1 Jephthah Fights Ephraim Then the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they crossed 12:1Or northward to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon, but did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you.”
2 Then Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were at great strife with the sons of Ammon. And I cried out to you, but you did not save me from their hand.
3 And I saw that you would not saveme, so I 12:3Lit put my soul in my palm took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and Yahweh gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”
4 Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim; and the men of Gilead struck Ephraim down because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, O Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraimandin the midst of Manasseh.”
5 And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan opposite Ephraim. And it happened whenany ofthe fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,”
6 then they would say to him, “Say now, ‘Shibboleth.’ ” But he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not 12:6 Lit speak so pronounce it correctly. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. Thus there fell at that time42,000of Ephraim.
7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried inone ofthe cities of Gilead.Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon Judge Israel
8 Then Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel after him.
9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughterswhomhe 12:9Lit sent outside gave in marriage outsidethe family, and he brought in thirty daughters from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.
10 Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.
11 Then Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel after him; and he judged Israel ten years.
12 And Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
13 Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel after him.
14 And he had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys; and he judged Israel eight years.
15 Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.