| New International Version | Berean Study Bible |
| 1The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We're going to burn down your house over your head." | 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!” |
| 2Jephthah answered, "I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn't save me out of their hands. | 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. |
| 3When I saw that you wouldn't help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?" | 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?” |
| 4Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, "You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh." | 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.” |
| 5The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead asked him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he replied, "No," | 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,” |
| 6they said, "All right, say 'Shibboleth.'" If he said, "Sibboleth," because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time. | 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. |
| 7Jephthah led Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in a town in Gilead. | 7Jephthah judged Israel six years, and when he died, he was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. |
| 8After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel. | 8After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. |
| 9He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years. | 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. |
| 10Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem. | 10Then Ibzan died, and he was buried in Bethlehem. |
| 11After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years. | 11After Ibzan, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel ten years. |
| 12Then Elon died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. | 12Then Elon the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. |
| 13After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel. | 13After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. |
| 14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel eight years. | 14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years. |
| 15Then Abdon son of Hillel died and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. | 15Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. |
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