Judges 10:17-11:11

GOD’S WORD Translation

¹⁷ The troops of Ammon were summoned to fight, and they camped at Gilead. The people of Israel also gathered together and camped at Mizpah. ¹⁸ The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever starts the fight against Ammon will rule everyone who lives in Gilead.”

Jephthah Called to Be Judge

11 Jephthah was a soldier from the region of Gilead. Jephthah’s father was named Gilead. His mother was a prostitute. ² Gilead’s wife also gave birth to sons. When his wife’s sons grew up, they threw Jephthah out. They told him, “You’ll get no inheritance from our father. You’re the son of that other woman.” ³ Jephthah fled from his brothers. He went to live in the land of Tob. Worthless men gathered around Jephthah and went out ⌞on raids⌟ with him.

⁴ Later, Ammon waged war with Israel. ⁵ When the Ammonites attacked Israel, Gilead’s leaders went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. ⁶ They said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander so that we can wage war against Ammon.”

⁷ But Jephthah replied to Gilead’s leaders, “Don’t you hate me? Didn’t you throw me out of my father’s house? So why are you coming to me now when you’re in trouble?”

⁸ Gilead’s leaders answered Jephthah, “The reason we’ve turned to you now is that we want you to go with us and wage war against Ammon. You will be the ruler of everyone who lives in Gilead.”

⁹ Jephthah told them, “If you take me back to fight against Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me, I will be your leader.”

¹⁰ Gilead’s leaders said to Jephthah, “The Lord is a witness between us. We will certainly do what you say.” ¹¹ Jephthah went with them, and the people made him their leader and commander. So Jephthah went to Mizpah and repeated all these things in the presence of the Lord.