Judges 11

Jehovah

And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head? Judges 11:9–11

Before anything else happens, both sides put the agreement in Jehovah's hands: He is the one who will give the victory and the witness who holds them to their word. Latter-day Saints understand this covenant God of Israel to be the premortal Jesus Christ.

How we know: the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

Jehovah, the LORD God of Israel

And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. Judges 11:21–24

Jephthah answers Ammon's land claim by pointing past Israel's armies to Jehovah: the God of Israel fought for them and gave them the country. Latter-day Saints understand the God of Israel to be the premortal Christ, who Himself told the Nephites, 'I am the God of Israel'.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · a footnote points to Him · another scripture interprets it of Him

• the same title in 3 Nephi 11:14 — The resurrected Jesus, showing the prints of the nails: 'that ye may know that I am the God of Israel, and the God of the whole earth'.
• the same event in Deuteronomy 2:33 — Moses' account of the same defeat of Sihon: 'And the LORD our God delivered him before us; and we smote him'.

The LORD the Judge

The Judge — the One who decides righteously between men and nations

Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon. Judges 11:27

Jephthah, a judge himself, hands the whole dispute to the real Judge. The Church's own Topical Guide lists this verse under 'Jesus Christ, Judge', because the Father has committed all judgment to the Son (John 5:22); the title in this verse belongs to Jesus Christ.

How we know: a footnote points to Him · a Church study aid lists it · the verse itself names Him

• the same title in Isaiah 33:22 — 'For the LORD is our judge, the LORD is our lawgiver, the LORD is our king; he will save us' — listed in the same Topical Guide entry, 'Jesus Christ, Judge'.

Jehovah the Deliverer

So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands. Judges 11:32

The victory is credited to Jehovah, not to Jephthah's vow or his strength. Jehovah, the premortal Christ, is the true Deliverer behind every judge Israel raised up.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4) · the verse itself names Him · another scripture interprets it of Him