1The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, ‘Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.’2Jephthah answered, ‘I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands.3When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?’4Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, ‘You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh.’5The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, ‘Let me cross over,’ the men of Gilead asked him, ‘Are you an Ephraimite?’ If he replied, ‘No,’6they said, ‘All right, say “Shibboleth”.’ If he said, ‘Sibboleth’, because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.7Jephthah led[1] Israel for six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in a town in Gilead.
Ibzan, Elon and Abdon
8After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel.9He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel for seven years.10Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.11After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel for ten years.12Then Elon died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.13After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel.14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel for eight years.15Then Abdon son of Hillel died and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Judges 12
English Standard Version
Jephthah’s Conflict with Ephraim
1The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.” (Jud 8:1)2And Jephthah said to them, “I and my people had a great dispute with the Ammonites, and when I called you, you did not save me from their hand.3And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?” (1Sa 19:5; 1Sa 28:21; Job 13:14; Ps 119:109)4Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, “You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and Manasseh.” (1Sa 25:10)5And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” When he said, “No,” (Jud 3:28)6they said to him, “Then say Shibboleth,” and he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell. (Jud 12:5)7Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in his city in Gilead.[1]
Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon
8After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.9He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.10Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.11After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel, and he judged Israel ten years.12Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.13After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years. (Jud 5:10; Job 18:19; Isa 14:22; 1Ti 5:4)15Then 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.