And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably.

JUDGES 11:13KJV
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Judges 11:13 (KJV)

What does Judges 11:13 mean?

Judges 11:13 records the king of the Ammonites explaining to Jephthah’s messengers why he is demanding land from Israel: he claims that Israel took Ammonite territory when they came out of Egypt, specifically the land between the Arnon and Jabbok rivers and up to the Jordan, and now he wants it returned peacefully. The verse sets out the Ammonite king’s grievance as the reason for the conflict.

The speaker is the king of Ammon, responding to Jephthah’s envoys during a tense negotiation. The king’s claim is that Israel unjustly seized land that rightfully belonged to Ammon when the Israelites entered Canaan centuries earlier. This statement frames the dispute not just as a territorial squabble, but as a long-standing historical grievance, which Jephthah will address in the following verses.

The Hebrew behind Judges 11:13

  • "children" (בְּנֵי, bənê): This word means "sons" or "descendants," emphasizing that the king speaks on behalf of the whole Ammonite people, not just himself.
  • "away" (לָקַח, lāqach): This verb means "to take" or "to seize," showing that the king accuses Israel of forcibly taking land, not just settling in it.
  • "again" (הָשִׁיב, hāshiv): This word means "to return" or "to restore," making clear that the king is demanding the land be given back, not just compensation or peace.
  • "peaceably" (בְּשָׁלוֹם, b’shalom): This word means "in peace" or "peacefully," indicating the king’s stated preference for a nonviolent resolution, at least in his official message.

Why Judges 11:13 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the Ammonite king’s demand is based on a historical claim, not just a sudden act of aggression, which shapes the whole negotiation between the two peoples.
  • The king’s version of history sets up the argument that Jephthah will challenge in the following verses, making this a key turning point in the story.
  • Understanding the specific places mentioned (Arnon, Jabbok, Jordan) helps readers see the concrete nature of the dispute and the real geography involved, grounding the story in actual locations.

Where else these words appear

“Jabbok” Hebrew H2999 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 32:22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
  • Deuteronomy 2:37 Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou camest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok, nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the LORD our God forbad us.
  • Joshua 12:2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;

“Arnon” Hebrew H769 · used in 23 verses

  • Numbers 21:13 From thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, which is in the wilderness that cometh out of the coasts of the Amorites: for Arnon is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.
  • Deuteronomy 2:36 From Aroer, which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us: the LORD our God delivered all unto us:
  • Joshua 13:9 From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;

“Jephthah” Hebrew H3316 · used in 26 verses

  • Joshua 15:43 And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
  • Judges 11:9 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?
  • Judges 11:30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

“Ammon” Hebrew H5983 · used in 98 verses

  • Genesis 19:38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.
  • Judges 12:1 And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire.
  • 1 Chronicles 19:11 And the rest of the people he delivered unto the hand of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in array against the children of Ammon.