfully in their possession. This land dispute continues today as contemporary news(!).
Results of the Battle	First, Moab and Edom refuse entry Second, Heshbon is taken allowing entry after the Amorites refuse Third, Jephthah's vow is heard and answered, but it is later his only and loved daughter that is the sacrifice. Jephthah smites the Ammonites from Aroer to Minnith: 20 cities, to the plain of the vineyards: A great slaughter. vs 33 Children of Ammon subdued.
Reward	The Reward and Spoils are the lands of Heshbon, Ammon, and rule over Moab and Edom The sad result is the loss of his daughter as he keeps his vow.
Spiritual Implications	One of the first implications is that Jephthah is not judged initially by his merits, but on his parentage which leaves him initially ostracized from his brothers. They call him as leader, when the recognition comes that they will probably not win without him. Had Jephthah been more bitter he might not have aided Israel and the Gileadites. Called back from exile, he takes Israel to victory. The other is of course the surrender of the his daughter in exchange for the victory of Israel: he had made a complete surrender, because his vow was the deepest thing of his heart in exchange for the greatest in God's will: a man of God, he kept his word, though few today have the depth of spirit to understand the decision.
Implications for Faith	There are two classic themes in this battle which are played over and over in human history. The first is the theme of the one of ignoble birth, betrayed and mistreated by 'brothers' who in the time of need rises to save a nation: both Joseph and in some ways Jesus are characterized by this. The brother, Jephthah is an outcast until his family realizes their victory depends on him. The second critical theme here, is the the vow before God and how costly it can be. In the New Testament, we are warned that 'swearing an oath', a similar thing is wrong: the reason being that it is presumption: we do not know what the vow may hold for us, and in this case, the faithful judge Jephthah unknowingly vows his beloved daughter, the thing nearest to his heart: but in his utter faithfulness becomes preeminent in Israeli history for his obedience. Jephthah's daughter becomes an Isaac: both willing to do God's will, the child willing to die, the Father, in grief, willing to surrender.
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts	1Jephthah: Meaning of Name: "He will open". Jephthah's vow and faith are upheld in I Sam. 12:11 and he is mentioned in the great "Faith" chapter of Hebrews 11. Tob: Means 'good': Jephthah's abode to the east of the Jordan River, as an outcast. Jephthah's father, Gilead, was the grandson of Manasseh. In Hosea, Gilead is one of the condemned cities. The land was originally given to Gad, Reuben and Manasseh. [Open Bible]. It is the city that Ishbothsheth rules over, and David takes refuge in. An interesting note: it was Elijah's birthplace. When the Pharisees decry Jesus, and say 'out of Galilee ariseth no prophet', they are unfortunately forgetting the likes of Elijah and Jonah in the region, and showing a lack of knowledge in the Scriptures.

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Shechem & Abimelech:
The battle against Gaal
Judges 9

