¹ Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of an harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

² And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of a strange woman.

³ Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah, and went out with him.

⁴ And it came to pass in process of time, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.

⁵ And it was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob:

⁶ And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.

⁷ And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and expel me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?

⁸ And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

⁹ And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the LORD deliver them before me, shall I be your head?

¹⁰ And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The LORD be witness between us, if we do not so according to thy words.

¹¹ Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and captain over them: and Jephthah uttered all his words before the LORD in Mizpeh.

¹² And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land?

¹³ And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably.

¹⁴ And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon:

¹⁵ And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

¹⁶ But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;

¹⁷ Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.

¹⁸ Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.

¹⁹ And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.

²⁰ But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

²¹ And the LORD God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.

²² And they possessed all the coasts of the Amorites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan.

²³ So now the LORD God of Israel hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it?

²⁴ Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess.

²⁵ And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them,

²⁶ While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did ye not recover them within that time?

²⁷ Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

²⁸ Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

²⁹ Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead, and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

³⁰ And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD, and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands,

³¹ Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the LORD's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

³² So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and the LORD delivered them into his hands.

³³ And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto the plain of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

³⁴ And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house, and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

³⁵ And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me: for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD, and I cannot go back.

³⁶ And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth; forasmuch as the LORD hath taken vengeance for thee of thine enemies, even of the children of Ammon.

³⁷ And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows.

³⁸ And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

³⁹ And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew no man. And it was a custom in Israel,

⁴⁰ That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

---

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} and Gilead ^H1568 begat ^H3205 Jephthah. ^H3316

² And Gilead's ^H1568 wife ^H802 bare ^H3205 him sons; ^H1121 and his wife's ^H802 sons ^H1121 grew up, ^H1431 and they thrust out ^H1644 Jephthah, ^H3316 and said ^H559 unto him, Thou shalt not inherit ^H5157 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 from ^H6440 his brethren, ^H251 and dwelt ^H3427 in the land ^H776 of Tob: ^H2897 and there were gathered ^H3950 vain ^H7386 men ^H582 to Jephthah, ^H3316 and went out ^H3318 with him.

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

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

⁶ And they said ^H559 unto Jephthah, ^H3316 Come, ^H3212 and be our captain, ^H7101 that we may fight ^H3898 with the children ^H1121 of Ammon. ^H5983

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

¹⁴ And Jephthah ^H3316 sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 again ^H3254 unto the king ^H4428 of the children ^H1121 of Ammon: ^H5983

¹⁵ And said ^H559 unto him, Thus saith ^H559 Jephthah, ^H3316 Israel ^H3478 took not away ^H3947 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 from Egypt, ^H4714 and walked ^H3212 through the wilderness ^H4057 unto the Red ^H5488 sea, ^H3220 and came ^H935 to Kadesh; ^H6946

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

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

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

²⁰ But Sihon ^H5511 trusted ^H539 not Israel ^H3478 to pass ^H5674 through his coast: ^H1366 but Sihon ^H5511 gathered ^H622 all his people ^H5971 together, ^H622 and pitched ^H2583 in Jahaz, ^H3096 and fought ^H3898 against Israel. ^H3478

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

²² And they possessed ^H3423 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 the Amorites ^H567 from before ^H6440 his people ^H5971 Israel, ^H3478 and shouldest thou possess ^H3423 it?

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

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 strive ^H7378 against Israel, ^H3478 or did he ever ^H3898 fight ^H3898 against them,

²⁶ While Israel ^H3478 dwelt ^H3427 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 them within that time? ^H6256

²⁷ Wherefore I have not sinned ^H2398 against thee, but thou doest ^{H6213 H853} me wrong ^H7451 to war ^H3898 against me: the LORD ^H3068 the Judge ^H8199 be judge ^H8199 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 not unto the words ^H1697 of Jephthah ^H3316 which he sent ^H7971 him.

