Judges 11:9

WEB

Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivers them before me, shall I be your head?"

KJV

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?

Commentary

And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead,.... Considering the former usage he had met with from them, and the character which he hi mself bore, and the fickleness of men, when their turn is served, was willing to make a sure bargain with them: if ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon; that is, should he consent to go along with them, and fight their battle for them: and the Lord deliver them before me; or into his hands, on whom he depended for success, and not on his own courage and valour, and military skill: shall I be your head? not only captain general of their forces during the war, but the chief ruler of them when that was ended.