Then they went along through 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.
JUDGES 11:18KJVWhat does Judges 11:18 mean?
Judges 11:18 describes how the Israelites, during their journey to the Promised Land, traveled through the wilderness, circled around the territories of Edom and Moab, and camped on the far side of the Arnon River without entering Moab’s land, since the Arnon marked Moab’s border. The verse emphasizes that the Israelites respected the boundaries of Moab and did not invade its territory.
In this verse, Jephthah is speaking to the king of the Ammonites, recounting Israel’s journey after leaving Egypt. Jephthah is explaining that the Israelites deliberately avoided conflict with Edom and Moab by traveling around their lands and stopping at the Arnon River, which was recognized as Moab’s border. This historical summary is part of Jephthah’s argument that Israel did not wrong the Ammonites or take their land unjustly.
The Hebrew behind Judges 11:18
- "Wilderness" (מִדְבָּר, midbar): This word refers to a wild, uncultivated area, highlighting the difficult and desolate route the Israelites took rather than passing through settled lands.
- "Compassed" (סָבַב, savav): This verb means to go around or circle, showing that the Israelites intentionally avoided direct passage through Edom and Moab, respecting their borders.
- "Side" (קֶדֶם, qedem): This word often means "east" or "in front," clarifying that the Israelites traveled along the eastern edge of Moab’s territory, not through its heart.
- "Border" (גְּבוּל, gevul): This term marks a clear territorial boundary, underlining that the Israelites recognized and honored the established borders of Moab at the Arnon River.
Why Judges 11:18 matters
- Judges 11:18 clarifies that the Israelites made efforts to avoid conflict with neighboring nations, which is important for understanding the fairness of their later actions.
- The verse supports Jephthah’s argument that Israel did not take land from Moab or Ammon by force, countering the Ammonite king’s accusations.
- This detail helps set the context for the dispute between Israel and Ammon, showing that Israel’s actions were deliberate and respectful of other nations’ boundaries.