Judges, 12

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.

1. The men of Ephraim gathered, crossed the Jordan northward and said to Jephthah, "Why did you go and attack the Ammonites without asking us to march with you? For this we shall burn you inside your house."

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.

2. Jephthah answered them, "My people and I had a great struggle with the Ammonites. I asked help from you but you did not save me from 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?

3. When I saw that no one had come to help me, I risked my own life and marched against the Ammonites, and Yahweh gave them into my hands. Why, then, have you come up today to fight 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.

4. Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and attacked Ephraim. The Gileadites defeated the Ephraimites who told them, "You, Gileadites, are fugitives who crossed from Ephraim and Manasseh."

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;

5. Gilead seized the shallow waters of the Jordan and blocked the way. Whenever a fugitive from Ephraim said, "Let me pass," the men of Gilead would ask him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he responded, "No,"

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.

6. they would add, "Then say Shibboleth." But then he would say, "Sibboleth" for an Ephraimite could not pronounce it correctly. So they would seize him and cut his throat by the shallow waters of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand men from Ephraim perished at that time.

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

7. Jephthah was judge in Israel for six years. Then he died and was buried in his city, Mizpah of Gilead.

8. And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

8. After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem was judge in 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.

9. He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. His thirty daughters were given in marriage outside his clan, but for his sons, he brought in thirty women. He was judge in Israel for seven years.

10. Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.

10. When Ibzan died, he was buried in Bethlehem.

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

11. After him, Elon the Zebulunite became judge in Israel. He governed Israel for ten years.

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

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

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

13. After him, Abdon, the son of Hillel of Pirathon, was judge in Israel.

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

14. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy asses. He was judge in Israel for 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.

15. Then he died and was buried at Pirathon, in the mountains of Ephraim, in the mountain of the Amorites.