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

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

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

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

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

³⁴ And Jephthah ^H3316 came ^H935 to Mizpeh ^H4709 unto his house, ^H1004 and, behold, his daughter ^H1323 came out ^H3318 to meet ^H7125 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 her, that he rent ^H7167 his clothes, ^H899 and said, ^H559 Alas, ^H162 my daughter! ^H1323 thou hast brought ^H3766 me very ^H3766 low, ^H3766 and thou art one of them that trouble ^H5916 me: for I have opened ^H6475 my mouth ^H6310 unto the LORD, ^H3068 and I cannot ^H3201 go back. ^H7725

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

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

³⁸ And he said, ^H559 Go. ^H3212 And he sent her away ^H7971 for two ^H8147 months: ^H2320 and she went ^H3212 with her companions, ^H7464 and bewailed ^H1058 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 unto her father, ^H1 who did ^H6213 with her according to his vow ^H5088 which he had vowed: ^H5087 and she knew ^H3045 no man. ^H376 And it was a custom ^H2706 in Israel, ^H3478

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

---

¹ Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a harlot: and Gilead begat Jephthah.

² And Gilead's wife bare him sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house; for thou art the son of another woman.

³ Then Jephthah fled from his brethren, and dwelt in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him.

⁴ And it came to pass after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.

⁵ And it was so, that, when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob;

⁶ and they said unto Jephthah, Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.

⁷ And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me, and drive me out of my father's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?

⁸ And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore are we turned again to thee now, that thou mayest go with us, and fight with the children of Ammon; and thou shalt be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

⁹ And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Jehovah deliver them before me, shall I be your head?

¹⁰ And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Jehovah shall be witness between us; surely according to thy word so will we do.

¹¹ Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them: and Jephthah spake all his words before Jehovah in Mizpah.

¹² And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come unto me to fight against my land?

¹³ And the king of the children of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even unto the Jabbok, and unto the Jordan: now therefore restore those `lands' again peaceably.

¹⁴ And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon;

¹⁵ and he said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah: Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon,

¹⁶ but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness unto the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh;

¹⁷ then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land; but the king of Edom hearkened not. And in like manner he sent unto the king of Moab; but he would not: and Israel abode in Kadesh.

¹⁸ Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they came not within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.

¹⁹ And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land unto my place.

²⁰ But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

²¹ And Jehovah, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.

²² And they possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even unto the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto the Jordan.

²³ So now Jehovah, the God of Israel, hath dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess them?

²⁴ Wilt not thou possess that which Chemosh thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever Jehovah our God hath dispossessed from before us, them will we possess.

²⁵ And now art thou anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?

²⁶ While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its towns, and in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities that are along by the side of the Arnon, three hundred years; wherefore did ye not recover them within that time?

²⁷ I therefore have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: Jehovah, the Judge, be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

²⁸ Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

²⁹ Then the Spirit of Jehovah came upon Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon.

³⁰ And Jephthah vowed a vow unto Jehovah, and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,

³¹ then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Jehovah's, and I will offer it up for a burnt-offering.

³² So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Jehovah delivered them into his hand.

³³ And he smote them from Aroer until thou come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and unto Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

³⁴ And Jephthah came to Mizpah unto his house; and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

³⁵ And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me; for I have opened my mouth unto Jehovah, and I cannot go back.

³⁶ And she said unto him, My father, thou hast opened thy mouth unto Jehovah; do unto me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth, forasmuch as Jehovah hath taken vengeance for thee on thine enemies, even on the children of Ammon.

³⁷ And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.

³⁸ And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

³⁹ And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she knew not man. And it was a custom in Israel,

⁴⁰ that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

---

¹ And Jephthah the Gileadite hath been a mighty man of valour, and he `is' son of a woman, a harlot; and Gilead begetteth Jephthah,

² and the wife of Gilead beareth to him sons, and the wife's sons grow up and cast out Jephthah, and say to him, `Thou dost not inherit in the house of our father; for son of another woman `art' thou.'

³ And Jephthah fleeth from the face of his brethren, and dwelleth in the land of Tob; and vain men gather themselves together unto Jephthah, and they go out with him.

⁴ And it cometh to pass, after a time, that the Bene-Ammon fight with Israel,

⁵ and it cometh to pass, when the Bene-Ammon have fought with Israel, that the elders of Gilead go to take Jephthah from the land of Tob;

⁶ and they say unto Jephthah, `Come, and thou hast been to us for captain, and we fight against the Bene-Ammon.'

⁷ And Jephthah saith to the elders of Gilead, `Have not ye hated me? and ye cast me out from the house of my father, and wherefore have ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?'

⁸ and the elders of Gilead say unto Jephthah, `Therefore, now, we have turned back unto thee; and thou hast gone with us, and fought against the Bene-Ammon, and thou hast been to us for head -- to all the inhabitants of Gilead.'

⁹ And Jephthah saith unto the elders of Gilead, `If ye are taking me back to fight against the Bene-Ammon, and Jehovah hath given them before me -- I, am I to you for a head?'

¹⁰ And the elders of Gilead say unto Jephthah, `Jehovah is hearkening between us -- if according to thy word we do not so.'

¹¹ And Jephthah goeth with the elders of Gilead, and the people set him over them for head and for captain, and Jephthah speaketh all his words before Jehovah in Mizpeh.

¹² And Jephthah sendeth messengers unto the king of the Bene-Ammon, saying, `What -- to me and to thee, that thou hast come in unto me, to fight in my land.'

¹³ And the king of the Bene-Ammon saith unto the messengers of Jephthah, `Because Israel took my land in his coming up out of Egypt, from Arnon, and unto the Jabbok, and unto the Jordan; and now, restore them in peace.'

¹⁴ And Jephthah addeth yet and sendeth messengers unto the king of the Bene-Ammon,

¹⁵ and saith to him, `Thus said Jephthah, Israel took not the land of Moab, and the land of the Bene-Ammon,

¹⁶ for in their coming up out of Egypt, Israel goeth in the wilderness unto the Red Sea, and cometh in to Kadesh,

¹⁷ and Israel sendeth messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me pass over, I pray thee, through thy land, and the king of Edom hearkened not; and also unto the king of Moab hath `Israel' sent, and he hath not been willing; and Israel abideth in Kadesh,

¹⁸ and he goeth through the wilderness, and compasseth the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and cometh in at the rising of the sun of the land of Moab, and they encamp beyond Arnon, and have not come into the border of Moab, for Arnon `is' the border of Moab.

¹⁹ `And Israel sendeth messengers unto Sihon, king of the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and Israel saith to him, Let us pass over, we pray thee, through thy land, unto my place,

²⁰ and Sihon hath not trusted Israel to pass over through his border, and Sihon gathereth all his people, and they encamp in Jahaz, and fight with Israel;

²¹ and Jehovah, God of Israel, giveth Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smite them, and Israel possesseth all the land of the Amorite, the inhabitant of that land,

²² and they possess all the border of the Amorite from Arnon, and unto the Jabbok, and from the wilderness, and unto the Jordan.

²³ `And now, Jehovah, God of Israel, hath dispossessed the Amorite from the presence of His people Israel, and thou wouldst possess it!

²⁴ That which Chemosh thy god causeth thee to possess -- dost thou not possess it? and all that which Jehovah our God hath dispossessed from our presence, -- it we do possess.

²⁵ `And now, `art' thou at all better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he at all strive with Israel? did he at all fight against them?

²⁶ In Israel's dwelling in Heshbon and in its towns, and in Aroer and in its towns, and in all the cities which `are' by the sides of Arnon three hundred years -- and wherefore have ye not delivered them in that time?

²⁷ And I -- I have not sinned against thee, and thou art doing with me evil -- to fight against me. Jehovah, the Judge, doth judge to-day between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.'

²⁸ And the king of the Bene-Ammon hath not hearkened unto the words of Jephthah which he sent unto him,

²⁹ and the Spirit of Jehovah is on Jephthah, and he passeth over Gilead and Manasseh, and passeth over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he hath passed over to the Bene-Ammon.

³⁰ And Jephthah voweth a vow to Jehovah, and saith, `If Thou dost at all give the Bene-Ammon into my hand --

³¹ then it hath been, that which at all cometh out from the doors of my house to meet me in my turning back in peace from the Bene-Ammon -- it hath been to Jehovah, or I have offered up for it -- a burnt-offering.'

³² And Jephthah passeth over unto the Bene-Ammon to fight against them, and Jehovah giveth them into his hand,

³³ and he smiteth them from Aroer, and unto thy going in to Minnith, twenty cities, and unto the meadow of the vineyards -- a very great smiting; and the Bene-Ammon are humbled at the presence of the sons of Israel.

³⁴ And Jephthah cometh into Mizpeh, unto his house, and lo, his daughter is coming out to meet him with timbrels, and with choruses, and save her alone, he hath none, son or daughter.

³⁵ And it cometh to pass, when he seeth her, that he rendeth his garments, and saith, `Alas, my daughter, thou hast caused me greatly to bend, and thou hast been among those troubling me; and I -- I have opened my mouth unto Jehovah, and I am not able to turn back.'

³⁶ And she saith unto him, `My father -- thou hast opened thy mouth unto Jehovah, do to me as it hath gone out from thy mouth, after that Jehovah hath done for thee vengeance on thine enemies, on the Bene-Ammon.'

³⁷ And she saith unto her father, `Let this thing be done to me; desist from me two months, and I go on, and have gone down on the hills, and I weep for my virginity -- I and my friends.'

³⁸ And he saith, `Go;' and he sendeth her away two months, and she goeth, she and her friends, and she weepeth for her virginity on the hills;

³⁹ and it cometh to pass at the end of two months that she turneth back unto her father, and he doth to her his vow which he hath vowed, and she knew not a man; and it is a statute in Israel:

⁴⁰ from time to time the daughters of Israel go to talk to the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, four days in a year.

---

¹ Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a harlot. Gilead was the father of Jephthah.

² And Gilead's wife also bore him sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they thrust Jephthah out, and said to him, "You shall not inherit in our father's house; for you are the son of another woman."

³ Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless fellows collected round Jephthah, and went raiding with him.

⁴ After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel.

⁵ And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob;

⁶ and they said to Jephthah, "Come and be our leader, that we may fight with the Ammonites."

⁷ But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "Did you not hate me, and drive me out of my father's house? Why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?"

⁸ And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the Ammonites, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead."

⁹ Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight with the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head."

¹⁰ And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "The LORD will be witness between us; we will surely do as you say."

¹¹ So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at Mizpah.

¹² Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said, "What have you against me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?"

¹³ And the king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah, "Because Israel on coming from Egypt took away my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan; now therefore restore it peaceably."

¹⁴ And Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the Ammonites

¹⁵ and said to him, "Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites,

¹⁶ but when they came up from Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.

¹⁷ Israel then sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, 'Let us pass, we pray, through your land'; but the king of Edom would not listen. And they sent also to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh.

¹⁸ Then they journeyed through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and arrived on the east side of the land of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon; but they did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab.

¹⁹ Israel then sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, 'Let us pass, we pray, through your land to our country.'

²⁰ But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped at Jahaz, and fought with Israel.

²¹ And the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them; so Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country.

²² And they took possession of all the territory of the Amorites from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan.

²³ So then the LORD, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel; and are you to take possession of them?

²⁴ Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And all that the LORD our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess.

²⁵ Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever go to war with them?

²⁶ While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aro'er and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time?

²⁷ I therefore have not sinned against you, and you do me wrong by making war on me; the LORD, the Judge, decide this day between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon."

²⁸ But the king of the Ammonites did not heed the message of Jephthah which he sent to him.

²⁹ Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manas'seh, and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites.

³⁰ And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, "If thou wilt give the Ammonites into my hand,

³¹ then whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the LORD's, and I will offer him up for a burnt offering."

³² So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them; and the LORD gave them into his hand.

³³ And he smote them from Aro'er to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a very great slaughter. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.

³⁴ Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances; she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter.

³⁵ And when he saw her, he rent his clothes, and said, "Alas, my daughter! you have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me; for I have opened my mouth to the LORD, and I cannot take back my vow."

³⁶ And she said to him, "My father, if you have opened your mouth to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone forth from your mouth, now that the LORD has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites."

³⁷ And she said to her father, "Let this thing be done for me; let me alone two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions."

³⁸ And he said, "Go." And he sent her away for two months; and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains.

³⁹ And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had made. She had never known a man. And it became a custom in Israel

⁴⁰ that the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.

---

¹ Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a prostitute: and Gilead became the father of Jephthah.

² Gilead's wife bore him sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah, and said to him, You shall not inherit in our father's house; for you are the son of another woman.

³ Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him.

⁴ It happened after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.

⁵ It was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob;

⁶ and they said to Jephthah, Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.

⁷ Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Didn't you hate me, and drive me out of my father's house? and why are you come to me now when you are in distress?

⁸ The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, Therefore are we turned again to you now, that you may go with us, and fight with the children of Ammon; and you shall be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

⁹ Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If you bring me home again to fight with the children of Ammon, and Yahweh deliver them before me, shall I be your head?

¹⁰ The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, Yahweh shall be witness between us; surely according to your word so will we do.

¹¹ Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them: and Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh in Mizpah.

¹² Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What have you to do with me, that you are come to me to fight against my land?

¹³ The king of the children of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land, when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and to the Jordan: now therefore restore those [lands] again peaceably.

¹⁴ Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the children of Ammon;

¹⁵ and he said to him, Thus says Jephthah: Israel didn't take away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon,

¹⁶ but when they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea, and came to Kadesh;

¹⁷ then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, Please let me pass through your land; but the king of Edom didn't listen. In the same way, he sent to the king of Moab; but he would not: and Israel abode in Kadesh.

¹⁸ Then they went through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and they encamped on the other side of the Arnon; but they didn't come within the border of Moab, for the Arnon was the border of Moab.

¹⁹ Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, Let us pass, we pray you, through your land to my place.

²⁰ But Sihon didn't trust Israel to pass through his border; but Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped in Jahaz, and fought against Israel.

²¹ Yahweh, the God of Israel, delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them: so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country.

²² They possessed all the border of the Amorites, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness even to the Jordan.

²³ So now Yahweh, the God of Israel, has dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and should you possess them?

²⁴ Won't you possess that which Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whoever Yahweh our God has dispossessed from before us, them will we possess.

²⁵ Now are you anything better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them?

²⁶ While Israel lived in Heshbon and its towns, and in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities that are along by the side of the Arnon, three hundred years; why didn't you recover them within that time?

²⁷ I therefore have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me: Yahweh, the Judge, be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

²⁸ However the king of the children of Ammon didn't listen to the words of Jephthah which he sent him.

²⁹ Then the Spirit of Yahweh came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over to the children of Ammon.

³⁰ Jephthah vowed a vow to Yahweh, and said, If you will indeed deliver the children of Ammon into my hand,

³¹ then it shall be, that whatever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, it shall be Yahweh's, and I will offer it up for a burnt offering.

³² So Jephthah passed over to the children of Ammon to fight against them; and Yahweh delivered them into his hand.

³³ He struck them from Aroer until you come to Minnith, even twenty cities, and to Abelcheramim, with a very great slaughter. So the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

³⁴ Jephthah came to Mizpah to his house; and, behold, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dances: and she was his only child; besides her he had neither son nor daughter.

³⁵ It happened, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, Alas, my daughter! you have brought me very low, and you are one of those who trouble me; for I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I can't go back.

³⁶ She said to him, My father, you have opened your mouth to Yahweh; do to me according to that which has proceeded out of your mouth, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, even on the children of Ammon.

³⁷ She said to her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, that I may depart and go down on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.

³⁸ He said, Go. He sent her away for two months: and she departed, she and her companions, and mourned her virginity on the mountains.

³⁹ It happened at the end of two months, that she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed: and she was a virgin. It was a custom in Israel,

⁴⁰ that the daughters of Israel went yearly to celebrate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year.

---

¹ Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a great man of war; he was the son of a loose woman, and Gilead was his father.

² And Gilead's wife gave birth to sons, and when her sons became men, they sent Jephthah away, saying, You have no part in the heritage of our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.

³ So Jephthah went in flight from his brothers and was living in the land of Tob, where a number of good-for-nothing men, joining Jephthah, went out with him on his undertakings.

⁴ Now after a time the children of Ammon made war against Israel.

⁵ And when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the responsible men of Gilead went to get Jephthah back from the land of Tob;

⁶ And they said to Jephthah, Come and be our chief so that we may make war against the children of Ammon.

⁷ But Jephthah said to the responsible men of Gilead, Did you not, in your hate for me, send me away from my father's house? Why do you come to me now when you are in trouble?

⁸ And the responsible men of Gilead said to Jephthah, That is the reason we have come back to you; so go with us and make war against the children of Ammon, and we will make you our head over all the people of Gilead.

