²³ But Gideon told them, “I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you. The Lord will rule^(A) over you.”

¹² “But when you saw that Nahash^(A) king^(B) of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we want a king to rule^(C) over us’—even though the Lord your God was your king.

¹⁹ But you have now rejected^(A) your God, who saves^(B) you out of all your disasters and calamities. And you have said, ‘No, appoint a king^(C) over us.’^(D) So now present^(E) yourselves before the Lord by your tribes and clans.”

²⁴ Not that we lord it over^(A) your faith, but we work with you for your joy, because it is by faith you stand firm.^(B)

³ not lording it over^(A) those entrusted to you, but being examples^(B) to the flock.

⁶ But when they said, “Give us a king^(A) to lead us,” this displeased^(B) Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord. ⁷ And the Lord told him: “Listen^(C) to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected,^(D) but they have rejected me as their king.^(E)

⁹ Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me—will I really be your head?”

¹⁰ The elders of Gilead replied, “The Lord is our witness;^(A) we will certainly do as you say.” ¹¹ So Jephthah went with the elders^(B) of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated^(C) all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.^(D)