Judges 10:18

And the rulers of Gilead said to one another, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all who live in Gilead.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The rulers of Gilead address one another after the Ammonite army camps in Gilead and the Israelite forces assemble at Mizpah. They propose a conditional leadership pact to secure a commander for the impending campaign.

The words — שָׂרֵי (sa.rei) identifies the regional officials or military commanders of Gilead. מִי (mi) translates literally as "who?" and introduces the conditional clause that ties military initiative to political authority.

The thread — This pattern of seeking a frontline commander recurs in Judges 1:1 when Israel inquires who will lead the first campaign. The same Gileadite elders later recruit Jephthah in Judges 11:5 and formally install him in Judges 11:11.

Why it lands — The text records a human mechanism for resolving military leadership crises through conditional appointment. Readers must note how political negotiation precedes and frames the subsequent divine deliverance narrative.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּאמְר֨וּva/i.yo.me.Ruand/ they said הָעָ֜םha./'Amthe/ people שָׂרֵ֤יsa.Rei[the] leaders of גִלְעָד֙gil.'AdGilead אִ֣ישׁ'isheach אֶל־'el-to רֵעֵ֔הוּre.'E./huneighbor/ his מִ֣יmiwho?הָאִ֔ישׁha./'Ish[is] the/ man אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwho יָחֵ֔לya.Chelhe will begin לְהִלָּחֵ֖םle./hi.la.Chemto/ fight בִּבְנֵ֣יbi/v.Neiagainst/ [the] people of עַמּ֑וֹןa.MonAmmon יִֽהְיֶ֣הyih.Yehhe will become לְרֹ֔אשׁle./Rosh<into>/ chief לְכֹ֖לle./Kholof/ all יֹשְׁבֵ֥יyo.she.Vei[the] inhabitants of גִלְעָֽד׃ פgil.'AdGilead

King James Version

And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

Cross-references

Judges 11:11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. And Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the LORD at Mizpah.
Judges 1:1 After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?”
Judges 11:5 and made war with them, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob.
Judges 12:7 Jephthah judged Israel six years, and when he died, he was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
1 Samuel 17:25 Now the men of Israel had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out to defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.”
Isaiah 3:1 For behold, the Lord GOD of Hosts is about to remove from Jerusalem and Judah both supply and support: the whole supply of food and water,
Isaiah 34:12 No nobles will be left to proclaim a king, and all her princes will come to nothing.