Judges 10:18 And the rulers of Gilead said to one another, "Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all who live in Gilead."

◄ Judges 10:18 ►

New International Version
The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head over all who live in Gilead.”

New Living Translation
The leaders of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever attacks the Ammonites first will become ruler over all the people of Gilead.”

English Standard Version
And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said one to another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Berean Standard Bible
And the rulers of Gilead said to one another, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all who live in Gilead.”

King James Bible
And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

New King James Version
And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin the fight against the people of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

New American Standard Bible
And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

NASB 1995
The people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

NASB 1977
And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the people, the princes of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Amplified Bible
The people, the leaders of Gilead (Israel) said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Christian Standard Bible
The rulers of Gilead said to one another, “Which man will begin the fight against the Ammonites? He will be the leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The rulers of Gilead said to one another, “Which man will lead the fight against the Ammonites? He will be the leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

American Standard Version
And the people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

Contemporary English Version
The leaders of Gilead asked each other, "Who can lead an attack on the Ammonites?" Then they agreed, "If we find someone who can lead the attack, we'll make him the ruler of Gilead."

English Revised Version
And the people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, "Whoever starts the fight against Ammon will rule everyone who lives in Gilead."

Good News Translation
There the people and the leaders of the Israelite tribes asked one another, "Who will lead the fight against the Ammonites? Whoever does will be the leader of everyone in Gilead."

International Standard Version
The people and Gilead's officials inquired among themselves, "Who will begin our attack against the Ammonites? He'll become head over everyone who lives in Gilead."

Majority Standard Bible
And the rulers of Gilead said to one another, ?Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all who live in Gilead.?

NET Bible
The leaders of Gilead said to one another, "Who is willing to lead the charge against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!"

New Heart English Bible
And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to each other, "What man is he who will begin to fight against the people of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

World English Bible
The people, the princes of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the people—heads of Gilead—say to one another, “Who [is] the man that begins to fight against the sons of Ammon? He is for head to all inhabitants of Gilead.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the people -- heads of Gilead -- say one unto another, 'Who is the man that doth begin to fight against the Bene-Ammon? he is for head to all inhabitants of Gilead.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the people, the chiefs of Gilead, will say, a man to his neighbor, Who the man that will begin to war against the sons of Ammon? he shall be for head to all those dwelling in Gilead.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the princes of Galaad said one to another: Whosoever of us shall first begin to fight against the children of Ammon, he shall be the leader of the people of Galaad.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the leaders of Gilead said to one another, “Whoever among us will be the first to begin to contend against the sons of Ammon, he shall be the leader of the people of Gilead.”

New American Bible
The captains of the army of Gilead said to one another, “The one who begins the war against the Ammonites shall be leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

New Revised Standard Version
The commanders of the people of Gilead said to one another, “Who will begin the fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, Whosoever shall first start to fight against the children of Ammon, he shall be prince over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the people, the Princes of Gelad, said, each man to his fellow: “The man who will begin to fight with the sons of Amon shall be Prince to all dwellers of Gelad”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And the people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another: 'What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the people the princes of Galaad said every man to his neighbour, Who is he that shall begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall even be head over all that dwell in Galaad.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Philistine and Ammonite Oppression
…17Then the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, and the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah. 18And the rulers of Gilead said to one another, “Whoever will launch the attack against the Ammonites will be the head of all who live in Gilead.”

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Judges 11:5-11
and made war with them, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. / “Come,” they said, “be our commander, so that we can fight against the Ammonites.” / Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and expel me from my father’s house? Why then have you come to me now, when you are in distress?” ...

Judges 2:16-18
Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them. / Israel, however, did not listen to their judges. Instead, they prostituted themselves with other gods and bowed down to them. They quickly turned from the way of their fathers, who had walked in obedience to the LORD’s commandments; they did not do as their fathers had done. / Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for the Israelites, He was with that judge and saved them from the hands of their enemies while the judge was still alive; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning under those who oppressed them and afflicted them.

1 Samuel 12:11
So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely.

Judges 3:9-10
But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz as a deliverer to save them. / The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him.

Judges 6:14-16
The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Am I not sending you?” / “Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I save Israel? Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” / “Surely I will be with you,” the LORD replied, “and you will strike down all the Midianites as one man.”

1 Samuel 9:16
“At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him ruler over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

1 Samuel 17:25-27
Now the men of Israel had been saying, “Do you see how this man keeps coming out to defy Israel? To the man who kills him the king will give great riches. And he will give him his daughter in marriage and exempt his father’s house from taxation in Israel.” / David asked the men who were standing with him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?” / The people told him about the offer, saying, “That is what will be done for the man who kills him.”

2 Kings 13:5
So the LORD gave Israel a deliverer, and they escaped the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel lived in their own homes as they had before.

Nehemiah 9:27
So You delivered them into the hands of enemies who oppressed them, and in their time of distress they cried out to You. From heaven You heard them, and in Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who saved them from the hands of their enemies.

