|
|
|
|
1. Jephthah was from the tribe of Gilead. He was a strong soldier. But Jephthah was the son of a prostitute. His father was a man named Gilead.
|
1. Now Jephthah H3316 the Gileadite H1569 was H1961 a mighty man H1368 of valor H2428 , and he H1931 was the son H1121 of a harlot H802 H2181 : and Gilead H1568 begot H3205 H853 Jephthah H3316 .
|
|
2. Gilead's wife had several sons. When they grew up, they did not like Jephthah. They forced Jephthah to leave his hometown. They said to him, "You will not get any of our father's property. You are the son of another woman."
|
2. And Gilead H1568 's wife H802 bore H3205 him sons H1121 ; and his wife H802 's sons H1121 grew up H1431 , and they thrust out H1644 H853 Jephthah H3316 , and said H559 unto him , Thou shalt not H3808 inherit H5157 in our father H1 's house H1004 ; for H3588 thou H859 art the son H1121 of a strange H312 woman H802 .
|
|
3. So Jephthah went away because of his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. In the land of Tob, some rough men began to follow Jephthah.
|
3. Then Jephthah H3316 fled H1272 from H4480 H6440 his brethren H251 , and dwelt H3427 in the land H776 of Tob H2897 : and there were gathered H3950 vain H7386 men H376 to H413 Jephthah H3316 , and went out H3318 with H5973 him.
|
|
4. After a time the Ammonites fought with the Israelites.
|
4. And it came to pass H1961 in process of time H4480 H3117 , that the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 made war H3898 against H5973 Israel H3478 .
|
|
5. The Ammonites were fighting against Israel, so the elders in Gilead went to Jephthah. They wanted Jephthah to leave the land of Tob and come back to Gilead.
|
5. And it was H1961 so , that when H834 the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 made war H3898 against H5973 Israel H3478 , the elders H2205 of Gilead H1568 went H1980 to fetch H3947 H853 Jephthah H3316 out of the land H4480 H776 of Tob H2897 :
|
|
6. The elders said to Jephthah, "Come and be our leader so that we can fight the Ammonites."
|
6. And they said H559 unto Jephthah H3316 , Come H1980 , and be H1961 our captain H7101 , that we may fight H3898 with the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 .
|
|
7. But Jephthah said to the elders of the land of Gilead, "You forced me to leave my father's house. You hate me. So why are you coming to me now that you are having trouble?"
|
7. And Jephthah H3316 said H559 unto the elders H2205 of Gilead H1568 , Did not H3808 ye H859 hate H8130 me , and expel H1644 me out of my father H1 's house H4480 H1004 ? and why H4069 are ye come H935 unto H413 me now H6258 when H834 ye are in distress H6862 ?
|
|
8. The elders from Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is the reason we have come to you now. Please come with us and fight against the Ammonites. You will be the commander over all the people living in Gilead."
|
8. And the elders H2205 of Gilead H1568 said H559 unto H413 Jephthah H3316 , Therefore H3651 we turn again H7725 to H413 thee now H6258 , that thou mayest go H1980 with H5973 us , and fight H3898 against the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 , and be H1961 our head H7218 over all H3605 the inhabitants H3427 of Gilead H1568 .
|
|
9. Then Jephthah said to the elders from Gilead, "If you want me to come back to Gilead and fight the Ammonites, that is fine. But if the Lord helps me win, I will be your new leader."
|
9. And Jephthah H3316 said H559 unto H413 the elders H2205 of Gilead H1568 , If H518 ye H859 bring me home again H7725 H853 to fight H3898 against the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 , and the LORD H3068 deliver H5414 them before H6440 me , shall I H595 be H1961 your head H7218 ?
|
|
10. The elders from Gilead said to Jephthah, "The Lord is listening to everything we are saying. And we promise to do everything you tell us to do."
|
10. And the elders H2205 of Gilead H1568 said H559 unto H413 Jephthah H3316 , The LORD H3068 be H1961 witness H8085 between H996 us, if H518 we do H6213 not H3808 so H3651 according to thy words H1697 .
|
|
11. So Jephthah went with the elders from Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander. Jephthah repeated all of his words in front of the Lord at the city of Mizpah.
|
11. Then Jephthah H3316 went H1980 with H5973 the elders H2205 of Gilead H1568 , and the people H5971 made H7760 him head H7218 and captain H7101 over H5921 them : and Jephthah H3316 uttered H1696 H853 all H3605 his words H1697 before H6440 the LORD H3068 in Mizpeh H4709 .
