Judges 11:33

Jephthah has just secured victory over the Ammonites, and the text of Judges 11:33 describes the extent of that conquest by stating that *“He struck them with a very great slaughter from Aroer to the entrance of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim. So the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel”* (v.33). The phrase “very great slaughter” emphasizes the overwhelming force with which Jephthah defeated the enemy. Jephthah’s presence in Scripture dates to around the late 1100s BC, during the period of the Judges in Israel when the nation had not yet established a monarchy. His actions are recorded as part of God’s ongoing deliverance of the Israelites from surrounding nations (Judges 2:16 NASB-95).

These locations—Aroer, Minnith, and Abel-keramim—underscore the breadth of this victory. Aroer, situated east of the Jordan River, was originally a Moabite city before being associated with the territory of Gad (Deuteronomy 2:36 NASB-95). Minnith, likely located nearby, also signifies another area under Ammonite control. Abel-keramim (“the meadow of vineyards”) further points to a region where agriculture flourished, reinforcing the military significance of Jephthah’s success against cities that supported the Ammonite war effort. Each of these place names illustrates the large swath of territory Jephthah covered, showing that the Lord was with Israel and brought them triumph through their judge (Judges 2:18 NASB-95).

On a deeper level, this verse reveals the dramatic shift from Israel’s oppression under the Ammonites to God’s deliverance, foretelling the covenant faithfulness of the Lord. The subduing of the Ammonites parallels the biblical theme of God rescuing His people when they turn back to Him in genuine repentance (Judges 10:15-16 NASB-95). This victory also anticipates the ultimate deliverance found in Jesus Christ, where spiritual enemies are defeated through His saving work (Romans 8:37 NASB-95). Though the immediate battle belonged to Jephthah and ancient Israel, the principle of divine deliverance continues to resonate throughout the redemptive story of Scripture.

Jephthah’s victory over the Ammonites brought a swift end to their threat, restoring peace and reaffirming Israel’s reliance on God’s power rather than their own.