6 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon, and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines, and forsook the LORD, and served not him.
7 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines, and into the hands of the children of Ammon.
8 And that year they afflicted and oppressed the children of Israel: eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side of Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. [1]
9 Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was greatly distressed.
10 And the children of Israel cried to the LORD, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim.
11 And the LORD said to the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
12 The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, oppressed you; and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand.
13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: therefore I will deliver you no more.
14 Go and cry to the gods which ye have chosen; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation.
15 And the children of Israel said to the LORD, We have sinned: do thou to us whatever seemeth good to thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. [2]
16 And they put away the foreign gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. [3] [4]
17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh. [5]
18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
CHAP. 11.
1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valour, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah. [6] [7]
2 And Gilead’s wife bore him sons; and his wife’s sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said to him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father’s house; for thou art the son of a another woman.
3 Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered worthless men to Jephthah, and they went out with him. [8]
4 And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. [9]
5 And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah out of the land of Tob:
6 And they said to Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
7 And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Did ye not hate me, and drive me out of my father’s house? and why have ye come to me now when ye are in distress?
8 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
9 And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?
10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, The LORD be a witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words. [10]
11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.
12 And Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou hast come against me to fight in my land?
13 And the king of the children of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came out of Egypt, from Arnon even to Jabbok, and to Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably.
14 And Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the children of Ammon:
15 And said to him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:
16 But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness to the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;
17 Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken to it . And in like manner they sent to the king of Moab: but he would not consent : and Israel abode in Kadesh.
18 Then they went along through the wilderness, and went around the land of
- ↑ oppressed: Heb. crushed
- ↑ seemeth...: Heb. is good in thine eyes
- ↑ strange...: Heb. gods of strangers
- ↑ grieved: Heb. shortened
- ↑ gathered: Heb. cried
- ↑ Jephthah: Gr. Jephthae
- ↑ an harlot: Heb. a woman an harlot
- ↑ from: Heb. from the face of
- ↑ in process...: Heb. after days
- ↑ witness...: Heb. the hearer between us
