Judges 11:12-28 - Jephthah Rejects Ammonite Claims
12 Then Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, "What aileth thee with me that thou comest upon me to fight against my land?"
13 And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel took away my land, when they came out of Egypt, even from Arnon unto Jabbok and from thence unto Jordan, now therefore restore those lands again with fair means."
14 And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the children of Ammon, 15 and said unto him, "Thus sayeth Jephthah: Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon. 16 But when Israel came out of Egypt, they walked through the wilderness, even unto the reed sea, and came to Kadesh, 17 and sent messengers unto the king of Edom saying, 'Let us, we pray thee, go through thy land.' But the king of Edom would not agree thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab, but he would not consent. And so Israel abode still in Kadesh.
18 And then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came along by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of the river of Arnon, and came not within the coasts of the Moabites: for Arnon was their utmost border.
19 And then Israel sent messengers unto Sihon, king of the Amorites, and king of Heshbon, and said unto him, 'Let us pass through thy land unto our own country.' 20 But Sihon trusted not Israel, to go through his coasts: but gathered all his people together and pitched in Jahaz, and fought with Israel. 21 But the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his folk into the hands of Israel. And so Israel smote them and conquered all the land of the Amorites, the inhabiters of the said country. 22 And they conquered all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness unto Jordan.
23 So now seeing the LORD God of Israel hath cast out the Amorites before his people, shouldest thou possess the land? 24 Nay, but what people Chemosh thy god driveth out, that land possess thou. But whatsoever nations the LORD our God expelleth, that land ought we to enjoy. 25 And thereto art thou better than Balak the son of Zippor king of Moab? Did he strive with Israel or fight against thee, 26 all the while Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundredth years? Why didst thou not recover them in all that space? 27 Wherefore I have not sinned against thee. But thou doest me wrong, to war against me. The LORD therefore be judge this day, between the children of Israel, and the children of Ammon." 28 Howbeit, the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.