10 The elders of Gilead replied, "The Lord is our witness; we will certainly do as you say."
10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness
10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The Lord will be witness between us, if we do not do as you say."
10 They said, "God is witness between us; whatever you say, we'll do."
10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The Lord will be a witness between us, if we do not do according to your words."
10 "The Lord is our witness," the elders replied. "We promise to do whatever you say."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 11:10
Commentary on Judges 11:1-11
(Read Judges 11:1-11)
Men ought not to be blamed for their parentage, so long as they by their personal merits roll away any reproach. God had forgiven Israel, therefore Jephthah will forgive. He speaks not with confidence of his success, knowing how justly God might suffer the Ammonites to prevail for the further punishment of Israel. Nor does he speak with any confidence at all in himself. If he succeed, it is the Lord delivers them into his hand; he thereby reminds his countrymen to look up to God as the Giver of victory. The same question as here, in fact, is put to those who desire salvation by Christ. If he save you, will ye be willing that he shall rule you? On no other terms will he save you. If he make you happy, shall he make you holy? If he be your helper, shall he be your Head? Jephthah, to obtain a little worldly honour, was willing to expose his life: shall we be discouraged in our Christian warfare by the difficulties we may meet with, when Christ has promised a crown of life to him that overcometh?