Wars Index:I
Wars of Israel

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The Lord's People & Leaders	People:Israelites: Shechem, on both sides Leader: Abimelech
The Enemy's People & Leaders	Leaders: First Abimelech leads an uprising against Jerubbaal's sons, then Gaal leads an uprising against Abimelech. People: Against Jerubbaal's sons: "Vain and Light persons," hired by the money given Abimelech by his brothers, to kill 70 of his brothers, Jerubbaal's sons. Against Abimelech: men of Shechem who defected to support Gaal.
Object of the Battle	To make Abimelech King, instead of reign by many [the sons of Jerubbaal} Later, to overthrow the uprising against Abimelech by Gaal son of Ebed in Shechem
Strategies of the Battle	Money is gathered from from Abimelech's mothers' brothers in Shechem to hire vain persons to kill Jerubbaal's sons. Jerubbaal's sons killed, except for Jotham the youngest who escaped. House of Millo and Shechem make Abimelech King. A curse is leveled against Abimelech: by Jotham, who flees thenm to Be-er. "If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo and devour Abimelech. (curse by Jotham, following the story of the trees. Judges 9:19,20 This curse is requited beginning in Judges 9:22-23, when "an evil spirit" occurs between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, resulting in treachery. Gaal, the son of Ebed was then sought out, who seeks to overthrow Abimelech, BY the men of Shechem. Zebul, ruler of the City hears about Gaal's uprising and is enraged, he sends word to Abimelech: he instructs Abimelech to lie in wait against the men with Gaal who have "fortified the city against him" vs: 9: 31. And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies."vs34 In a second battle, after Gaal is vanquished from Shechem and flees, Abimelech hears of where he is, and divides his men into three companies. When the people come out of the city where Gaal is, the three companies "smite" them. When the people come out of the city, Abimelech rushes in with his company and stands between the gate and the people of Gaal. The other two companies, rush on Gaal's people and slay them After these battles, Abimelech sets upon Thebez and takes it. Again, a tower of people are fought against, Abimelech tries to burn the escape door, and a woman throws a millstone down to crush Abimelech's skull. Abimelech chooses instead to fall on his sword via a armourbearer.
Location of the Battle	The Killing of the sons is in Ophrah, where Jerubbaal (Gideon)dwelt. The Crowning of Abimelech was "by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem." Judges 9:6. Gaal goes to the entering in at the gate with his men, at which point the four companies of Abimelech descend from the Mountains. At first , Gaal thinks the encroaching companies to be 'shadows' of the mountains. 9:36. Abimelech's companies come down the middle and across the plain of Meonenim. vs 9:37 The Battle ensues and Abimelech wins The men of Shechem gather together after the defeat of the city into the Tower Shechem and enter into the house of Berith: a god. Abimelech and his men go to the mount of Zalmon and cut down boughs of trees, then proceed to where the men of Shechem are, and put the branches all around and burn them.
Results of the Battle	"Many were overthrown and wounded even unto the entering in at the Gate. Gaal flees. Gaal is cast out of Shechem, Abimelech dwells at Arumah. In the second battle the people of Gaal are slain. He [Abimelech] beats down the city and sows it with salt. One Thousand men and women die: at the burning of the house of Berith with the renegade men of Shechem. In the last battle at Thebez, Abimelech is killed.
Spiritual Implications	Abimelech starts his wars with a bloody slaying of his 70 brothers, only the youngest, Jotham escapes. In utter ambition, Abimelech does not want to share the kingship with the other sons of Jerubbaal, so he goes to his Mother's brother, raises money for a 'hit' and kills the sons of Jerubbaal. His treachery, while not bringing his immediate death, brings treachery and war in his kingdom for the the remainder of his reign. First, men of Shechem divide against him, then Gaal rises up against him. He is beset by war till his death, which is an untimely death as a woman throws a millstone over a tower wall to kill him and he begs his sword bearer to kill him with a sword so that none could say a woman killed him.
Implications for Faith	Perhaps the greatest implication for personal faith is the lesson of treachery, especially against a brother, much less 70. The offense was against family and father, and was notable for the fact that it did not go immediately punished. Treachery begets treachery, betrayal begets betrayal. When one deliberately and with intent betrays and kills or causes to be killed, even if it is not met with death immediately, the treachery rises up like on ocean in the life of the one who practices it. Wars follow Abimelech the rest of his days. His death is ignoble.
Cross-references & Other Critical Facts	Jerubbaal is Gideon (Chapter 7,verse 1) Jerubbaal means: "let Baal contend" given to Gideon "when he destroys the Altar of Baal" [BLB] Other events at Shechem: Joseph is buried in Shechem where Jacob bought land from Hamor; Abimelech is born in Shechem to the concubine of Gideon, Joshua dies here, citing the victories of God in the History of Israel, leaving a 'covenant stone' as a remembrance and symbol of the stand to follow God. Js 24

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¹Notes and Research by E. Best footnotes and references available upon request.
orignal design by Brendan Best (c)1999