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Jefté interviene en el conflicto

11 Jefté, el galaadita, era un valiente guerrero. Era hijo de una prostituta y su padre era Galaad. Pero Galaad tuvo también hijos de su esposa legítima. Cuando estos hijos crecieron, echaron de casa a Jefté diciéndole:

— Tú no heredarás a nuestro padre, porque eres hijo de una mujer extraña.

Jefté huyó lejos de sus hermanos y se quedó en el país de Tob. Se le unió una banda de gente miserable y juntos hacían incursiones.

Andando el tiempo, los amonitas declararon la guerra a Israel. Cuando los amonitas atacaron a Israel, los ancianos de Galaad fueron al país de Tob a buscar a Jefté. Le dijeron:

— Ven, sé nuestro caudillo en la guerra contra los amonitas.

Pero Jefté respondió a los ancianos de Galaad:

— ¿No sois vosotros los que me odiabais y me echasteis de la casa de mi padre? ¿Por qué ahora, que estáis en un aprieto, acudís a mí?

Los ancianos de Galaad replicaron a Jefté:

— Por eso mismo ahora acudimos a ti: ven con nosotros, ataca a los amonitas y sé nuestro jefe y el de todos los que habitamos en Galaad.

Jefté respondió a los ancianos de Galaad:

— Si me hacéis volver para combatir a los amonitas y el Señor me los entrega, yo seré vuestro jefe.

10 Respondieron a Jefté los ancianos de Galaad:

— Que el Señor nos lo demande si no hacemos lo que dices.

11 Jefté se fue con los ancianos de Galaad y el pueblo lo nombró su jefe y caudillo. Jefté repitió todas sus condiciones ante el Señor, en Mispá.

Conversaciones de Jefté con los amonitas

12 Jefté envió mensajeros al rey de los amonitas con este mensaje:

— ¿Qué te he hecho yo para que vengas a atacarme en mi propia tierra?

13 El rey de los amonitas respondió a los mensajeros de Jefté:

— Cuando Israel salió de Egipto, se apoderó de mi tierra desde el Arnón hasta el Yaboc y el Jordán. Así que ahora devuélvemela y quedaremos en paz.

14 Jefté envió de nuevo mensajeros al rey de los amonitas 15 para decirle:

— Esto dice Jefté: Israel no se apoderó ni de la tierra de Moab ni de la tierra de los amonitas. 16 Cuando Israel salió de Egipto, caminó por el desierto hasta el mar Rojo y llegó a Cadés. 17 Entonces Israel envió mensajeros al rey de Edom para decirle: “Déjame, por favor, pasar por tu país”. Pero el rey de Edom no les hizo caso. Envió también mensajeros al rey de Moab, el cual también se negó. Entonces Israel se quedó en Cadés. 18 Luego, avanzando por el desierto, bordeó Edom y Moab y llegó al oriente del país de Moab. Acamparon al otro lado del Arnón, sin cruzar la frontera de Moab (pues el Arnón es la frontera de Moab). 19 Israel envió mensajeros a Sijón, rey de los amorreos, que reinaba en Jesbón, y le dijo: “Déjame, por favor, pasar por tu tierra hasta llegar a mi tierra”. 20 Pero Sijón no sólo le negó a Israel el paso por su territorio, sino que reunió toda su gente, acampó en Jasá, y atacó a Israel. 21 El Señor, Dios de Israel, entregó a Sijón y a toda su gente en manos de Israel, que los derrotó, y así conquistó Israel todo el país de los amorreos que habitaban allí. 22 Conquistaron todo el territorio de los amorreos, desde el Arnón hasta el Yaboc y desde el desierto hasta el Jordán. 23 Si, pues, el Señor, Dios de Israel, quitó su heredad a los amorreos para dársela a su pueblo Israel, ¿ahora se la vas a arrebatar tú? 24 ¿No posees todo lo que tu dios Quemós quitó a sus propietarios para dártelo a ti? Igualmente nosotros poseemos todo lo que el Señor nuestro Dios quitó a sus propietarios para dárnoslo a nosotros. 25 ¿Vas a ser tú más que Balac, hijo de Zipor, rey de Moab? ¿Acaso pudo él prevalecer en su lucha contra Israel? 26 Hace ya trescientos años que Israel está establecido en Jesbón y en sus aldeas, en Aroer y en sus aldeas y en todos los poblados que están a ambos lados del Arnón, ¿cómo es que no lo habéis recuperado en todo ese tiempo? 27 Yo no te he ofendido; eres tú el que te portas mal conmigo declarándome la guerra. El Señor sea juez hoy entre israelitas y amonitas.

