Judges 12

1 And the men of Ephraim were called together, and passed over northward, —and said unto Jephthah—Wherefore didst thou pass over to do battle with the sons of Ammon, and, for us, didst not call, to go with thee? Thy house, will we consume over thee with fire.

A call went out to the men of Ephraim; they passed through Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you pass through to fight against the people of Ammon and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down over you.”

2 And Jephthah said unto them, Great strife, had, I and my people, even with the sons of Ammon; but, when I cried unto you for help, ye saved me not out of their hand.

Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were in a great conflict with the people of Ammon. When I called you, you did not rescue me from them.

3 So, when I saw that thou wast not going to save, then put I my life in my hand, and passed over against the sons of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand. Wherefore, then, have ye come up against me this day, to fight against me?

When I saw that you did not rescue me, When I saw that you did not rescue me, I put my life in my own hand and passed through against the people of Ammon, and Yahweh gave me victory. Why have you come to fight against me today?”

4 And Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim, —and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said—Fugitives of Ephraim, are, ye, O ye Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim, in the midst of Manasseh.

Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and he fought against Ephraim. The men of Gilead attacked the men of Ephraim because they said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim—in Ephraim and Manasseh.”

5 And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan, against the Ephraimites, —and so it was, that, when the fugitives of Ephraim said, Let me pass over, the men of Gilead said to him, An Ephraimite, art thou? and, if he said—Nay!

The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim. When any of the survivors of Ephraim said, “Let me go over the river,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,”

6 they said to him, Come now, say Shibboleth, and, if he said Sibboleth, and he could not take heed to speak in that manner, then laid they hold on him, and slew him at the fords of the Jordan, —and there fell, at that time, of the Ephraimites, forty-two thousand.

then they would say to him, “Say: Shibboleth,” and if he said “Sibboleth” (for he could not pronounce the word correctly), the Gileadites would seize him and kill him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.

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

Jephthah served as a judge over Israel for six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

8 And there judged Israel, after him, Ibzan of Bethlehem.

After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem served as a judge over Israel.

9 And so it was, he had thirty sons, and, thirty daughters, sent he abroad, while, thirty daughters, brought he from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

He had thirty sons. He gave away thirty daughters in marriage, and he brought in thirty daughters of other men for his sons, from the outside. He judged Israel for seven years.

10 And Ibzan died, and was buried in Bethlehem.

Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.

11 And, after him, did Elon the Zebulunite judge Israel, —and he judged Israel, ten years.

After him Elon the Zebulunite served as judge over Israel. He judged Israel for ten years.

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

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

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

After him, Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite served as a judge over Israel.

14 And so it was, he had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy ass colts, —and he judged Israel eight years.

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

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

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