Judges 11 – Bible | Equip God’s People

World English Bible Classic

^[1] Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor. He was the son of a prostitute. Gilead became the father of Jephthah. ^[2] Gilead’s wife bore him sons. When his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You will 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. Outlaws joined up with Jephthah, and they went out with him. ^[4] After a while, the children of Ammon made war against Israel. ^[5] When the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob. ^[6] 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? Why have you come to me now when you are in distress?” ^[8] The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Therefore we have turned again to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the children of Ammon. You will 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 delivers them before me, will I be your head?” ^[10] The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “Yahweh will be witness between us. Surely we will do what you say.” ^[11] Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them. Jephthah spoke all his words before Yahweh in Mizpah. ^[12] Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the children of Ammon, saying, “What do you have to do with me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?” ^[13] The king of the children of Ammon answered 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 that territory again peaceably.” ^[14] Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the children of Ammon; ^[15] and he said to him, “Jephthah says: 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 refused; so Israel stayed 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, ‘Please let us pass 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] Israel lived in Heshbon and its towns, and in Aroer and its towns, and in all the cities that are along the side of the Arnon for three hundred years! Why didn’t you recover them within that time? ^[27] Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me. May Yahweh the Judge be judge today 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 Yahweh’s Spirit came on Jephthah, and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh, and passed over Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah 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 out of 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. She was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. ^[35] When he saw her, 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] Then she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me. Leave 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] At the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed. She was a virgin. It became 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.

