New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible

Ephraim Fights with Jephthah

Then the people of Ephraim mobilized an army and crossed over the Jordan River to Zaphon. They sent this message to Jephthah: “Why didn’t you call for us to help you fight against the Ammonites? We are going to burn down your house with you in it!”

1

Jephthah and His Successors

Then the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you.”

2

Jephthah replied, “I summoned you at the beginning of the dispute, but you refused to come! You failed to help us in our struggle against Ammon.

2

Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were at great strife with the sons of Ammon; when I called you, you did not deliver me from their hand.

3

So when I realized you weren’t coming, I risked my life and went to battle without you, and the LORD gave me victory over the Ammonites. So why have you now come to fight me?”

3

“When I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the LORD gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”

4

The people of Ephraim responded, “You men of Gilead are nothing more than fugitives from Ephraim and Manasseh.” So Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and attacked the men of Ephraim and defeated them.

4

Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim; and the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, O Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and in the midst of Manasseh.”

5

Jephthah captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan River, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim tried to go back across, the men of Gilead would challenge him. “Are you a member of the tribe of Ephraim?” they would ask. If the man said, “No, I’m not,”

5

The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan opposite Ephraim. And it happened when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,”

6

they would tell him to say “Shibboleth.” If he was from Ephraim, he would say “Sibboleth,” because people from Ephraim cannot pronounce the word correctly. Then they would take him and kill him at the shallow crossings of the Jordan. In all, 42,000 Ephraimites were killed at that time.

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then they would say to him, “Say now, ‘Shibboleth.’” But he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they seized him and slew him at the fords of the Jordan. Thus there fell at that time 42,000 of Ephraim.

7

Jephthah judged Israel for six years. When he died, he was buried in one of the towns of Gilead.

7

Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

8

Ibzan Becomes Israel’s Judge

After Jephthah died, Ibzan from Bethlehem judged Israel.

8

Now Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel after him.

9

He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He sent his daughters to marry men outside his clan, and he brought in thirty young women from outside his clan to marry his sons. Ibzan judged Israel for seven years.

9

He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage outside the family, and he brought in thirty daughters from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

10

When he died, he was buried at Bethlehem.

10

Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

11

Elon Becomes Israel’s Judge

After Ibzan died, Elon from the tribe of Zebulun judged Israel for ten years.

11

Now Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel after him; and he judged Israel ten years.

12

When he died, he was buried at Aijalon in Zebulun.

12

Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

13

Abdon Becomes Israel’s Judge

After Elon died, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel.

13

Now Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel after him.

14

He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years.

14

He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys; and he judged Israel eight years.

15

When he died, he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

15

Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

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New Living Translation

New American Standard Bible

Judges 12

Judges 12