1 Now Jephthah{H3316} the Gileadite{H1569} was a mighty man{H1368} of valour{H2428}, and he was the son{H1121} of an harlot{H802}{H2181}{(H8802)}: and Gilead{H1568} begat{H3205}{(H8686)} Jephthah{H3316}.

2 And Gilead's{H1568} wife{H802} bare{H3205}{(H8799)} him sons{H1121}; and his wife's{H802} sons{H1121} grew up{H1431}{(H8799)}, and they thrust out{H1644}{(H8762)} Jephthah{H3316}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Thou shalt not inherit{H5157}{(H8799)} in our father's{H1} house{H1004}; for thou art the son{H1121} of a strange{H312} woman{H802}.

3 Then Jephthah{H3316} fled{H1272}{(H8799)} from{H6440} his brethren{H251}, and dwelt{H3427}{(H8799)} in the land{H776} of Tob{H2897}: and there were gathered{H3950}{(H8691)} vain{H7386} men{H582} to Jephthah{H3316}, and went out{H3318}{(H8799)} with him.

4 And it came to pass in process of time{H3117}, that the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} made war{H3898}{(H8735)} against Israel{H3478}.

5 And it was so, that when the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} made war{H3898}{(H8738)} against Israel{H3478}, the elders{H2205} of Gilead{H1568} went{H3212}{(H8799)} to fetch{H3947}{(H8800)} Jephthah{H3316} out of the land{H776} of Tob{H2897}:

6 And they said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Jephthah{H3316}, Come{H3212}{(H8798)}, and be our captain{H7101}, that we may fight{H3898}{(H8735)} with the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}.

7 And Jephthah{H3316} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the elders{H2205} of Gilead{H1568}, Did not ye hate{H8130}{(H8804)} me, and expel{H1644}{(H8762)} me out of my father's{H1} house{H1004}? and why are ye come{H935}{(H8804)} unto me now when ye are in distress{H6887}{(H8804)}?

8 And the elders{H2205} of Gilead{H1568} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Jephthah{H3316}, Therefore we turn again{H7725}{(H8804)} to thee now, that thou mayest go{H1980}{(H8804)} with us, and fight{H3898}{(H8738)} against the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}, and be our head{H7218} over all the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of Gilead{H1568}.

9 And Jephthah{H3316} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the elders{H2205} of Gilead{H1568}, If ye bring me home again{H7725}{(H8688)} to fight{H3898}{(H8736)} against the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}, and the LORD{H3068} deliver{H5414}{(H8804)} them before{H6440} me, shall I be your head{H7218}?

10 And the elders{H2205} of Gilead{H1568} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Jephthah{H3316}, The LORD{H3068} be witness{H8085}{(H8802)} between us, if we do{H6213}{(H8799)} not so according to thy words{H1697}.

11 Then Jephthah{H3316} went{H3212}{(H8799)} with the elders{H2205} of Gilead{H1568}, and the people{H5971} made{H7760}{(H8799)} him head{H7218} and captain{H7101} over them: and Jephthah{H3316} uttered{H1696}{(H8762)} all his words{H1697} before{H6440} the LORD{H3068} in Mizpeh{H4709}.

12 And Jephthah{H3316} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} messengers{H4397} unto the king{H4428} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come{H935}{(H8804)} against me to fight{H3898}{(H8736)} in my land{H776}?

13 And the king{H4428} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} answered{H559}{(H8799)} unto the messengers{H4397} of Jephthah{H3316}, Because Israel{H3478} took away{H3947}{(H8804)} my land{H776}, when they came up{H5927}{(H8800)} out of Egypt{H4714}, from Arnon{H769} even unto Jabbok{H2999}, and unto Jordan{H3383}: now therefore restore those lands again{H7725}{(H8685)} peaceably{H7965}.

14 And Jephthah{H3316} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} messengers{H4397} again{H3254}{(H8686)} unto the king{H4428} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}:

15 And said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} Jephthah{H3316}, Israel{H3478} took not away{H3947}{(H8804)} the land{H776} of Moab{H4124}, nor the land{H776} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}:

16 But when Israel{H3478} came up{H5927}{(H8800)} from Egypt{H4714}, and walked{H3212}{(H8799)} through the wilderness{H4057} unto the Red{H5488} sea{H3220}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to Kadesh{H6946};

17 Then Israel{H3478} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} messengers{H4397} unto the king{H4428} of Edom{H123}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Let me, I pray thee, pass through{H5674}{(H8799)} thy land{H776}: but the king{H4428} of Edom{H123} would not hearken{H8085}{(H8804)} thereto. And in like manner they sent{H7971}{(H8804)} unto the king{H4428} of Moab{H4124}: but he would{H14}{(H8804)} not consent: and Israel{H3478} abode{H3427}{(H8799)} in Kadesh{H6946}.

