God reminds Israel of His repeated deliverances so that they may trust in Him alone.
In this passage, the writer sets the scene by describing the Lord addressing the Israelites with a pointed question: “Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the sons of Ammon, and the Philistines?” (v.11). Here, the Lord is reminding His people of the past times He rescued them from oppression by various nations. Egypt was a major power in the ancient Near East, situated mainly along the Nile River in northeast Africa, and biblical records date Israel’s captivity there roughly between 1876 BC and 1446 BC. The Amorites were an ancient group that inhabited parts of Canaan, which lay to the west of the Jordan River. The sons of Ammon, dwelling to the east of the Jordan in the region that is now part of modern-day Jordan, troubled Israel repeatedly. Lastly, the Philistines occupied territory along the Mediterranean coastal plain in what is today southwestern Israel, known for their conflicts with Israel for much of the Old Testament period.
By asking, “Did I not deliver you…?” (v.11), the Lord underscores His faithfulness and power in delivering His people throughout their history. These references to previous rescues serve not only as a reminder of His covenant commitment to Israel, but also signal a call to turn away from foreign idols and back to God in genuine repentance. In the broader context of the Book of Judges, this cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance repeats many times. God’s willingness to rescue points forward to the ultimate deliverance through Christ, who affirmed Himself as the One who has defeated sin and death for all who believe (Romans 5:6-8).
God is using this recollection of victories over enemy nations as an indictment of Israel’s failure to remain faithful, and He calls them to recall His might and mercy.
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Judges 10:11 meaning
In this passage, the writer sets the scene by describing the Lord addressing the Israelites with a pointed question: “Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the sons of Ammon, and the Philistines?” (v.11). Here, the Lord is reminding His people of the past times He rescued them from oppression by various nations. Egypt was a major power in the ancient Near East, situated mainly along the Nile River in northeast Africa, and biblical records date Israel’s captivity there roughly between 1876 BC and 1446 BC. The Amorites were an ancient group that inhabited parts of Canaan, which lay to the west of the Jordan River. The sons of Ammon, dwelling to the east of the Jordan in the region that is now part of modern-day Jordan, troubled Israel repeatedly. Lastly, the Philistines occupied territory along the Mediterranean coastal plain in what is today southwestern Israel, known for their conflicts with Israel for much of the Old Testament period.
By asking, “Did I not deliver you…?” (v.11), the Lord underscores His faithfulness and power in delivering His people throughout their history. These references to previous rescues serve not only as a reminder of His covenant commitment to Israel, but also signal a call to turn away from foreign idols and back to God in genuine repentance. In the broader context of the Book of Judges, this cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance repeats many times. God’s willingness to rescue points forward to the ultimate deliverance through Christ, who affirmed Himself as the One who has defeated sin and death for all who believe (Romans 5:6-8).
God is using this recollection of victories over enemy nations as an indictment of Israel’s failure to remain faithful, and He calls them to recall His might and mercy.