⁹ Then Jephthah said to the responsible men of Gilead, If you take me back to make war against the children of Ammon, and if with the help of the Lord I overcome them, will you make me your head?

¹⁰ And the responsible men of Gilead said to Jephthah, May the Lord be our witness: we will certainly do as you say.

¹¹ So Jephthah went with the responsible men of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them; and Jephthah said all these things before the Lord in Mizpah.

¹² Then Jephthah sent men to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What have you against me that you have come to make war against my land?

¹³ And the king of the children of Ammon said to the men sent by Jephthah, Because Israel, when he came up out of Egypt, took away my land, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok and as far as Jordan: so now, give me back those lands quietly.

¹⁴ And Jephthah sent again to the king of the children of Ammon,

¹⁵ And said to him, This is the word of Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the children of Ammon;

¹⁶ But when they came up from Egypt, Israel went through the waste land to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh;

¹⁷ Then Israel sent men to the king of Edom saying, Let me now go through your land; but the king of Edom did not give ear to them. And in the same way he sent to the king of Moab, but he would not; so Israel went on living in Kadesh.

¹⁸ Then he went on through the waste land and round the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and put up their tents on the other side of the Arnon; they did not come inside the limit of Moab, for the Arnon was the limit of Moab.

¹⁹ And Israel sent men to Sihon, king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, Let me now go through your land to my place.

²⁰ But Sihon would not give way and let Israel go through his land; and Sihon got together all his people, and put his army in position in Jahaz, and made war on Israel.

²¹ And the Lord, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hands of Israel, and they overcame them; so all the land of the Amorites, the people of that land, became Israel's.

²² All the limit of the Amorites was theirs, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok and from the waste land even to Jordan.

²³ So now the Lord, the God of Israel, has taken away their land from the Amorites and given it to his people Israel; are you then to have it?

²⁴ Do you not keep the lands of those whom Chemosh your god sends out from before you? So we will keep all the lands of those whom the Lord our God sends out from before us.

²⁵ What! are you any better than Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever take up a cause against Israel or make war against them?

²⁶ While Israel was living in Heshbon and its daughter-towns and in Aroer and its daughter-towns and in all the towns which are by the side of the Arnon, for three hundred years, why did you not get them back at that time?

²⁷ So I have done no wrong against you, but you are doing wrong to me in fighting against me: may the Lord, who is Judge this day, be judge between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

²⁸ The king of the children of Ammon, however, did not give ear to the words which Jephthah sent to him.

²⁹ Then the spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah, and he went through Gilead and Manasseh, and came to Mizpeh of Gilead; and from Mizpeh of Gilead he went over to the children of Ammon.

³⁰ And Jephthah took an oath to the Lord, and said, If you will give the children of Ammon into my hands,

³¹ Then whoever comes out from the door of my house, meeting me when I come back in peace from the children of Ammon, will be the Lord's and I will give him as a burned offering.

³² So Jephthah went over to the children of Ammon to make war on them; and the Lord gave them into his hands.

³³ And he made an attack on them from Aroer all the way to Minnith, overrunning twenty towns, as far as Abel-cheramim, and put great numbers to the sword. So the children of Ammon were crushed before the children of Israel.

³⁴ Then Jephthah came back to his house in Mizpah, and his daughter came out, meeting him on his way with music and with dances; she was his only child; he had no other sons or daughters.

³⁵ And when he saw her he was overcome with grief, and said, Ah! my daughter! I am crushed with sorrow, and it is you who are the chief cause of my trouble; for I have made an oath to the Lord and I may not take it back.

³⁶ And she said to him, My father, you have made an oath to the Lord; do then to me whatever you have said; for the Lord has sent a full reward on your haters, on the children of Ammon.

³⁷ Then she said to her father, Only do this for me: let me have two months to go away into the mountains with my friends, weeping for my sad fate.

³⁸ And he said, Go then. So he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends to the mountains, weeping for her sad fate.

³⁹ And at the end of two months she went back to her father, who did with her as he had said in his oath: and she had never been touched by a man. So it became a rule in Israel,

⁴⁰ For the women to go year by year sorrowing for the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, four days in every year.