18 Then they went along{H3212}{(H8799)} through the wilderness{H4057}, and compassed{H5437}{(H8799)} the land{H776} of Edom{H123}, and the land{H776} of Moab{H4124}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} by the east side{H4217}{H8121} of the land{H776} of Moab{H4124}, and pitched{H2583}{(H8799)} on the other side{H5676} of Arnon{H769}, but came{H935}{(H8804)} not within the border{H1366} of Moab{H4124}: for Arnon{H769} was the border{H1366} of Moab{H4124}.

19 And Israel{H3478} sent{H7971}{(H8799)} messengers{H4397} unto Sihon{H5511} king{H4428} of the Amorites{H567}, the king{H4428} of Heshbon{H2809}; and Israel{H3478} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Let us pass{H5674}{(H8799)}, we pray thee, through thy land{H776} into{H5704} my place{H4725}.

20 But Sihon{H5511} trusted{H539}{(H8689)} not Israel{H3478} to pass{H5674}{(H8800)} through his coast{H1366}: but Sihon{H5511} gathered{H622} all his people{H5971} together{H622}{(H8799)}, and pitched{H2583}{(H8799)} in Jahaz{H3096}, and fought{H3898}{(H8735)} against Israel{H3478}.

21 And the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478} delivered{H5414}{(H8799)} Sihon{H5511} and all his people{H5971} into the hand{H3027} of Israel{H3478}, and they smote{H5221}{(H8686)} them: so Israel{H3478} possessed{H3423}{(H8799)} all the land{H776} of the Amorites{H567}, the inhabitants{H3427}{(H8802)} of that country{H776}.

22 And they possessed{H3423}{(H8799)} all the coasts{H1366} of the Amorites{H567}, from Arnon{H769} even unto Jabbok{H2999}, and from the wilderness{H4057} even unto Jordan{H3383}.

23 So now the LORD{H3068} God{H430} of Israel{H3478} hath dispossessed{H3423}{(H8689)} the Amorites{H567} from before{H6440} his people{H5971} Israel{H3478}, and shouldest thou possess{H3423}{(H8799)} it?

24 Wilt not thou possess{H3423}{(H8799)} that which Chemosh{H3645} thy god{H430} giveth thee to possess{H3423}{(H8686)}? So whomsoever the LORD{H3068} our God{H430} shall drive out{H3423}{(H8689)} from before{H6440} us, them will we possess{H3423}{(H8799)}.

25 And now art thou any thing better{H2896} than Balak{H1111} the son{H1121} of Zippor{H6834}, king{H4428} of Moab{H4124}? did he ever{H7378}{(H8800)} strive{H7378}{(H8804)} against Israel{H3478}, or did he ever{H3898}{(H8736)} fight{H3898}{(H8738)} against them,

26 While Israel{H3478} dwelt{H3427}{(H8800)} in Heshbon{H2809} and her towns{H1323}, and in Aroer{H6177} and her towns{H1323}, and in all the cities{H5892} that be along by the coasts{H3027} of Arnon{H769}, three{H7969} hundred{H3967} years{H8141}? why therefore did ye not recover{H5337}{(H8689)} them within that time{H6256}?

27 Wherefore I have not sinned{H2398}{(H8804)} against thee, but thou doest{H6213}{(H8802)}{H853} me wrong{H7451} to war{H3898}{(H8736)} against me: the LORD{H3068} the Judge{H8199}{(H8802)} be judge{H8199}{(H8799)} this day{H3117} between the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478} and the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}.

28 Howbeit the king{H4428} of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} hearkened{H8085}{(H8804)} not unto the words{H1697} of Jephthah{H3316} which he sent{H7971}{(H8804)} him.