28 Pero el rey de los amonitas hizo caso omiso del mensaje que le envió Jefté.

El voto de Jefté y su victoria

29 El espíritu del Señor se apoderó de Jefté, que recorrió Galaad y Manasés, llegó a Mispá de Galaad y desde Mispá de Galaad se adentró en el territorio de los amonitas. 30 Y Jefté hizo un voto al Señor:

— Si entregas en mis manos a los amonitas, 31 el primero que salga a mi encuentro por las puertas de mi casa cuando regrese después de haber vencido a los amonitas, lo consagraré al Señor y lo ofreceré en holocausto.

32 Jefté se adentró en territorio amonita para atacarlos, y el Señor se los entregó. 33 Los persiguió desde Aroer hasta cerca de Minit (veinte poblados) y hasta Abel Queramín. La derrota fue total y los amonitas quedaron sometidos a los israelitas.

34 Cuando Jefté volvía a su casa de Mispá, su hija le salió al encuentro bailando al son de las panderetas. Era su única hija; no tenía otros hijos ni otras hijas. 35 Al verla, rasgó sus vestiduras y gritó:

— ¡Ay, hija mía, me has destrozado! ¿Por qué has de ser tú la causa de mi desgracia? Me comprometí ante el Señor y no puedo volverme atrás.

36 Ella le respondió:

— Padre mío, puesto que te has comprometido ante el Señor, haz conmigo lo que prometiste, ya que el Señor te ha concedido vengarte de tus enemigos, los amonitas.

37 Después dijo a su padre:

— Sólo te pido que me concedas esta gracia: déjame vagar dos meses por los montes y llorar mi virginidad con mis compañeras.

38 Su padre le dijo:

— Vete.

Y la dejó marchar por el tiempo de dos meses. Ella se fue con sus compañeras y anduvo por los montes llorando su virginidad. 39 Al cabo de los dos meses, volvió a casa de su padre y él cumplió con ella el voto que había hecho. La joven no había tenido relaciones con varón. Y se hizo costumbre en Israel 40 que las jóvenes israelitas se lamentasen todos los años durante cuatro días por la hija de Jefté, el galaadita.

Jephthah

11 Now (A)Jephthah the Gileadite was (B)a mighty man of valor, but he was the son of a harlot; and Gilead begot Jephthah. Gilead’s wife bore sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have (C)no inheritance in our father’s house, for you are the son of another woman.” Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and dwelt in the land of (D)Tob; and (E)worthless men banded together with Jephthah and went out raiding with him.

It came to pass after a time that the (F)people of Ammon made war against Israel. And so it was, when the people of Ammon made war against Israel, that the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. Then they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander, that we may fight against the people of Ammon.”

So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, (G)“Did you not hate me, and expel me from my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in [a]distress?”

(H)And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have (I)turned[b] again to you now, that you may go with us and fight against the people of Ammon, and be (J)our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you take me back home to fight against the people of Ammon, and the Lord delivers them to me, shall I be your head?”

10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, (K)“The Lord will be a witness between us, if we do not do according to your words.” 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him (L)head and commander over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words (M)before the Lord in Mizpah.

12 Now Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, saying, (N)“What do you have against me, that you have come to fight against me in my land?”

