Judges 11:20
“But Sihon didn’t trust Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.”
What does Judges 11:20 mean?
When the Israelites asked permission to pass peacefully through Sihon's territory on their way to the promised land, Sihon refused and chose confrontation instead. Rather than allowing safe passage, he assembled his forces and initiated battle. This moment shows how fear and distrust can escalate conflict, even when a peaceful solution might have been possible. Sometimes people's anxieties about others' intentions close doors that could have remained open, and that choice carries real consequences for everyone involved.