שופטים, פרק י״א, פסוק י״ב

Upon assuming the mantle of leadership, a new ruler must quickly establish authority while managing looming threats. Jephthah initiates his tenure with a calculated diplomatic move, acting in the tradition of kings who seek peace before engaging in battle [אברבנאל]. He dispatches an official delegation to uncover the exact cause of the conflict. This strategy is rooted in the understanding that wars typically arise from specific grievances that can often be settled through compromise before any blood is shed [מלבי״ם]. Beyond preventing violence, this outreach firmly establishes Jephthah's fresh status as ruler and military commander. It sends a clear message to the king of Ammon that he is no longer dealing with scattered settlements, but rather a united and highly organized army [רלב״ג, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The primary approach among commentators views Jephthah's initial message as a genuine inquiry into the root of the hostility. He questions what business or deep seated grudge exists between them, and what offense the Israelites could have possibly committed to provoke a campaign of conquest [מצודת דוד, אברבנאל, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A different perspective suggests that Jephthah is subtly referencing a spiritual balance of power. He warns the Ammonite king that if he relies on the merit of his ancestors for victory, the Israelites possess their own powerful ancestral merit to rely upon [אהבת יהונתן]. Furthermore, Jephthah deliberately refers to the territory as his own land. Having just been appointed as the head of the Israelites, he closely identifies with the nation and takes complete personal responsibility for the defense of their borders [מצודת דוד].

The resulting exchange of messages reveals a deep historical and legal dispute. The king of Ammon claims that the Israelites stole his territory during their journey from Egypt and demands its return. In response, Jephthah dismantles this argument, proving that the Ammonite claim is entirely unjustified. He clarifies that the Israelites never took any land from Ammon. In fact, they carefully avoided provoking Edom and Moab, even when Edom threatened them with military force. The specific territory in question was lawfully conquered from Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had refused the Israelites passage and initiated a war against them. By presenting this history, Jephthah makes it perfectly clear to the king of Ammon that his military campaign is based on a false premise and is ultimately doomed to fail [רלב״ג, צאינה וראינה, אהבת יהונתן].