Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him.
Jephthah’s complaint about being appealed to as a last resort reminds us of God’s similar words in Judges 10:14. To persuade Jephthah to accept their invitation, the elders promised that he would be their leader (sheriff?) and that they would follow his directions in the battle (Judges 11:8). He acknowledged that if he defeated the Ammonites it would be because the Lord gave them over to him (Judges 11:9). Interestingly, Jephthah used the name of Yahweh more frequently than any other person in Judges. He was a man of faith even though he was a rough character.