1.
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Gilead; i.e., the prince of Gilead (see v.
26).
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2.
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Not inherit: compare Gen. 21:10;
25:6.
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The son of a strange woman. It is doubtful
whether Deut. 23:2 applies here; v. 3 appears to apply v. 2 to cases of
incest.
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3.
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Tob means “good” —
probably an ironic name for the “badlands” north of Gilead (2 Sam.
10:6, mg.), a land of barren basalt.
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8.
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Therefore implies: “because we now
wish to make amends” — tactful, if not the whole
truth!
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13.
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Israel took away my land. Contrast Deut.
2:19. What Israel took was parts of Moab and Ammon which had already been seized
by Sihon the Amorite; Num. 21:26; Josh. 13:25.
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15.
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Note the emphasis on Moab in v. 15,17,18, because
he was the brother of Ammon; Gen. 19:36-38. At the time spoken of, Ammon was
right out of the picture.
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17.
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In like manner, they sent to the king of Moab.
This detail is an addition to the Pentateuch account. As it turned out, this
appeal to Moab proved unnecessary.
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19.
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Into my place. This almost suggests that
Israel’s “place” was west — and not east — of
Jordan. But it could be read as meaning “the rest of my
place”.
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22.
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The wilderness. Hinting that Ammon could
have as much of the wilderness from Rabbath-Ammon and eastward as it
liked.
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24.
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Chemosh. But Milcom was god of Ammon, and
Chemosh was god of Moab. However, just as Israel at times took over Chemosh, so
also doubtless did Ammon.
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25.
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Deut. 223:4 implies that Ammon shared with Moab
in the hiring of Balaam.
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26.
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Three humdred years. The exact sum of all
the periods mentioned in the Judges up to this point. And Jephthah knew these
facts!
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29.
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The Spirit came upon Jephthah, thus
confirming v. 11; cp. Acts 6:3,6
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