| Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
| 1Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!” | 1Then the people of Ephraim mobilized an army and crossed over the Jordan River to Zaphon. They sent this message to Jephthah: “Why didn’t you call for us to help you fight against the Ammonites? We are going to burn down your house with you in it!” |
| 2But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands. | 2Jephthah replied, “I summoned you at the beginning of the dispute, but you refused to come! You failed to help us in our struggle against Ammon. |
| 3When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?” | 3So when I realized you weren’t coming, I risked my life and went to battle without you, and the LORD gave me victory over the Ammonites. So why have you now come to fight me?” |
| 4Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.” | 4The people of Ephraim responded, “You men of Gilead are nothing more than fugitives from Ephraim and Manasseh.” So Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and attacked the men of Ephraim and defeated them. |
| 5The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,” | 5Jephthah captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan River, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim tried to go back across, the men of Gilead would challenge him. “Are you a member of the tribe of Ephraim?” they would ask. If the man said, “No, I’m not,” |
| 6they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed. | 6they would tell him to say “Shibboleth.” If he was from Ephraim, he would say “Sibboleth,” because people from Ephraim cannot pronounce the word correctly. Then they would take him and kill him at the shallow crossings of the Jordan. In all, 42,000 Ephraimites were killed at that time. |
| 7Jephthah judged Israel six years, and when he died, he was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. | 7Jephthah judged Israel for six years. When he died, he was buried in one of the towns of Gilead. Ibzan Becomes Israel’s Judge |
| 8After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. | 8After Jephthah died, Ibzan from Bethlehem judged Israel. |
| 9He had thirty sons, as well as thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage to men outside his clan; and for his sons he brought back thirty wives from elsewhere. Ibzan judged Israel seven years. | 9He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He sent his daughters to marry men outside his clan, and he brought in thirty young women from outside his clan to marry his sons. Ibzan judged Israel for seven years. |
| 10Then Ibzan died, and he was buried in Bethlehem. | 10When he died, he was buried at Bethlehem. Elon Becomes Israel’s Judge |
| 11After Ibzan, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel ten years. | 11After Ibzan died, Elon from the tribe of Zebulun judged Israel for ten years. |
| 12Then Elon the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. | 12When he died, he was buried at Aijalon in Zebulun. Abdon Becomes Israel’s Judge |
| 13After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. | 13After Elon died, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. |
| 14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years. | 14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years. |
| 15Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. | 15When he died, he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. |
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