Judges 11:24

Do you not possess whatever your god Chemosh grants you? So also, we possess whatever the LORD our God has granted us.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jephthah addresses the Ammonite king during a territorial dispute, contrasting the land claims of Moab with Israel's occupation of the region.

The words — The Hebrew verbs יוֹרִֽישְׁךָ (yori'she-kha) and תִירָשׁ (ti-rash) both derive from the root meaning "to cause to possess" or "take possession of," framing land control as a direct result of divine allocation.

The thread — The verse's logic runs through Numbers 21:29, which credits Chemosh with granting Moab's territory, and Psalms 78:55, which describes the LORD driving out nations to apportion Israel's inheritance.

Why it lands — The text demands that readers treat political or territorial claims as subordinate to divine sovereignty, requiring them to evaluate their own authority against the God who grants it.

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

הֲלֹ֞אha./Lo'¿/ not אֵ֣ת'et<obj.>אֲשֶׁ֧ר'a.Sher[that] which יוֹרִֽישְׁךָ֛yo.ri.she./Khahe will cause to possess/ you כְּמ֥וֹשׁke.Mo.oshChemosh אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ'e.lo.Hei./khagod/ your אוֹת֥וֹ'o.T/o<obj.>/ it תִירָ֑שׁti.Rashwill you take possession of וְאֵת֩ve./'Etand/ <obj.>כָּל־kol-all אֲשֶׁ֨ר'a.Sherthat הוֹרִ֜ישׁho.Rishhe has dispossessed יְהוָ֧הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our מִפָּנֵ֖ינוּmi./pa.Nei./nufrom/ before/ us אוֹת֥וֹ'o.T/o<obj.>/ it נִירָֽשׁ׃ni.Rashwe will take possession of

King James Version

Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the Lord our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess.

Cross-references

Numbers 21:29 Woe to you, O Moab! You are destroyed, O people of Chemosh! He gave up his sons as refugees, and his daughters into captivity to Sihon king of the Amorites.
Psalms 78:55 He drove out nations before them and apportioned their inheritance; He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
Micah 4:5 Though all the nations may walk in the name of their gods, yet we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.
Joshua 3:10 He continued, “This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that He will surely drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
1 Kings 11:7 At that time on a hill east of Jerusalem, Solomon built a high place for Chemosh the abomination of Moab and for Molech the abomination of the Ammonites.
Deuteronomy 18:12 For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.
Deuteronomy 9:4 When the LORD your God has driven them out before you, do not say in your heart, “Because of my righteousness the LORD has brought me in to possess this land.” Rather, the LORD is driving out these nations before you because of their wickedness.
Psalms 44:2 With Your hand You drove out the nations and planted our fathers there; You crushed the peoples and cast them out.
Jeremiah 48:7 Because you trust in your works and treasures, you too will be captured, and Chemosh will go into exile with his priests and officials.
Jeremiah 48:46 Woe to you, O Moab! The people of Chemosh have perished; for your sons have been taken into exile and your daughters have gone into captivity.