Judges 10:17-11:11
New Living Translation
17 At that time the armies of Ammon had gathered for war and were camped in Gilead, and the people of Israel assembled and camped at Mizpah. 18 The leaders of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever attacks the Ammonites first will become ruler over all the people of Gilead.”
Jephthah Becomes Israel’s Judge
11 Now Jephthah of Gilead was a great warrior. He was the son of Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute. 2 Gilead’s wife also had several sons, and when these half brothers grew up, they chased Jephthah off the land. “You will not get any of our father’s inheritance,” they said, “for you are the son of a prostitute.” 3 So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Soon he had a band of worthless rebels following him.
4 At about this time, the Ammonites began their war against Israel. 5 When the Ammonites attacked, the elders of Gilead sent for Jephthah in the land of Tob. 6 The elders said, “Come and be our commander! Help us fight the Ammonites!”
7 But Jephthah said to them, “Aren’t you the ones who hated me and drove me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now when you’re in trouble?”
8 “Because we need you,” the elders replied. “If you lead us in battle against the Ammonites, we will make you ruler over all the people of Gilead.”
9 Jephthah said to the elders, “Let me get this straight. If I come with you and if the Lord gives me victory over the Ammonites, will you really make me ruler over all the people?”
10 “The Lord is our witness,” the elders replied. “We promise to do whatever you say.”
11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their ruler and commander of the army. At Mizpah, in the presence of the Lord, Jephthah repeated what he had said to the elders.
Judges 10:17-11:11
Lexham English Bible
17 And the Ammonites[a] were summoned,[b] and they camped in Gilead. And the Israelites[c] gathered and camped at Mizpah. 18 The people, the ones commanding Gilead, said to each other,[d] “Who is the man that will begin to fight against the Ammonites?[e] He will be as head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”
Jephthah
11 Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior; he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father.[f] 2 Gilead’s wife also bore for him sons; and the sons of his wife grew up and drove Jephthah away, and they said to him, “You will not inherit the house of our father because you are the son of another woman.” 3 So Jephthah fled from the presence of his brothers, and he lived in the land of Tob. And outlaws[g] gathered around Jephthah and went with him.
4 After a time the Ammonites[h] made war with Israel. 5 When the Ammonites[i] made war with Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 And they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander, so that we may make war against the Ammonites.”[j] 7 Jephthah said to the elders, “Did you not shun me and drive me out from the house of my father? Why do you come to me now when you have trouble?” 8 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That being so, we have now returned to you, that you may go with us to fight[k] against the Ammonites[l] and become for us as head of all the inhabitants of Gilead.” 9 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me back to fight[m] against the Ammonites,[n] and Yahweh gives them over to me,[o] will I be your head?” 10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Yahweh will be a witness[p] between us; we will act according to your word.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh at Mizpah.
Footnotes
- Judges 10:17 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
- Judges 10:17 Or “were called to arms”
- Judges 10:17 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Judges 10:18 Literally “said each to his neighbor”
- Judges 10:18 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
- Judges 11:1 Literally “Gilead fathered Jephthah”
- Judges 11:3 Literally “unprincipled/worthless men”
- Judges 11:4 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
- Judges 11:5 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
- Judges 11:6 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
- Judges 11:8 Literally “to make war”
- Judges 11:8 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
- Judges 11:9 Literally “to make war”
- Judges 11:9 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
- Judges 11:9 Literally “before me”
- Judges 11:10 Literally “hearer”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
2012 by Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software