1 Now Jephthah|strong="H3316" the Gileadite|strong="H1569" was a mighty man|strong="H1368" of valour|strong="H2428", and he was the son|strong="H1121" of an harlot|strong="H0802": and Gilead|strong="H1568" begat|strong="H3205" Jephthah|strong="H3316".
2 And Gilead’s|strong="H1568" wife|strong="H0802" bare|strong="H3205" him sons|strong="H1121"; and his wife’s|strong="H0802" sons|strong="H1121" grew up|strong="H1431", and they thrust out|strong="H1644" Jephthah|strong="H3316", and said|strong="H0559" unto him, Thou shalt not inherit|strong="H5157" in our father’s|strong="H0001" house|strong="H1004"; for thou art the son|strong="H1121" of a strange|strong="H0312" woman|strong="H0802".
3 Then Jephthah|strong="H3316" fled|strong="H1272" from|strong="H6440" his brethren|strong="H0251", and dwelt|strong="H3427" in the land|strong="H0776" of Tob|strong="H2897": and there were gathered|strong="H3950" vain|strong="H7386" men|strong="H0582" to Jephthah|strong="H3316", and went out|strong="H3318" with him.
4 And it came to pass in process of time|strong="H3117", that the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983" made war|strong="H3898" against Israel|strong="H3478".
5 And it was so, that when the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983" made war|strong="H3898" against Israel|strong="H3478", the elders|strong="H2205" of Gilead|strong="H1568" went|strong="H3212" to fetch|strong="H3947" Jephthah|strong="H3316" out of the land|strong="H0776" of Tob|strong="H2897":
6 And they said|strong="H0559" unto Jephthah|strong="H3316", Come|strong="H3212", and be our captain|strong="H7101", that we may fight|strong="H3898" with the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983".
7 And Jephthah|strong="H3316" said|strong="H0559" unto the elders|strong="H2205" of Gilead|strong="H1568", Did not ye hate|strong="H8130" me, and expel|strong="H1644" me out of my father’s|strong="H0001" house|strong="H1004"? and why are ye come|strong="H0935" unto me now when ye are in distress|strong="H6887"?
8 And the elders|strong="H2205" of Gilead|strong="H1568" said|strong="H0559" unto Jephthah|strong="H3316", Therefore we turn again|strong="H7725" to thee now, that thou mayest go|strong="H1980" with us, and fight|strong="H3898" against the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983", and be our head|strong="H7218" over all the inhabitants|strong="H3427" of Gilead|strong="H1568".
9 And Jephthah|strong="H3316" said|strong="H0559" unto the elders|strong="H2205" of Gilead|strong="H1568", If ye bring me home again|strong="H7725" to fight|strong="H3898" against the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983", and the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* deliver|strong="H5414" them before|strong="H6440" me, shall I be your head|strong="H7218"?
10 And the elders|strong="H2205" of Gilead|strong="H1568" said|strong="H0559" unto Jephthah|strong="H3316", The \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* be witness|strong="H8085" between us, if we do|strong="H6213" not so according to thy words|strong="H1697".
11 Then Jephthah|strong="H3316" went|strong="H3212" with the elders|strong="H2205" of Gilead|strong="H1568", and the people|strong="H5971" made|strong="H7760" him head|strong="H7218" and captain|strong="H7101" over them: and Jephthah|strong="H3316" uttered|strong="H1696" all his words|strong="H1697" before|strong="H6440" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* in Mizpeh|strong="H4709".
12 And Jephthah|strong="H3316" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" unto the king|strong="H4428" of the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983", saying|strong="H0559", What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come|strong="H0935" against me to fight|strong="H3898" in my land|strong="H0776"?
13 And the king|strong="H4428" of the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983" answered|strong="H0559" unto the messengers|strong="H4397" of Jephthah|strong="H3316", Because Israel|strong="H3478" took away|strong="H3947" my land|strong="H0776", when they came up|strong="H5927" out of Egypt|strong="H4714", from Arnon|strong="H0769" even unto Jabbok|strong="H2999", and unto Jordan|strong="H3383": now therefore restore those lands again|strong="H7725" peaceably|strong="H7965".
