1 The men of Ephraim were called together, crossed northward, and said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to fight against the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down on top of you in fire!"

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 Jephthah replied to them, "I and my people were in a serious struggle with the Ammonites. I called for your help, but you did not save me from their hands.

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 "When I saw that you would not help, I risked my own life and crossed over to fight against the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into my hand. Why have you come to fight against me today?"

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 all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim because they had said, "You Gileadites are deserters from Ephraim and Manasseh."

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 The Gileadites seized the fords of the Jordan opposite Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim tried to cross over, they would say, "Let me cross over." The men of Gilead would respond, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No,"

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 they would say, "Say 'Shibboleth.'" And if he said 'Sibboleth,' because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, forty-two thousand from Ephraim were killed.

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

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

8 After him, Ibzan from Bethlehem judged Israel.

And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

9 He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He sent his daughters outside the family for marriage and brought in thirty daughters from outside for his sons. He judged Israel for seven years.

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 Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.

11 After him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel. He judged Israel for ten years.

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

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

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

13 After him, Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

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

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

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

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

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.