Judges, 12

1. The men of Ephraim mobilised; they crossed the Jordan near Zaphon and said to Jephthah, 'Why did you go and make war on the Ammonites without asking us to go with you? We shall burn down your house over your head!'

1. The men of E'phraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire."

2. Jephthah replied, 'My people and I were in serious conflict with the Ammonites. I summoned you, but you did not come to rescue me from them.

2. And Jephthah said to them, "I and my people had a great feud with the Ammonites; and when I called you, you did not deliver me from their hand.

3. When I saw that no one was coming to rescue me, I took my life in my hands and marched against the Ammonites, and Yahweh handed them over to me. So why advance on me today to make war on me?'

3. And when I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hand, and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into my hand; why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?"

4. Jephthah then mustered all the men of Gilead and made war on Ephraim, and the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim -- since the latter used to say, 'You are only fugitives from Ephraim, you Gileadites in the heart of Ephraim and Manasseh.'

4. Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with E'phraim; and the men of Gilead smote E'phraim, because they said, "You are fugitives of E'phraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of E'phraim and Manas'seh."

5. Gilead then cut Ephraim off from the fords of the Jordan, and whenever Ephraimite fugitives said, 'Let me cross,' the men of Gilead would ask, 'Are you an Ephraimite?' If he said, 'No,'

5. And the Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the E'phraimites. And when any of the fugitives of E'phraim said, "Let me go over," the men of Gilead said to him, "Are you an E'phraimite?" When he said, "No,"

6. they then said, 'Very well, say Shibboleth.' If anyone said, "Sibboleth", because he could not pronounce it, then they would seize him and kill him by the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites fell on this occasion.

6. they said to him, "Then say Shibboleth," and he said, "Sibboleth," for he could not pronounce it right; then they seized him and slew him at the fords of the Jordan. And there fell at that time forty-two thousand of the E'phraimites.

7. Jephthah judged Israel for six years. Jephthah the Gileadite then died and was buried in his town, in Gilead.

7. Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in his city in Gilead.

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

8. After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

9. He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters in marriage outside his clan and brought in thirty brides from outside for his sons. He was judge in Israel for seven years.

9. He had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

10. Ibzan then died and was buried in Bethlehem.

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

11. After him, Elon of Zebulun was judge in Israel. He was judge in Israel for ten years.

11. After him Elon the Zeb'ulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.

12. Elon of Zebulun then died and was buried at Aijalon in the territory of Zebulun.

12. Then Elon the Zeb'ulunite died, and was buried at Ai'jalon in the land of Zeb'ulun.

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

13. After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pira'thonite judged Israel.

14. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode seventy young donkeys. He was judge in Israel for eight years.

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

15. Abdon son of Hillel of Pirathon then died and was buried at Pirathon in the territory of Ephraim, in the Amalekite highlands.

15. Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pira'thonite died, and was buried at Pira'thon in the land of E'phraim, in the hill country of the Amal'ekites.