King James Version

^[1] Now JephthahH3316 the GileaditeH1569 was a mighty manH1368 of valour,H2428 and he [was] the sonH1121 of an harlot:H802 and GileadH1568 begatH3205(HiphImpf) Jephthah.H3316 ^[2] And Gilead’sH1568 wifeH802 bareH3205(QalImpf) him sons;H1121 and his wife’sH802 sonsH1121 grew up,H1431(QalImpf) and they thrust outH1644(PielImpf) Jephthah,H3316 and saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Thou shalt not inheritH5157(QalImpf) in our father’sH1 house;H1004 for thou [art] the sonH1121 of a strangeH312 woman.H802 ^[3] Then JephthahH3316 fledH1272(QalImpf) fromH6440 his brethren,H251 and dweltH3427(QalImpf) in the landH776 of Tob:H2897 and there were gatheredH3950(HithImpf) vainH7386 menH582 to Jephthah,H3316 and went outH3318(QalImpf) with him. ^[4] And it came to pass in process of time,H3117 that the childrenH1121 of AmmonH5983 made warH3898(NiphImpf) against Israel.H3478 ^[5] And it was so, that when the childrenH1121 of AmmonH5983 made warH3898(NiphPerf) against Israel,H3478 the eldersH2205 of GileadH1568 wentH3212(QalImpf) to fetchH3947(QalInf) JephthahH3316 out of the landH776 of Tob:H2897 ^[6] And they saidH559(QalImpf) unto Jephthah,H3316 Come,H3212(QalImpv) and be our captain,H7101 that we may fightH3898(NiphImpf) with the childrenH1121 of Ammon.H5983 ^[7] And JephthahH3316 saidH559(QalImpf) unto the eldersH2205 of Gilead,H1568 Did not ye hateH8130(QalPerf) me, and expelH1644(PielImpf) me out of my father’sH1 house?H1004 and why are ye comeH935(QalPerf) unto me now when ye are in distress?H6887(QalPerf) ^[8] And the eldersH2205 of GileadH1568 saidH559(QalImpf) unto Jephthah,H3316 Therefore we turn againH7725(QalPerf) to thee now, that thou mayest goH1980(QalPerf) with us, and fightH3898(NiphPerf) against the childrenH1121 of Ammon,H5983 and be our headH7218 over all the inhabitantsH3427(QalActPtc) of Gilead.H1568 ^[9] And JephthahH3316 saidH559(QalImpf) unto the eldersH2205 of Gilead,H1568 If ye bring me home againH7725(HiphPtc) to fightH3898(NiphInf) against the childrenH1121 of Ammon,H5983 and the LordH3068 deliverH5414(QalPerf) them beforeH6440 me, shall I be your head?H7218 ^[10] And the eldersH2205 of GileadH1568 saidH559(QalImpf) unto Jephthah,H3316 The LordH3068 be witnessH8085(QalActPtc) between us, if we doH6213(QalImpf) not so according to thy words.H1697 ^[11] Then JephthahH3316 wentH3212(QalImpf) with the eldersH2205 of Gilead,H1568 and the peopleH5971 madeH7760(QalImpf) him headH7218 and captainH7101 over them: and JephthahH3316 utteredH1696(PielImpf) all his wordsH1697 beforeH6440 the LordH3068 in Mizpeh.H4709 ^[12] And JephthahH3316 sentH7971(QalImpf) messengersH4397 unto the kingH4428 of the childrenH1121 of Ammon,H5983 saying,H559(QalInf) What hast thou to do with me, that thou art comeH935(QalPerf) against me to fightH3898(NiphInf) in my land?H776 ^[13] And the kingH4428 of the childrenH1121 of AmmonH5983 answeredH559(QalImpf) unto the messengersH4397 of Jephthah,H3316 Because IsraelH3478 took awayH3947(QalPerf) my land,H776 when they came upH5927(QalInf) out of Egypt,H4714 from ArnonH769 even unto Jabbok,H2999 and unto Jordan:H3383 now therefore restore those [lands] againH7725(HiphImpv) peaceably.H7965 ^[14] And JephthahH3316 sentH7971(QalImpf) messengersH4397 againH3254(HiphImpf) unto the kingH4428 of the childrenH1121 of Ammon:H5983 ^[15] And saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Thus saithH559(QalPerf) Jephthah,H3316 IsraelH3478 took not awayH3947(QalPerf) the landH776 of Moab,H4124 nor the landH776 of the childrenH1121 of Ammon:H5983 ^[16] But when IsraelH3478 came upH5927(QalInf) from Egypt,H4714 and walkedH3212(QalImpf) through the wildernessH4057 unto the RedH5488 sea,H3220 and cameH935(QalImpf) to Kadesh;H6946 ^[17] Then IsraelH3478 sentH7971(QalImpf) messengersH4397 unto the kingH4428 of Edom,H123 saying,H559(QalInf) Let me, I pray thee, pass throughH5674(QalImpf) thy land:H776 but the kingH4428 of EdomH123 would not hearkenH8085(QalPerf) [thereto]. And in like manner they sentH7971(QalPerf) unto the kingH4428 of Moab:H4124 but he wouldH14(QalPerf) not [consent]: and IsraelH3478 abodeH3427(QalImpf) in Kadesh.H6946 ^[18] Then they went alongH3212(QalImpf) through the wilderness,H4057 and compassedH5437(QalImpf) the landH776 of Edom,H123 and the landH776 of Moab,H4124 and cameH935(QalImpf) by the east sideH4217 of the landH776 of Moab,H4124 and pitchedH2583(QalImpf) on the other sideH5676 of Arnon,H769 but cameH935(QalPerf) not within the borderH1366 of Moab:H4124 for ArnonH769 [was] the borderH1366 of Moab.H4124 ^[19] And IsraelH3478 sentH7971(QalImpf) messengersH4397 unto SihonH5511 kingH4428 of the Amorites,H567 the kingH4428 of Heshbon;H2809 and IsraelH3478 saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, Let us pass,H5674(QalImpf) we pray thee, through thy landH776 intoH5704 my place.H4725 ^[20] But SihonH5511 trustedH539(HiphPerf) not IsraelH3478 to passH5674(QalInf) through his coast:H1366 but SihonH5511 gatheredH622 all his peopleH5971 together,H622(QalImpf) and pitchedH2583(QalImpf) in Jahaz,H3096 and foughtH3898(NiphImpf) against Israel.H3478 ^[21] And the LordH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478 deliveredH5414(QalImpf) SihonH5511 and all his peopleH5971 into the handH3027 of Israel,H3478 and they