|
|
12. Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites with this message: "What is the problem between the Ammonites and the Israelites? Why have you come to fight in our land?"
|
12. And Jephthah H3316 sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto H413 the king H4428 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 , saying H559 , What H4100 hast thou to do with me, that H3588 thou art come H935 against H413 me to fight H3898 in my land H776 ?
|
|
13. The king of the Ammonites said to the messengers of Jephthah, "We are fighting Israel because the Israelites took our land when they came up from Egypt. They took our land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River to the Jordan River. Now, tell the Israelites to give our land back to us without fighting for it."
|
13. And the king H4428 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 answered H559 unto H413 the messengers H4397 of Jephthah H3316 , Because H3588 Israel H3478 took away H3947 H853 my land H776 , when they came up H5927 out of Egypt H4480 H4714 , from Arnon H4480 H769 even unto H5704 Jabbok H2999 , and unto H5704 Jordan H3383 : now H6258 therefore restore those lands again H7725 H853 peaceably H7965 .
|
|
14. So the messengers of Jephthah took this message back to Jephthah. Then Jephthah sent the messengers to the king of the Ammonites again.
|
14. And Jephthah H3316 sent H7971 messengers H4397 again H3254 H5750 unto H413 the king H4428 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 :
|
|
15. They took this message: "This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of the Moabites or the land of the Ammonites.
|
15. And said H559 unto him, Thus H3541 saith H559 Jephthah H3316 , Israel H3478 took not away H3947 H3808 H853 the land H776 of Moab H4124 , nor the land H776 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 :
|
|
16. When the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, they went into the desert. They went to the Red Sea. Then they went to Kadesh.
|
16. But H3588 when Israel H3478 came up H5927 from Egypt H4480 H4714 , and walked H1980 through the wilderness H4057 unto H5704 the Red H5488 sea H3220 , and came H935 to Kadesh H6946 ;
|
|
17. The Israelites sent messengers to the king of Edom. The messengers asked for a favor. They said, 'Let the Israelites cross through your land.' But the king of Edom didn't let us go through his land. We also sent the same message to the king of Moab. But the king of Moab would not let us go through his land either. So the Israelites stayed at Kadesh.
|
17. Then Israel H3478 sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto H413 the king H4428 of Edom H123 , saying H559 , Let me , I pray thee H4994 , pass H5674 through thy land H776 : but the king H4428 of Edom H123 would not H3808 hearken H8085 thereto . And in like manner H1571 they sent H7971 unto H413 the king H4428 of Moab H4124 : but he would H14 not H3808 consent : and Israel H3478 abode H3427 in Kadesh H6946 .
|
|
18. "Then the Israelites went through the desert and around the edges of the land of Edom and the land of Moab. They traveled east of the land of Moab. They made their camp on the other side of the Arnon River. They did not cross the border of the land of Moab. (The Arnon River was the border of the land of Moab.)
|
18. Then they went along H1980 through the wilderness H4057 , and compassed H5437 H853 the land H776 of Edom H123 , and the land H776 of Moab H4124 , and came H935 by the east side H4480 H4217 H8121 of the land H776 of Moab H4124 , and pitched H2583 on the other side H5676 of Arnon H769 , but came H935 not H3808 within the border H1366 of Moab H4124 : for H3588 Arnon H769 was the border H1366 of Moab H4124 .
|
|
19. "Then the Israelites sent messengers to King Sihon of the Amorites. Sihon was the king of the city of Heshbon. The messengers asked Sihon, 'Let the Israelites pass through your land. We want to go to our land.'
|
19. And Israel H3478 sent H7971 messengers H4397 unto H413 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 H4994 , through thy land H776 into H5704 my place H4725 .
|
|
20. But King Sihon of the Amorites would not let the Israelites cross his borders. So Sihon gathered all of his people and made a camp at Jahaz. Then the Amorites fought with the Israelites.
|
20. But Sihon H5511 trusted H539 not H3808 H853 Israel H3478 to pass H5674 through his coast H1366 : but Sihon H5511 gathered all his people together H622 H853 H3605 H5971 , and pitched H2583 in Jahaz H3096 , and fought H3898 against H5973 Israel H3478 .
|
|
21. But the Lord, the God of Israel, helped the Israelites defeat Sihon and his army. So the land of the Amorites became the property of the Israelites.