13 And the king of the people of Ammon answered the messengers of Jephthah, (O)“Because Israel took away my land when they came up out of Egypt, from (P)the Arnon as far as (Q)the Jabbok, and to the Jordan. Now therefore, restore those lands peaceably.”

14 So Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, 15 and said to him, “Thus says Jephthah: (R)‘Israel did not take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the people of Ammon; 16 for when Israel came up from Egypt, they walked through the wilderness as far as the Red Sea and (S)came to Kadesh. 17 Then (T)Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, “Please let me pass through your land.” (U)But the king of Edom would not heed. And in like manner they sent to the (V)king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel (W)remained in Kadesh. 18 And they (X)went along through the wilderness and (Y)bypassed the land of Edom and the land of Moab, came to the east side of the land of Moab, and encamped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not enter the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab. 19 Then (Z)Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, “Please (AA)let us pass through your land into our place.” 20 (AB)But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people together, encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 21 And the Lord God of Israel (AC)delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they (AD)defeated[c] them. Thus Israel gained possession of all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country. 22 They took possession of (AE)all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.

23 ‘And now the Lord God of Israel has [d]dispossessed the Amorites from before His people Israel; should you then possess it? 24 Will you not possess whatever (AF)Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whatever (AG)the Lord our God takes possession of before us, we will possess. 25 And now, are you any better than (AH)Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel? Did he ever fight against them? 26 While Israel dwelt in (AI)Heshbon and its villages, in (AJ)Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities along the banks of the Arnon, for three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time? 27 Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the Lord, (AK)the Judge, (AL)render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon.’ ” 28 However, the king of the people of Ammon did not heed the words which Jephthah sent him.

Jephthah’s Vow and Victory

29 Then (AM)the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of Gilead; and from Mizpah of Gilead he advanced toward the people of Ammon. 30 And Jephthah (AN)made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, 31 then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, (AO)shall surely be the Lord’s, (AP)and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

32 So Jephthah advanced toward the people of Ammon to fight against them, and the Lord delivered them into his hands. 33 And he [e]defeated them from Aroer as far as (AQ)Minnith—twenty cities—and to [f]Abel Keramim, with a very great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

Jephthah’s Daughter

34 When Jephthah came to his house at (AR)Mizpah, there was (AS)his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he (AT)tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I (AU)have [g]given my word to the Lord, and (AV)I cannot [h]go back on it.”

36 So she said to him, “My father, if you have given your word to the Lord, (AW)do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, because (AX)the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon.” 37 Then she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me: let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and [i]bewail my virginity, my [j]friends and I.”

38 So he said, “Go.” And he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. 39 And it was so at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he (AY)carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She [k]knew no man.

And it became a custom in Israel 40 that the daughters of Israel went four days each year to [l]lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 11:7 trouble
  2. Judges 11:8 returned
  3. Judges 11:21 Lit. struck
  4. Judges 11:23 driven out
  5. Judges 11:33 Lit. struck
  6. Judges 11:33 Lit. Plain of Vineyards
  7. Judges 11:35 Lit. opened my mouth
  8. Judges 11:35 Lit. take it back
  9. Judges 11:37 lament
  10. Judges 11:37 companions
  11. Judges 11:39 Remained a virgin
  12. Judges 11:40 commemorate

Jephthah Is Chosen as Leader

11 Jephthah was from the people of Gilead. He was a strong soldier. His father was named Gilead, and his mother was a prostitute. Gilead’s wife had several sons. When they grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave his home. They said to him, “You will not get any of our father’s property. You are the son of another woman.” So Jephthah ran away from his brothers. He lived in the land of Tob. There some worthless men began to follow Jephthah.

After a time the Ammonite people fought against Israel. The Ammonites made war against Israel. At that time the elders of Gilead came to Jephthah. They wanted him to come back to Gilead. They said to him, “Come and lead our army so we can fight the Ammonites.”

But Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me? You forced me to leave my father’s house! Why are you coming to me now that you are in trouble?”

