And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.

And they said to him: Come thou and be our prince, and fight against the children of Ammon.

and they said to Jephthah, |Come and be our leader, that we may fight with the Ammonites.|

and they say unto Jephthah, 'Come, and thou hast been to us for captain, and we fight against the Bene-Ammon.'

And they said to Jephthah, Come and be our chief so that we may make war against the children of Ammon.

And they said to him, "Come and be our leader, and fight against the sons of Ammon."

Come, and be our captain - The Israelites were assembled in Mizpeh, but were without a captain to lead them against the Ammonites. And we find, from the conclusion of the preceding chapter, that they offered the command to any that would accept it.

And they said unto Jephthah, (e) Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
(e) Men are often forced to ask for help from them, whom before they refused.

And they said unto Jephthah, come and be our captain,.... The general of their army, to conduct and lead on their forces; they did not propose him to be their king, being convinced by Abimelech's conduct that such a step would be wrong; nor did they say anything of his being their judge, having no other view than to serve their present exigence; besides, a judge was not one chosen by the people, but raised up of God, and which honour was conferred on Jephthah afterwards:
that we may fight with the children of Ammon; with judgment, courage, and success; they did not make this proposal to him to save themselves from being engaged in the war, but that they might have one skilful in military affairs at the head of them, to instruct them in the art of war, and lead them on in a regular manner, and animate them by his brave example.