|
21. And the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 delivered H5414 H853 Sihon H5511 and all H3605 his people H5971 into the hand H3027 of Israel H3478 , and they smote H5221 them : so Israel H3478 possessed H3423 H853 all H3605 the land H776 of the Amorites H567 , the inhabitants H3427 of that H1931 country H776 .
|
|
22. The Israelites got all of the land of the Amorites from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River. The land also went from the desert to the Jordan River.
|
22. And they possessed H3423 H853 all H3605 the coasts H1366 of the Amorites H567 , from Arnon H4480 H769 even unto H5704 Jabbok H2999 , and from H4480 the wilderness H4057 even unto H5704 Jordan H3383 .
|
|
23. "It was the Lord, the God of Israel, who forced the Amorites to leave their land. And he gave the land to the Israelites. Do you think you can make the Israelites leave this land?
|
23. So now H6258 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 hath dispossessed H3423 H853 the Amorites H567 from before H4480 H6440 his people H5971 Israel H3478 , and shouldest thou H859 possess H3423 it?
|
|
24. Surely you can live in the land that your god Chemosh has given to you. So we will live in the land that the Lord our God has given to us.
|
24. Wilt not H3808 thou possess H3423 H853 that which H834 Chemosh H3645 thy god H430 giveth thee to possess H3423 ? So whomsoever H3605 H834 the LORD H3068 our God H430 shall drive out H3423 from before H4480 H6440 us , them will we possess H3423 .
|
|
25. Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor? He was the king of the land of Moab. Did he argue with the Israelites? Did he actually fight with the Israelites?
|
25. And now H6258 art thou H859 any thing better H2896 H2896 than Balak H4480 H1111 the son H1121 of Zippor H6834 , king H4428 of Moab H4124 ? did he ever strive H7378 H7378 against H5973 Israel H3478 , or H518 did he ever fight H3898 H3898 against them,
|
|
26. The Israelites have lived in the city of Heshbon and the towns around it for 300 years. They have lived in the city of Aroer and the towns around it for 300 years. They have lived in all the cities along the side of the Arnon River for 300 years. Why have you not tried to take these cities in all that time?
|
26. While Israel H3478 dwelt H3427 in Heshbon H2809 and her towns H1323 , and in Aroer H6177 and her towns H1323 , and in all H3605 the cities H5892 that H834 be along by H5921 the coasts H3027 of Arnon H769 , three H7969 hundred H3967 years H8141 ? why H4069 therefore did ye not H3808 recover H5337 them within that H1931 time H6256 ?
|
|
27. The Israelites have not sinned against you. But you are doing a very bad thing against them. May the Lord, the true Judge, decide whether the Israelites or the Ammonites are right."
|
27. Wherefore I H595 have not H3808 sinned H2398 against thee , but thou H859 doest H6213 me wrong H7451 to war H3898 against me : the LORD H3068 the Judge H8199 be judge H8199 this day H3117 between H996 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 and the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 .
|
|
28. The king of the Ammonites refused to listen to this message from Jephthah.
|
28. Howbeit the king H4428 of the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 hearkened H8085 not H3808 unto H413 the words H1697 of Jephthah H3316 which H834 he sent H7971 H413 him.
|
|
29. Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah, and he passed through the area of Gilead and Manasseh. He went through the city of Mizpah in Gilead on his way to the land of the Ammonites.
|
29. Then the Spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 came H1961 upon H5921 Jephthah H3316 , and he passed over H5674 H853 Gilead H1568 , and Manasseh H4519 , and passed over H5674 H853 Mizpeh H4708 of Gilead H1568 , and from Mizpeh H4480 H4708 of Gilead H1568 he passed over H5674 unto the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 .
|
|
30. Jephthah made a promise to the Lord. He said, "If you will let me defeat the Ammonites,
|
30. And Jephthah H3316 vowed H5087 a vow H5088 unto the LORD H3068 , and said H559 , If H518 thou shalt without fail deliver H5414 H5414 H853 the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 into mine hands H3027 ,
|
|
31. I will give you the first thing that comes out of my house when I come back from the victory. I will give it to the Lord as a burnt offering. "
|
31. Then it shall be H1961 , that whatsoever H834 cometh forth H3318 of the doors H4480 H1817 of my house H1004 to meet H7125 me , when I return H7725 in peace H7965 from the children H4480 H1121 of Ammon H5983 , shall surely be H1961 the LORD H3068 's , and I will offer it up H5927 for a burnt offering H5930 .
