Jephthah tried to reason with a bully. He made a case that to any reasonable and fair judge would have won his case. He built his case based on historical facts and evidence that was recognized and acknowledged by all.

First, he reminded the Ammonite King that God had forbidden Israel to fight with or take land for Moab, Edom or Ammon, because all these people were related to Israel. God had given the descendants of Ishmael or Esau lands of their own. Therefore they traveled the long way around to the promised land when Edom and Moab denied them free passage.

This prohibition did not apply to the Amorites, and when they were refused passage there was a battle at Jahaz. When the Israelites won that battle, they seized the land that had been occupied by the Amorites and avoided any conflict with Moab or Ammon. Now 300 years after the fact, the Ammonite King was claiming to have a right to the original territory that Israel took from the Amorites.

Jephthah stated a shared belief; both the Israelites and the Ammonites believe that land was a gift from God. When nations battled over territory, the nation with the most powerful god won. The land had been given to Israel by the God of Israel, and to take it the Ammonite King would have to steal it from God. He should be satisfied with the land his god, Chemosh/Milcom had given him.

Jephthah pointed out that originally Balak, the king of Moab, tried to take the disputed territory by having Balaam, a wicked prophet, curse Israel. After God turn the curses into blessings, Balak recognized the legitimacy of Israel’s claim to the land. For the next 300 years neither Moab or Ammon were able to retake the land. After 300 years, the land belonged Israel.

The king of Ammon paid no attention because it is almost impossible to reason with bullies. They believe “might makes right.” Jephthah would have to introduce him to the might of God.