Jephthah Defeats Ephraim

1Then the men of Ephraim (doubly fruitful) assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah (he opens), “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites (tribal) without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”

2But Jephthah (he opens) replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites (tribal), and when I called, you⁺ did not save me out of their hands. 3When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites (tribal), and the LORD {YHWH} delivered them into my hand. Why then have you⁺ come today to fight against me?”

4Jephthah then (he opens) gathered all the men of Gilead (rocky region) and fought against Ephraim (doubly fruitful). And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You⁺ Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh (causing to forget).”

5The Gileadites (rocky region) captured the fords of the Jordan (flowing down) leading to Ephraim (doubly fruitful), and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite (fruitfulness)?”

If he answered, “No,” 6they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.”

If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan (flowing down). So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites (doubly fruitful) were killed.

7Jephthah (he opens) judged Israel (he wrestles with God) six years, and when he (rocky region) died, he was buried in one of the cities of Gilead [in his city in Gilead].a

Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon

8After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem (house of bread) judged Israel (he wrestles with God). 9He had thirty sons, as well as thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage to men outside his clan; and for his sons he brought back thirty wives from elsewhere. Ibzan judged Israel (he wrestles with God) seven years. 10Then Ibzan died, and he was buried in Bethlehem (house of bread).

11After Ibzan, Elon (mighty) the Zebulunite judged Israel (he wrestles with God) ten years. 12Then Elon (mighty) the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Aijalon (field of deer) in the land of Zebulun (exalted).

13After Elon, Abdon (servile) son of Hillel (praising), from Pirathon, judged Israel (he wrestles with God). 14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel (he wrestles with God) eight years. 15Then Abdon (servile) son of Hillel (praising), from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon (princely) in Ephraim (doubly fruitful), in the hill country of the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley).