Judges 12

1 Then the Ephraimites were called up and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go and fight the Ammonites without summoning us to go with you? We're going to burn your house down with you inside it!”

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.

2 “I was a man with a great fight on my hands,” Jephthah replied. “I and my people were fighting the Ammonites. When I called on you for help, you didn't come and help save me from them.

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.

3 When I realized that you weren't going to help, I took my life in my hands and went to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord made me victorious over them. So why have you come here today to attack me?”

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?

4 Jephthah summoned all of the men of Gilead and fought against the Ephraimites. The men of Gilead killed them because the Ephraimites taunted them, saying, “You Gileadites are nothing more than escapees living among Ephraim and Manasseh.”

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.

5 The Gileadites took control of the fords over the Jordan River that led to Ephraim's territory, and when an Ephraimite escapee from the battle would come and ask, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would question him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,”

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!

6 they would tell him, “Say Shibboleth.” If he was from Ephraim he would say “Sibboleth” because he couldn't pronounce it right, and they'd grab him and kill him there at the Jordan fords. A total of 42,000 were killed at that time.

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.

7 Jephthah led Israel as judge for six years. Then he died and was buried in one of Gilead's towns.

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

8 After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel as a judge.

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

9 He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He married off his daughters to men of other tribes, and he brought in thirty wives from other tribes to marry his sons. Ibzan led Israel as judge for seven years.

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.

10 Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

And Ibzan died, and was buried in Bethlehem.

11 After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel as judge for ten years.

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

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

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

13 After him, Abdon, son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel as judge.

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

14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode seventy donkeys. He led Israel as judge for eight years.

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

15 Then he died and was buried at Pirathon in the territory of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

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.