שופטים, פרק י״א, פסוק י״ג

As tensions mount over a disputed region, the king of Ammon delivers a calculated response to Jephthah's messengers, presenting a historical justification for war. His message contains a subtle personal insult directed at Jephthah. By framing his complaint as an issue with the entire Israelite nation, the king deliberately dismisses Jephthah's authority as a leader, hinting that he and his family have no legitimate right to govern the land [אברבנאל].

The core of the Ammonite king's argument is that the Israelites stole his territory when they journeyed up from Egypt. He defines this vast area as stretching from the Arnon river in the south, through the Jabbok river in the north, and reaching the Jordan river in the west [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

His demand to return these cities to their original owners rests on a complex historical claim. The king is demanding territories that once belonged to Moab before they were conquered by Sihon, alongside lands that originally belonged to his own Ammonite people. This indicates that during this period, the king of Ammon also ruled over the land of Moab and was pressing territorial claims on their behalf as well [מלבי״ם].

The message concludes with a strict ultimatum. The Ammonite king demands that the Israelites hand back the territories peacefully and without a fight, presenting this as their only option if they wish to avoid an all-out war [מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].