In 11.19-22 Jephthah tells about Israel’s defeat of the Amorite king Sihon and his people. This incident is also recounted in Num 21.21-31 and Deut 2.26-35. Several versions begin a new paragraph here (Contemporary English Version, New International Version, New Living Translation).

Israel then sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites: Then renders the Hebrew waw conjunction, which introduces the next step in Israel’s wanderings. Bible en français courant and Parole de Vie begin with “From there.” Israel refers to the people of Israel again, but the one actually sending the messengers was their leader Moses. Once again the “story within the story” contains many elements of the present situation. For sent messengers, see verse 11.12. Sihon king of the Amorites controlled the region from the Jabbok River on the north to the Arnon River on the south. Since the Moabites did not allow the Israelites to pass through their territory south of the Arnon River, the Israelites asked permission from Sihon to pass through his territory north of the Arnon River along the King’s Highway. They intended to cross the Jordan River into Canaan. For the Amorites, see the introductory comments on verse 11.12-28. In most languages a comma will separate the name of the king from his title as follows: “Sihon, king of the Amorites.”

King of Heshbon is not another king, but another description of Sihon. Heshbon was the royal city of Sihon, located south of present-day Amman, to the northeast of the Dead Sea. We might say “who ruled from the city of Heshbon” or “whose capital city was Heshbon.”

Let us pass, we pray, through your land to our country: This request is similar to the one in verse 11.17. However, here the Hebrew pronoun for us is plural, rather than singular. Though the pronouns are different, the meaning is the same. Our country is literally “my place,” which refers to the land of Canaan. The Israelites did not occupy the land yet, but they believed God had already given it to them. It might be possible to speak of “the place that will become ours.” It may also be helpful to add a footnote explaining that this country is Canaan. Contemporary English Version reverses the words land and country: “Please … let our people go through your country to get to our own land.”

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .