1 T he men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Jephthah, “Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn’t call us to go with you? We will burn your house around you with fire!”

Then 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.”

2 J ephthah said to them, “I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, you didn’t save me out of their hand.

Jephthah 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.

3 W hen I saw that you didn’t save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me today, to fight against me?”

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?”

4 T hen Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim. The men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the middle of Ephraim, and in the middle of Manasseh.”

Then 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.”

5 T he Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. When the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No”;

The 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,”

6 t hen they said to him, “Now say ‘Shibboleth;’” and he said “Sibboleth”; for he couldn’t manage to pronounce it right: then they seized him, and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, forty-two thousand of Ephraim fell.

they 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.

7 J ephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in the cities of Gilead.

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

8 A fter him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

Ibzan of Bethlehem ruled Israel after him.

9 H e had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside his clan for his sons. He judged Israel seven years.

He 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.

10 I bzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem.

Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

11 A fter him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.

Elon the Zebulunite ruled Israel after him. He ruled Israel for ten years.

12 E lon the Zebulunite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

Then Elon the Zebulunite died. He was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

13 A fter him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite ruled Israel after him.

14 H e had forty sons and thirty sons’ sons, who rode on seventy donkey colts. He judged Israel eight years.

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

15 A bdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

Then 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.