14 And Jephthah|strong="H3316" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" again|strong="H3254" unto the king|strong="H4428" of the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983":
15 And said|strong="H0559" unto him, Thus saith|strong="H0559" Jephthah|strong="H3316", Israel|strong="H3478" took not away|strong="H3947" the land|strong="H0776" of Moab|strong="H4124", nor the land|strong="H0776" of the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983":
16 But when Israel|strong="H3478" came up|strong="H5927" from Egypt|strong="H4714", and walked|strong="H3212" through the wilderness|strong="H4057" unto the Red|strong="H5488" sea|strong="H3220", and came|strong="H0935" to Kadesh|strong="H6946";
17 Then Israel|strong="H3478" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" unto the king|strong="H4428" of Edom|strong="H0123", saying|strong="H0559", Let me, I pray thee, pass through|strong="H5674" thy land|strong="H0776": but the king|strong="H4428" of Edom|strong="H0123" would not hearken|strong="H8085" thereto. And in like manner they sent|strong="H7971" unto the king|strong="H4428" of Moab|strong="H4124": but he would|strong="H0014" not consent: and Israel|strong="H3478" abode|strong="H3427" in Kadesh|strong="H6946".
18 Then they went along|strong="H3212" through the wilderness|strong="H4057", and compassed|strong="H5437" the land|strong="H0776" of Edom|strong="H0123", and the land|strong="H0776" of Moab|strong="H4124", and came|strong="H0935" by the east side|strong="H4217" of the land|strong="H0776" of Moab|strong="H4124", and pitched|strong="H2583" on the other side|strong="H5676" of Arnon|strong="H0769", but came|strong="H0935" not within the border|strong="H1366" of Moab|strong="H4124": for Arnon|strong="H0769" was the border|strong="H1366" of Moab|strong="H4124".
19 And Israel|strong="H3478" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" unto Sihon|strong="H5511" king|strong="H4428" of the Amorites|strong="H0567", the king|strong="H4428" of Heshbon|strong="H2809"; and Israel|strong="H3478" said|strong="H0559" unto him, Let us pass|strong="H5674", we pray thee, through thy land|strong="H0776" into|strong="H5704" my place|strong="H4725".
20 But Sihon|strong="H5511" trusted|strong="H0539" not Israel|strong="H3478" to pass|strong="H5674" through his coast|strong="H1366": but Sihon|strong="H5511" gathered|strong="H0622" all his people|strong="H5971" together|strong="H0622", and pitched|strong="H2583" in Jahaz|strong="H3096", and fought|strong="H3898" against Israel|strong="H3478".
21 And the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* God|strong="H0430" of Israel|strong="H3478" delivered|strong="H5414" Sihon|strong="H5511" and all his people|strong="H5971" into the hand|strong="H3027" of Israel|strong="H3478", and they smote|strong="H5221" them: so Israel|strong="H3478" possessed|strong="H3423" all the land|strong="H0776" of the Amorites|strong="H0567", the inhabitants|strong="H3427" of that country|strong="H0776".
22 And they possessed|strong="H3423" all the coasts|strong="H1366" of the Amorites|strong="H0567", from Arnon|strong="H0769" even unto Jabbok|strong="H2999", and from the wilderness|strong="H4057" even unto Jordan|strong="H3383".
23 So now the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* God|strong="H0430" of Israel|strong="H3478" hath dispossessed|strong="H3423" the Amorites|strong="H0567" from before|strong="H6440" his people|strong="H5971" Israel|strong="H3478", and shouldest thou possess|strong="H3423" it?
24 Wilt not thou possess|strong="H3423" that which Chemosh|strong="H3645" thy god|strong="H0430" giveth thee to possess|strong="H3423"? So whomsoever the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* our God|strong="H0430" shall drive out|strong="H3423" from before|strong="H6440" us, them will we possess|strong="H3423".
25 And now art thou any thing better|strong="H2896" than Balak|strong="H1111" the son|strong="H1121" of Zippor|strong="H6834", king|strong="H4428" of Moab|strong="H4124"? did he ever|strong="H7378" strive|strong="H7378" against Israel|strong="H3478", or did he ever|strong="H3898" fight|strong="H3898" against them,
26 While Israel|strong="H3478" dwelt|strong="H3427" in Heshbon|strong="H2809" and her towns|strong="H1323", and in Aroer|strong="H6177" and her towns|strong="H1323", and in all the cities|strong="H5892" that be along by the coasts|strong="H3027" of Arnon|strong="H0769", three|strong="H7969" hundred|strong="H3967" years|strong="H8141"? why therefore did ye not recover|strong="H5337" them within that time|strong="H6256"?
27 Wherefore I have not sinned|strong="H2398" against thee, but thou doest|strong="H6213" me wrong|strong="H7451" to war|strong="H3898" against me: the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* the Judge|strong="H8199" be judge|strong="H8199" this day|strong="H3117" between the children|strong="H1121" of Israel|strong="H3478" and the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983".
28 Howbeit the king|strong="H4428" of the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983" hearkened|strong="H8085" not unto the words|strong="H1697" of Jephthah|strong="H3316" which he sent|strong="H7971" him.
29 Then the Spirit|strong="H7307" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* came upon Jephthah|strong="H3316", and he passed over|strong="H5674" Gilead|strong="H1568", and Manasseh|strong="H4519", and passed over|strong="H5674" Mizpeh|strong="H4708" of Gilead|strong="H1568", and from Mizpeh|strong="H4708" of Gilead|strong="H1568" he passed over|strong="H5674" unto the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983".
30 And Jephthah|strong="H3316" vowed|strong="H5087" a vow|strong="H5088" unto the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, and said|strong="H0559", If thou shalt without fail|strong="H5414" deliver|strong="H5414" the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983" into mine hands|strong="H3027",
31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever|strong="H3318" cometh forth|strong="H3318" of the doors|strong="H1817" of my house|strong="H1004" to meet|strong="H7125" me, when I return|strong="H7725" in peace|strong="H7965" from the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983", shall surely be the \+w LORD’s|strong="H3068"\+w*, and I will offer it up|strong="H5927" for a burnt offering|strong="H5930".
32 So Jephthah|strong="H3316" passed over|strong="H5674" unto the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983" to fight|strong="H3898" against them; and the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* delivered|strong="H5414" them into his hands|strong="H3027".
33 And he smote|strong="H5221" them from Aroer|strong="H6177", even till thou come|strong="H0935" to Minnith|strong="H4511", even twenty|strong="H6242" cities|strong="H5892", and unto the plain|strong="H0058" of the vineyards|strong="H3754", with a very|strong="H3966" great|strong="H1419" slaughter|strong="H4347". Thus the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983" were subdued|strong="H3665" before|strong="H6440" the children|strong="H1121" of Israel|strong="H3478".
34 And Jephthah|strong="H3316" came|strong="H0935" to Mizpeh|strong="H4709" unto his house|strong="H1004", and, behold, his daughter|strong="H1323" came out|strong="H3318" to meet|strong="H7125" him with timbrels|strong="H8596" and with dances|strong="H4246": and she was his only child|strong="H3173"; beside her he had neither son|strong="H1121" nor|strong="H0176" daughter|strong="H1323".
35 And it came to pass, when he saw|strong="H7200" her, that he rent|strong="H7167" his clothes|strong="H0899", and said|strong="H0559", Alas|strong="H0162", my daughter|strong="H1323"! thou hast brought|strong="H3766" me very|strong="H3766" low|strong="H3766", and thou art one of them that trouble|strong="H5916" me: for I have opened|strong="H6475" my mouth|strong="H6310" unto the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, and I cannot|strong="H3201" go back|strong="H7725".
36 And she said|strong="H0559" unto him, My father|strong="H0001", if thou hast opened|strong="H6475" thy mouth|strong="H6310" unto the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, do|strong="H6213" to me according to that which|strong="H0834" hath proceeded|strong="H3318" out of thy mouth|strong="H6310"; forasmuch|strong="H0310" as the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* hath taken|strong="H6213" vengeance|strong="H5360" for thee of thine enemies|strong="H0341", even of the children|strong="H1121" of Ammon|strong="H5983".
37 And she said|strong="H0559" unto her father|strong="H0001", Let this thing|strong="H1697" be done|strong="H6213" for me: let me alone|strong="H7503" two|strong="H8147" months|strong="H2320", that I may go up|strong="H3212" and down|strong="H3381" upon the mountains|strong="H2022", and bewail|strong="H1058" my virginity|strong="H1331", I and my fellows|strong="H7464".
38 And he said|strong="H0559", Go|strong="H3212". And he sent her away|strong="H7971" for two|strong="H8147" months|strong="H2320": and she went|strong="H3212" with her companions|strong="H7464", and bewailed|strong="H1058" her virginity|strong="H1331" upon the mountains|strong="H2022".
39 And it came to pass at the end|strong="H7093" of two|strong="H8147" months|strong="H2320", that she returned|strong="H7725" unto her father|strong="H0001", who did|strong="H6213" with her according to his vow|strong="H5088" which he had vowed|strong="H5087": and she knew|strong="H3045" no man|strong="H0376". And it was a custom|strong="H2706" in Israel|strong="H3478",
40 That the daughters|strong="H1323" of Israel|strong="H3478" went|strong="H3212" yearly|strong="H3117" to lament|strong="H8567" the daughter|strong="H1323" of Jephthah|strong="H3316" the Gileadite|strong="H1569" four|strong="H0702" days|strong="H3117" in a year|strong="H8141".