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17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together and encamped in Gilead. The children of Israel assembled themselves together and encamped in Mizpah. 18 The people, the princes of Gilead, said to one another, “Who is the man who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

11 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor. He was the son of a prostitute. Gilead became the father of Jephthah. Gilead’s wife bore him sons. When his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You will not inherit in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Outlaws joined up with Jephthah, and they went out with him.

After a while, the children of Ammon made war against Israel. When the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob. They said to Jephthah, “Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.”

Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Didn’t you hate me, and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?”

The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Therefore we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the children of Ammon. You will be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivers them before me, will I be your head?”

10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Yahweh will be witness between us. Surely we will do what you say.”

11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them. Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh in Mizpah.

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] 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.” 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.

After a time the Ammonites[h] made war with Israel. When the Ammonites[i] made war with Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob. And they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander, so that we may make war against the Ammonites.”[j] 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?” 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.” 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

  1. Judges 10:17 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
  2. Judges 10:17 Or “were called to arms”
  3. Judges 10:17 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  4. Judges 10:18 Literally “said each to his neighbor”
  5. Judges 10:18 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
  6. Judges 11:1 Literally “Gilead fathered Jephthah”
  7. Judges 11:3 Literally “unprincipled/worthless men”
  8. Judges 11:4 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
  9. Judges 11:5 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
  10. Judges 11:6 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
  11. Judges 11:8 Literally “to make war”
  12. Judges 11:8 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
  13. Judges 11:9 Literally “to make war”
  14. Judges 11:9 Literally “sons/children of Ammon”
  15. Judges 11:9 Literally “before me”
  16. Judges 11:10 Literally “hearer”