Who Truly Owns the Land? A Biblical Land Dispute Unraveled
In this article, you will learn how Judges 11:13 contradicts Exodus 3:8, Deuteronomy 2:19, Joshua 13:25 and Numbers 21:24-26. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
In the biblical narrative, land ownership disputes can be as complex as modern-day real estate lawsuits. A perfect example is the Ammonite claim found in Judges 11:13, where the king of the Ammonites accuses the Israelites of taking his people's land when they left Egypt. He demands the land be returned without conflict. However, when we dive deeper into biblical texts, this statement meets several contradictions.
Firstly, Exodus 3:8 indicates that God promised the Israelites the land of various groups, including the Amorites, not the Ammonites. This divine promise highlights that the Israelites were destined to occupy specific territories, challenging the Ammonite's claim of Israelite trespass.
Furthermore, Deuteronomy 2:19 presents a different angle. In this passage, God specifically instructs the Israelites not to engage in conflict with the Ammonites or seize their land. This divine edict seems to suggest that the Israelites were directed to respect the territories of the Ammonites, adding another layer of complexity to the Ammonite king's accusation in Judges 11:13.
Joshua 13:25 moves the narrative forward by describing how the Israelites allocated land once belonging to the Amorites to their tribes. This allocation suggests that the areas in question were taken from the Amorites, not the Ammonites, thus fueling further contradiction to the Ammonite king’s assertion.
Lastly, Numbers 21:24-26 recounts Israel's battle with the Amorites, resulting in the capture of their territory. The lack of mention of conflict with the Ammonites in these verses adds more weight against the Ammonite claim presented in Judges.
This tangled web of narratives could metaphorically be seen as a courtroom drama, where all parties must provide evidence to support their claims. The contradictions are akin to mismatched testimonies, leaving readers questioning—who truly owns the land in this epic biblical tale?
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Judges 11:13 | And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those [lands] again peaceably. |
| 2. | Exodus 3:8 | And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. |
| 3. | Deuteronomy 2:19 | And [when] thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor meddle with them: for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon [any] possession; because I have given it unto the children of Lot [for] a possession. |
| 4. | Joshua 13:25 | And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that [is] before Rabbah; |
| 5. | Numbers 21:24-26 | And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon [was] strong. |