29 Then the Spirit{H7307} of the LORD{H3068} came upon Jephthah{H3316}, and he passed over{H5674}{(H8799)} Gilead{H1568}, and Manasseh{H4519}, and passed over{H5674}{(H8799)} Mizpeh{H4708} of Gilead{H1568}, and from Mizpeh{H4708} of Gilead{H1568} he passed over{H5674}{(H8804)} unto the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}.

30 And Jephthah{H3316} vowed{H5087}{(H8799)} a vow{H5088} unto the LORD{H3068}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, If thou shalt without fail{H5414}{(H8800)} deliver{H5414}{(H8799)} the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} into mine hands{H3027},

31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever{H3318}{(H8802)} cometh forth{H3318}{(H8799)} of the doors{H1817} of my house{H1004} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} me, when I return{H7725}{(H8800)} in peace{H7965} from the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}, shall surely be the LORD'S{H3068}, and I will offer it up{H5927}{(H8689)} for a burnt offering{H5930}.

32 So Jephthah{H3316} passed over{H5674}{(H8799)} unto the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} to fight{H3898}{(H8736)} against them; and the LORD{H3068} delivered{H5414}{(H8799)} them into his hands{H3027}.

33 And he smote{H5221}{(H8686)} them from Aroer{H6177}, even till thou come{H935}{(H8800)} to Minnith{H4511}, even twenty{H6242} cities{H5892}, and unto the plain{H58} of the vineyards{H3754}{(H8677)}{H64}, with a very{H3966} great{H1419} slaughter{H4347}. Thus the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983} were subdued{H3665}{(H8735)} before{H6440} the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}.

34 And Jephthah{H3316} came{H935}{(H8799)} to Mizpeh{H4709} unto his house{H1004}, and, behold, his daughter{H1323} came out{H3318}{(H8802)} to meet{H7125}{(H8800)} him with timbrels{H8596} and with dances{H4246}: and she was his only child{H3173}; beside her he had neither son{H1121} nor{H176} daughter{H1323}.

35 And it came to pass, when he saw{H7200}{(H8800)} her, that he rent{H7167}{(H8799)} his clothes{H899}, and said{H559}{(H8799)}, Alas{H162}, my daughter{H1323}! thou hast brought{H3766} me very{H3766}{(H8689)} low{H3766}{(H8687)}, and thou art one of them that trouble{H5916}{(H8802)} me: for I have opened{H6475}{(H8804)} my mouth{H6310} unto the LORD{H3068}, and I cannot{H3201}{(H8799)} go back{H7725}{(H8800)}.

36 And she said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, My father{H1}, if thou hast opened{H6475}{(H8804)} thy mouth{H6310} unto the LORD{H3068}, do{H6213}{(H8798)} to me according to that which{H834} hath proceeded{H3318}{(H8804)} out of thy mouth{H6310}; forasmuch{H310} as the LORD{H3068} hath taken{H6213}{(H8804)} vengeance{H5360} for thee of thine enemies{H341}{(H8802)}, even of the children{H1121} of Ammon{H5983}.

37 And she said{H559}{(H8799)} unto her father{H1}, Let this thing{H1697} be done{H6213}{(H8735)} for me: let me alone{H7503}{(H8685)} two{H8147} months{H2320}, that I may go up{H3212}{(H8799)} and down{H3381}{(H8804)} upon the mountains{H2022}, and bewail{H1058}{(H8799)} my virginity{H1331}, I and my fellows{H7464}{(H8675)}{H7474}.

38 And he said{H559}{(H8799)}, Go{H3212}{(H8798)}. And he sent her away{H7971}{(H8799)} for two{H8147} months{H2320}: and she went{H3212}{(H8799)} with her companions{H7464}, and bewailed{H1058}{(H8799)} her virginity{H1331} upon the mountains{H2022}.

39 And it came to pass at the end{H7093} of two{H8147} months{H2320}, that she returned{H7725}{(H8799)} unto her father{H1}, who did{H6213}{(H8799)} with her according to his vow{H5088} which he had vowed{H5087}{(H8804)}: and she knew{H3045}{(H8804)} no man{H376}. And it was a custom{H2706} in Israel{H3478},

40 That the daughters{H1323} of Israel{H3478} went{H3212}{(H8799)} yearly{H3117}{H3117} to lament{H8567}{(H8763)} the daughter{H1323} of Jephthah{H3316} the Gileadite{H1569} four{H702} days{H3117} in a year{H8141}.