Acts 13:20-21
All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. / Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years.

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

1 Samuel 10:19
But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”

1 Samuel 11:1-11
Then Nahash the Ammonite came up and laid siege to Jabesh-gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to him, “Make a treaty with us, and we will serve you.” / But Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.” / “Hold off for seven days,” replied the elders of Jabesh, “and let us send messengers throughout Israel. If there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you.” ...

2 Samuel 10:12
Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

1 Chronicles 19:13
Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”

Treasury of Scripture

And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

what man

Judges 1:1
Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first, to fight against them?

Judges 11:5-8
And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob: …

Isaiah 3:1-8
For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water, …

he shall be

Judges 11:11
Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

Judges 12:7
And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

1 Samuel 17:25
And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.

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Judges 10

1. Tola judges Israel in Shamir
3. Jair, whose thirty sons had thirty cities
6. The Philistines and Ammonites oppress Israel
10. In their misery God sends them to their false gods
15. Upon their repentance he pities them

Berean Study Bible

The rulers of Gilead
This phrase refers to the leaders or chiefs of the region of Gilead, a mountainous area east of the Jordan River. Historically, Gilead was known for its balm, a healing ointment, and was a significant region for the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The term "rulers" indicates a collective leadership, possibly elders or tribal heads, who were responsible for making decisions for the community. In the Hebrew context, these leaders were expected to act with wisdom and seek God's guidance in their decisions.

said to one another
This phrase suggests a deliberative process among the leaders. It implies a council or assembly where ideas and strategies were discussed. In ancient Israel, such discussions were often held at the city gate, a place of judgment and decision-making. The phrase highlights the communal nature of leadership in Israel, where decisions were made collectively rather than autocratically.

Whoever will launch the attack
The Hebrew root for "launch the attack" conveys the idea of initiating or beginning a military campaign. This phrase indicates a call to action, a challenge to the bravest and most capable leader to step forward. In the context of the Book of Judges, this reflects the recurring theme of God raising up deliverers to save Israel from oppression. The leaders of Gilead were seeking someone with the courage and faith to lead them against their enemies.

against the Ammonites
The Ammonites were a neighboring people often in conflict with Israel. Descendants of Lot, they occupied the territory east of the Jordan River. Historically, the Ammonites were known for their idol worship and hostility towards Israel. This phrase sets the stage for the conflict, highlighting the need for deliverance from an oppressive enemy. The Ammonites' aggression was seen as a direct challenge to Israel's covenant relationship with God.

will be the head
The term "head" in Hebrew often denotes leadership or authority. It implies not just a military leader but a ruler or judge who would have authority over the people. This promise of leadership was a significant incentive, offering not only the honor of leading the battle but also the responsibility of governing the people. In the context of Judges, this reflects the cyclical pattern of Israel's need for a judge to lead them back to faithfulness to God.

of all who live in Gilead
This phrase emphasizes the scope of the leadership being offered. It was not just a military command but a position of authority over the entire region of Gilead. The leaders were looking for someone who could unite the people and lead them both in battle and in peace. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God raising leaders who would guide His people according to His will.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) The people and princes.--There is no "and" in the original; but it cannot be a case of apposition, because the term "people" is never applied to "princes."

Head.--Comp. Judges 11:11.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - Gilead. See note to ver. 8. The people and princes. There is no and in the Hebrew. It is perhaps better, therefore, to take the words in apposition, as meaning, And the assembly of the chiefs of Gilead. The first step was to find a competent leader, and they agreed to appoint such an one, if he could be found, as their permanent head and captain.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

The rulers
שָׂרֵ֤י (śā·rê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 8269: Chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince

of Gilead
גִלְעָד֙ (ḡil·‘āḏ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1568: Gilead -- a region in Palestine, also the name of several Israelites

said
וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

one
אִ֣ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

another,
רֵעֵ֔הוּ (rê·‘ê·hū)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7453: Friend, companion, fellow

“Whoever
מִ֣י (mî)
Interrogative
Strong's 4310: Who?, whoever, in oblique construction with prefix, suffix

will launch
יָחֵ֔ל (yā·ḥêl)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2490: To bore, to wound, to dissolve, to profane, to break, to begin, to play

the attack
לְהִלָּחֵ֖ם (lə·hil·lā·ḥêm)
Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 3898: To feed on, to consume, to battle

against the Ammonites
בִּבְנֵ֣י (biḇ·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

will be
יִֽהְיֶ֣ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the head
לְרֹ֔אשׁ (lə·rōš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7218: The head

of all
לְכֹ֖ל (lə·ḵōl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

who live
יֹשְׁבֵ֥י (yō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

in Gilead.”
גִלְעָֽד׃ (ḡil·‘āḏ)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 1568: Gilead -- a region in Palestine, also the name of several Israelites

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OT History: Judges 10:18 The people the princes of Gilead said (Jd Judg. Jdg)