¹⁷ The Ammonites were called together, and they camped in Gilead. So the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.^{(A) 18} The rulers^[a] of Gilead said to one another, “Which man will begin the fight against the Ammonites? He will be the leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Jephthah Becomes Israel’s Leader

11 Jephthah^(B) the Gileadite was a valiant warrior,^(C) but he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father. ² Gilead’s wife bore him sons, and when they grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You will have no inheritance in our father’s family, because you are the son of another woman.” ³ So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob.^(D) Then some worthless men joined Jephthah and went on raids with him.

⁴ Some time later, the Ammonites fought against Israel. ⁵ When the Ammonites made war with Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. ⁶ They said to him, “Come, be our commander, and let’s fight the Ammonites.”

⁷ Jephthah replied to the elders of Gilead, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me out of my father’s family? Why then have you come to me now when you’re in trouble?”

⁸ They answered Jephthah, “That’s true. But now we turn to you. Come with us, fight the Ammonites, and you will become leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

⁹ So Jephthah said to them, “If you are bringing me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me, I will be your leader.”

¹⁰ The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The Lord is our witness if we don’t do as you say.” ¹¹ So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead. The people made him their leader and commander, and Jephthah repeated all his terms in the presence of the Lord at Mizpah.