1. Juges 10:6–17 (NEG79)
  2. Explication du texte

How does the prologue to the Jephthah narrative compare and contrast with that of the Gideon narrative?

Juges 10:6–17 (NEG79)

6 Les enfants d'Israël firent encore ce qui déplaît à l'Eternel; ils servirent les Baals et les Astartés, les dieux de Syrie, les dieux de Sidon, les dieux de Moab, les dieux des fils d'Ammon, et les dieux des Philistins, et ils abandonnèrent l'Eternel et ne le servirent plus.

In the prologue to Jephthah’s story (Judges 10:6–17), there is a similarity to Gideon’s story. In both cases, there is an introduction that includes:

  • Israel’s apostasy from the Lord (Judges 6:1; Judges 10:6)

  • God’s discipline as Israel faces an enemy (Judges 6:2–6; Judges 10:7–9)

  • Israel’s cry to God for help (Judges 6:6; Judges 10:10, Judges 10:15).

The difference is that in this case the Lord first expresses reluctance to save Israel. Things are more serious in the Jephthah narrative.