The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is the reason we come to you now. Please come with us and fight against the Ammonites! You will be the ruler over everyone who lives in Gilead.”

Then Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to Gilead to fight the Ammonites. If the Lord helps me win, I will be your ruler.”

10 The elders of Gilead said to him, “The Lord is listening to everything we are saying. We promise to do all that you tell us to do.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead. The people made him their leader and commander of their army. Jephthah repeated all of his words in front of the Lord at Mizpah.

Jephthah Sends Messengers to the Ammonite King

12 Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites. The messengers asked the king, “What have you got against Israel? Why have you come to attack our land?”

13 The king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah. He said, “We are fighting Israel because you took our land when you came up from Egypt. You took our land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River to the Jordan River. Now tell the people of Israel to give our land back to us in peace.”

14 Jephthah sent the messengers to the Ammonite king again. 15 They took this message:

“This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of the people of Moab or Ammon. 16 When the people of Israel came out of Egypt, they went into the desert. They went to the Gulf of Aqaba and then to Kadesh. 17 Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom. They asked, ‘Let the people of Israel go across your land.’ But the king of Edom didn’t let us. We sent the same message to the king of Moab. But he would not let us go across his land either. So the Israelites stayed at Kadesh.

18 “Then the Israelites went into the desert. They went around the borders of the lands of Edom and Moab. Israel walked east of the land of Moab. They camped on the other side of the Arnon River. It was the border of the land of Moab. They did not cross it to go into the land of Moab.

19 “Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites. Sihon was the king of the city of Heshbon. The messengers asked Sihon, ‘Let the people of Israel pass through your land. We want to go to our land.’ 20 But Sihon would not let the Israelites cross his land. He gathered all of his people and camped at Jahaz. Then the Amorites fought with Israel.

21 “But the Lord, the God of Israel, helped the Israelites to defeat Sihon and his army. All the land of the Amorites became the property of Israel. 22 So Israel took all the land of the Amorites. It went from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. It also went from the desert to the Jordan River.

23 “It was the Lord, the God of Israel, who forced out the Amorites ahead of the people of Israel. So do you think you can make the people of Israel leave this land? 24 Surely you can live in the land which your god Chemosh has given you. So we will live in the land the Lord our God has given us!

25 “Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor? He was the king of Moab. Did he ever quarrel or fight with the people of Israel? 26 For 300 years the Israelites have lived in Heshbon and Aroer and the towns around them. They have lived for 300 years in all the cities along the Arnon River. Why have you not taken these cities back in all that time? 27 I have not sinned against you. But you are sinning against me by making war on me! May the Lord, the Judge, decide whether the Israelites or Ammonites are right.”

28 But the king of the Ammonites ignored this message from Jephthah.

Jephthah’s Promise

29 Then the Spirit of the Lord entered Jephthah. Jephthah passed through Gilead and Manasseh. He came to the city of Mizpah in Gilead. From there, Jephthah passed through to the land of the Ammonites. 30 Jephthah made a promise to the Lord. He said, “If you will let me defeat the Ammonites, 31 I will give you a burnt offering. I will sacrifice the first thing that comes out of my house to meet me when I return from the victory. It will be the Lord’s.”

32 Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites. The Lord helped him defeat them. 33 Jephthah defeated them from the city of Aroer to the area of Minnith. He defeated them as far as the city of Abel Keramim. He defeated 20 cities in this area. The defeat was great. So the Ammonites were defeated by the Israelites.

34 When Jephthah returned home to Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him. She was playing a tambourine and dancing. She was his only child. Jephthah did not have any other sons or daughters. 35 When Jephthah saw his daughter, he tore his clothes to show how upset he was. He said, “My daughter! You have made me so sad! This is because I have made a promise to the Lord, and I cannot break it!”

36 Then his daughter said, “Father, you made a promise to the Lord. So do to me just what you promised. The Lord helped you defeat your enemies, the Ammonites.” 37 Then she said, “But let me do one thing. Let me be alone for two months to go to the mountains. I will never marry. So let me and my friends go and cry together.”