smoteH5221(HiphImpf) them: so IsraelH3478 possessedH3423(QalImpf) all the landH776 of the Amorites,H567 the inhabitantsH3427(QalActPtc) of that country.H776 ^[22] And they possessedH3423(QalImpf) all the coastsH1366 of the Amorites,H567 from ArnonH769 even unto Jabbok,H2999 and from the wildernessH4057 even unto Jordan.H3383 ^[23] So now the LordH3068 GodH430 of IsraelH3478 hath dispossessedH3423(HiphPerf) the AmoritesH567 from beforeH6440 his peopleH5971 Israel,H3478 and shouldest thou possessH3423(QalImpf) it? ^[24] Wilt not thou possessH3423(QalImpf) that which ChemoshH3645 thy godH430 giveth thee to possess?H3423(HiphImpf) So whomsoever the LordH3068 our GodH430 shall drive outH3423(HiphPerf) from beforeH6440 us, them will we possess.H3423(QalImpf) ^[25] And now [art] thou any thing betterH2896 than BalakH1111 the sonH1121 of Zippor,H6834 kingH4428 of Moab?H4124 did he everH7378(QalInf) striveH7378(QalPerf) against Israel,H3478 or did he everH3898(NiphInf) fightH3898(NiphPerf) against them, ^[26] While IsraelH3478 dweltH3427(QalInf) in HeshbonH2809 and her towns,H1323 and in AroerH6177 and her towns,H1323 and in all the citiesH5892 that [be] along by the coastsH3027 of Arnon,H769 threeH7969 hundredH3967 years?H8141 why therefore did ye not recoverH5337(HiphPerf) [them] within that time?H6256 ^[27] Wherefore I have not sinnedH2398(QalPerf) against thee, but thou doestH6213(QalActPtc) me wrongH7451 to warH3898(NiphInf) against me: the LordH3068 the JudgeH8199(QalActPtc) be judgeH8199(QalImpf) this dayH3117 between the childrenH1121 of IsraelH3478 and the childrenH1121 of Ammon.H5983 ^[28] Howbeit the kingH4428 of the childrenH1121 of AmmonH5983 hearkenedH8085(QalPerf) not unto the wordsH1697 of JephthahH3316 which he sentH7971(QalPerf) him. ^[29] Then the SpiritH7307 of the LordH3068 came upon Jephthah,H3316 and he passed overH5674(QalImpf) Gilead,H1568 and Manasseh,H4519 and passed overH5674(QalImpf) MizpehH4708 of Gilead,H1568 and from MizpehH4708 of GileadH1568 he passed overH5674(QalPerf) [unto] the childrenH1121 of Ammon.H5983 ^[30] And JephthahH3316 vowedH5087(QalImpf) a vowH5088 unto the Lord,H3068 and said,H559(QalImpf) If thou shalt without failH5414(QalInf) deliverH5414(QalImpf) the childrenH1121 of AmmonH5983 into mine hands,H3027 ^[31] Then it shall be, that whatsoeverH3318(QalActPtc) cometh forthH3318(QalImpf) of the doorsH1817 of my houseH1004 to meetH7125(QalInf) me, when I returnH7725(QalInf) in peaceH7965 from the childrenH1121 of Ammon,H5983 shall surely be the Lord’s,H3068 and I will offer it upH5927(HiphPerf) for a burnt offering.H5930 ^[32] So JephthahH3316 passed overH5674(QalImpf) unto the childrenH1121 of AmmonH5983 to fightH3898(NiphInf) against them; and the LordH3068 deliveredH5414(QalImpf) them into his hands.H3027 ^[33] And he smoteH5221(HiphImpf) them from Aroer,H6177 even till thou comeH935(QalInf) to Minnith,H4511 [even] twentyH6242 cities,H5892 and unto the plainH58 of the vineyards,H3754(QK) with a veryH3966 greatH1419 slaughter.H4347 Thus the childrenH1121 of AmmonH5983 were subduedH3665(NiphImpf) beforeH6440 the childrenH1121 of Israel.H3478 ^[34] And JephthahH3316 cameH935(QalImpf) to MizpehH4709 unto his house,H1004 and, behold, his daughterH1323 came outH3318(QalActPtc) to meetH7125(QalInf) him with timbrelsH8596 and with dances:H4246 and she [was his] only child;H3173 beside her he had neither sonH1121 norH176 daughter.H1323 ^[35] And it came to pass, when he sawH7200(QalInf) her, that he rentH7167(QalImpf) his clothes,H899 and said,H559(QalImpf) Alas,H162 my daughter!H1323 thou hast broughtH3766 me veryH3766(HiphPerf) low,H3766(HiphInf) and thou art one of them that troubleH5916(QalActPtc) me: for I have openedH6475(QalPerf) my mouthH6310 unto the Lord,H3068 and I cannotH3201(QalImpf) go back.H7725(QalInf) ^[36] And she saidH559(QalImpf) unto him, My father,H1 [if] thou hast openedH6475(QalPerf) thy mouthH6310 unto the Lord,H3068 doH6213(QalImpv) to me according to that whichH834 hath proceededH3318(QalPerf) out of thy mouth;H6310 forasmuchH310 as the LordH3068 hath takenH6213(QalPerf) vengeanceH5360 for thee of thine enemies,H341(QalActPtc) [even] of the childrenH1121 of Ammon.H5983 ^[37] And she saidH559(QalImpf) unto her father,H1 Let this thingH1697 be doneH6213(NiphImpf) for me: let me aloneH7503(HiphImpv) twoH8147 months,H2320 that I may go upH3212(QalImpf) and downH3381(QalPerf) upon the mountains,H2022 and bewailH1058(QalImpf) my virginity,H1331 I and my fellows.H7464(Qere) ^[38] And he said,H559(QalImpf) Go.H3212(QalImpv) And he sent her awayH7971(QalImpf) [for] twoH8147 months:H2320 and she wentH3212(QalImpf) with her companions,H7464 and bewailedH1058(QalImpf) her virginityH1331 upon the mountains.H2022 ^[39] And it came to pass at the endH7093 of twoH8147 months,H2320 that she returnedH7725(QalImpf) unto her father,H1 who didH6213(QalImpf) with her [according] to his vowH5088 which he had vowed:H5087(QalPerf) and she knewH3045(QalPerf) no man.H376 And it was a customH2706 in Israel,H3478 ^[40] [That] the daughtersH1323 of IsraelH3478 wentH3212(QalImpf) yearlyH3117 to lamentH8567(PielInf) the daughterH1323 of JephthahH3316 the GileaditeH1569 fourH702 daysH3117 in a year.H8141

Byzantine Greek New Testament

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