1 T hen the men of Ephraim got ready for war. They crossed over to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight the men of Ammon without calling us to go with you? With fire we will burn down your house with you in it.”

And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire.

2 J ephthah said to them, “I and my people were having much trouble with the people of Ammon. I did call you, but you did not take me away from them.

And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands.

3 I saw that you would not help me, so I took my life in my hands. I crossed over to fight the people of Ammon. And the Lord gave them into my hand. So why have you come today to fight against me?”

And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

4 T hen Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim. The men of Gilead won the war against Ephraim, because Ephraim said, “You people of Gilead are not respected among Ephraim and Manasseh.”

Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites.

5 T he people of Gilead took the crossing places of the Jordan beside Ephraim. When any of the Ephraimite men ran away and said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,”

And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;

6 t hey would say to him, “Then say ‘Shibboleth.’” But he would say, “Sibboleth,” for he could not say it right. So they would take hold of him and kill him at the crossing places of the Jordan. At that time 42, 000 men of Ephraim were killed.

then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.

7 J ephthah ruled Israel for six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died. He was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon

And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

8 I bzan of Bethlehem ruled Israel after him.

And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel.

9 H e had thirty sons and thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage outside the family. And he brought in thirty daughters from outside the family for his sons. He ruled Israel for seven years.

And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

10 T hen Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Beth-lehem.

11 E lon the Zebulunite ruled Israel after him. He ruled Israel for ten years.

And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.

12 T hen Elon the Zebulunite died. He was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.

13 A bdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite ruled Israel after him.

And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

14 H e had forty sons and thirty grandsons who traveled on seventy donkeys. He ruled Israel for eight years.

And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.

15 T hen Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died. He was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.