Judges 12

1 Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”

2 But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands.

3 When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”

4 Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.”

5 The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,”

6 they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed.

7 Jephthah judged Israel six years, and when he died, he was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

8 After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

9 He had thirty sons, as well as thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage to men outside his clan; and for his sons he brought back thirty wives from elsewhere. Ibzan judged Israel seven years.

10 Then Ibzan died, and he was buried in Bethlehem.

11 After Ibzan, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel ten years.

12 Then Elon the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

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

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

15 Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

1 ¶ And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire.

2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands.

3 And when I saw that ye delivered [me] not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites [are] fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, [and] among the Manassites.

5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was [so], that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, [Art] thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;

6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce [it] right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.

7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in [one of] the cities of Gilead.

8 ¶ And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, [whom] he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

10 Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.

11 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.

12 And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.

13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.

15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.

1 And the men of Ephraim cried, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Why art thou gone to battle against the children of Ammon, and hast not called us to go with thee? We will burn your house and you with fire.

2 And Jephthah said unto them: I and my people had a great matter with the children of Ammon; and I cried unto you, but ye helped me not out of their hands.

3 And when I saw that ye would not help me, I put my soul in mine hand, and went against the children of Ammon; and the LORD delivered them into mine hand. Wherefore then come ye up unto me to fight against me?

4 And Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead, and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Be ye Gileadites among Ephraim, and Manasseh among the fugitives of Ephraim.

5 And the Gileadites took the fords of Jordan before Ephraim. And when the fugitives of Ephraim said, Let me pass over, the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraite? And when he answered, No,

6 And they said unto him, Shiboleth; and he said, Siboleth; and could not speak it aright. And they took him, and smote him at the fords of Jordan: and in that day there fell of Ephraim forty and two thousand.

7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. And Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in the cities of Gilead.

8 After whom Israel judged Ebzan of Bethlehem.

9 He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he put forth, and thirty daughters he took from without his sons: and he judged Israel seven years.

10 And died, and was buried in Bethlehem.

11 After this Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel: and he judged Israel ten years.

12 And he died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

13 After this judged Israel Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pireathonite.

14 And he had forty sons, and thirty nephews, riding upon seventy asses: and he judged Israel eight years.

15 And he died, and was buried in Pireathon, in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.