Bible Strands
Judges 10:9
The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah, Benjamin, and the house of Ephraim, and Israel was in deep distress.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the military advance of the Ammonites against Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim at the conclusion of an eighteen-year period of foreign oppression. The account captures the immediate historical moment before Israel's collective confession in Judges 10:10.
The words — The verb וַ/יַּעַבְר֤וּ (va/i.ya.'av.Ru) literally means "and they passed over," denoting the Ammonites crossing the Jordan River. The noun עַמּוֹן ('a.mOn) identifies the invading force as the "Ammonites" who initiate hostilities.
The thread — This cycle of foreign invasion following covenant failure parallels the Moabite oppression in Judges 3:12 and the eastern coalitions in Judges 6:3. The resulting displacement and absence of security reflect the covenant curses outlined in Deuteronomy 28:65.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to acknowledge that national distress is the direct result of political and spiritual alignment with hostile powers. It demands a clear-eyed assessment of cause and effect without attributing the suffering to chance or external malice alone.
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
King James Version
Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 28:65 Among those nations you will find no repose, not even a resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a despairing soul.
- Judges 3:12 Once again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD. So He gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
- Judges 6:3 Whenever the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and other people of the east would come up and invade them,
- 1 Samuel 28:15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
- 2 Chronicles 14:9 Then Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots, and they advanced as far as Mareshah.
- 2 Chronicles 15:5 In those days there was no safety for travelers, because the residents of the lands had many conflicts.
- 2 Chronicles 20:1 After this, the Moabites and Ammonites, together with some of the Meunites, came to make war against Jehoshaphat.