38 Jephthah said, “Go.” He sent her away for two months. She and her friends stayed in the mountains. There they cried for her because she would never marry. 39 After two months she returned to her father. Jephthah did to her what he promised to the Lord. Now Jephthah’s daughter had never had a husband.

So this became a custom in Israel. 40 Every year the women of Israel would go out for four days. They did this to remember the daughter of Jephthah from Gilead.

11 Jephthah(A) the Gileadite was a mighty warrior.(B) His father was Gilead;(C) his mother was a prostitute.(D) Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob,(E) where a gang of scoundrels(F) gathered around him and followed him.

Some time later, when the Ammonites(G) were fighting against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. “Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.”

Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house?(H) Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?”

The elders of Gilead said to him, “Nevertheless, we are turning to you now; come with us to fight the Ammonites, and you will be head(I) over all of us who live in Gilead.”

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;(J) we will certainly do as you say.” 11 So Jephthah went with the elders(K) of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated(L) all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.(M)

12 Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?”

13 The king of the Ammonites answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When Israel came up out of Egypt, they took away my land from the Arnon(N) to the Jabbok,(O) all the way to the Jordan. Now give it back peaceably.”

14 Jephthah sent back messengers to the Ammonite king, 15 saying:

“This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab(P) or the land of the Ammonites.(Q) 16 But when they came up out of Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea[a](R) and on to Kadesh.(S) 17 Then Israel sent messengers(T) to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Give us permission to go through your country,’(U) but the king of Edom would not listen. They sent also to the king of Moab,(V) and he refused.(W) So Israel stayed at Kadesh.

18 “Next they traveled through the wilderness, skirted the lands of Edom(X) and Moab, passed along the eastern side(Y) of the country of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon.(Z) They did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was its border.

19 “Then Israel sent messengers(AA) to Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon,(AB) and said to him, ‘Let us pass through your country to our own place.’(AC) 20 Sihon, however, did not trust Israel[b] to pass through his territory. He mustered all his troops and encamped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.(AD)

21 “Then the Lord, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and his whole army into Israel’s hands, and they defeated them. Israel took over all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country, 22 capturing all of it from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the desert to the Jordan.(AE)

23 “Now since the Lord, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before his people Israel, what right have you to take it over? 24 Will you not take what your god Chemosh(AF) gives you? Likewise, whatever the Lord our God has given us,(AG) we will possess. 25 Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor,(AH) king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them?(AI) 26 For three hundred years Israel occupied(AJ) Heshbon, Aroer,(AK) the surrounding settlements and all the towns along the Arnon. Why didn’t you retake them during that time? 27 I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let the Lord, the Judge,(AL) decide(AM) the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.(AN)

28 The king of Ammon, however, paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him.

29 Then the Spirit(AO) of the Lord came on Jephthah. He crossed Gilead and Manasseh, passed through Mizpah(AP) of Gilead, and from there he advanced against the Ammonites.(AQ) 30 And Jephthah made a vow(AR) to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, 31 whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph(AS) from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.(AT)

32 Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands. 33 He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith,(AU) as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.

34 When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing(AV) to the sound of timbrels!(AW) She was an only child.(AX) Except for her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes(AY) and cried, “Oh no, my daughter! You have brought me down and I am devastated. I have made a vow to the Lord that I cannot break.(AZ)

36 “My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised,(BA) now that the Lord has avenged you(BB) of your enemies,(BC) the Ammonites. 37 But grant me this one request,” she said. “Give me two months to roam the hills and weep with my friends, because I will never marry.”

38 “You may go,” he said. And he let her go for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. 39 After the two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin.

From this comes the Israelite tradition 40 that each year the young women of Israel go out for four days to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 11:16 Or the Sea of Reeds
  2. Judges 11:20 Or however, would not make an agreement for Israel