|
|
32. Then Jephthah went to the land of the Ammonites. He fought the Ammonites, and the Lord helped him defeat them.
|
32. So Jephthah H3316 passed over H5674 unto H413 the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 to fight H3898 against them ; and the LORD H3068 delivered H5414 them into his hands H3027 .
|
|
33. He defeated them from the city of Aroer to the city of Minnith. Jephthah captured 20 cities. Then he fought the Ammonites to the city of Abel Keramim. The Israelites defeated them. It was a very great defeat for the Ammonites.
|
33. And he smote H5221 them from Aroer H4480 H6177 , even till H5704 thou come H935 to Minnith H4511 , even twenty H6242 cities H5892 , and unto H5704 the plain H58 of the vineyards H3754 , with a very H3966 great H1419 slaughter H4347 . Thus the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 were subdued H3665 before H4480 H6440 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 .
|
|
34. Jephthah went back to Mizpah. He went to his house, and his daughter came out to meet him. She was playing a tambourine and dancing. She was his only daughter, and Jephthah loved her very much. He did not have any other sons or daughters.
|
34. And Jephthah H3316 came H935 to Mizpeh H4709 unto H413 his house H1004 , and, behold H2009 , his daughter H1323 came out H3318 to meet H7125 him with timbrels H8596 and with dances H4246 : and she H1931 was his only child H3173 ; beside H4480 her he had neither H369 son H1121 nor H176 daughter H1323 .
|
|
35. When Jephthah saw that his daughter was the first thing to come out of his house, he tore his clothes to show his sadness. Then he said, "Oh, my daughter! You have ruined me! You have made me very sad! I made a promise to the Lord, and I cannot change it!"
|
35. And it came to pass H1961 , when he saw H7200 her , that he rent H7167 H853 his clothes H899 , and said H559 , Alas H162 , my daughter H1323 ! thou hast brought me very low H3766 H3766 , and thou H859 art H1961 one of them that trouble H5916 me : for I H595 have opened H6475 my mouth H6310 unto H413 the LORD H3068 , and I cannot H3808 H3201 go back H7725 .
|
|
36. Then his daughter said to Jephthah, "Father, you have made a promise to the Lord, so keep your promise. Do what you said you would do. After all, the Lord did help you defeat your enemies, the Ammonites."
|
36. And she said H559 unto H413 him , My father H1 , if thou hast opened H6475 H853 thy mouth H6310 unto H413 the LORD H3068 , do H6213 to me according to that which H834 hath proceeded out H3318 of thy mouth H4480 H6310 ; forasmuch H310 H834 as the LORD H3068 hath taken H6213 vengeance H5360 for thee of thine enemies H4480 H341 , even of the children H4480 H1121 of Ammon H5983 .
|
|
37. Then Jephthah's daughter said to her father, "But do this one thing for me first. Let me be alone for two months. Let me go to the mountains. I will not marry and have children, so let me and my friends go and cry together."
|
37. And she said H559 unto H413 her father H1 , Let this H2088 thing H1697 be done H6213 for me : let me alone H7503 H4480 two H8147 months H2320 , that I may go up H1980 and down H3381 upon H5921 the mountains H2022 , and bewail H1058 H5921 my virginity H1331 , I H595 and my fellows H7464 .
|
|
38. Jephthah said, "Go." He sent her away for two months. Jephthah's daughter and her friends stayed in the mountains. They cried for her because she would not marry and have children.
|
38. And he said H559 , Go H1980 . And he sent her away H7971 H853 for two H8147 months H2320 : and she H1931 went H1980 with her companions H7464 , and bewailed H1058 H5921 her virginity H1331 upon H5921 the mountains H2022 .
|
|
39. At the end of two months, Jephthah's daughter returned to her father, and Jephthah did what he promised to the Lord. His daughter never had sexual relations with anyone. So this became a custom in Israel.
|
39. And it came to pass H1961 at the end H4480 H7093 of two H8147 months H2320 , that she returned H7725 unto H413 her father H1 , who did H6213 with her according to H853 his vow H5088 which H834 he had vowed H5087 : and she H1931 knew H3045 no H3808 man H376 . And it was H1961 a custom H2706 in Israel H3478 ,
|
|
40. Every year the young women of Israel would go out for four days to remember the daughter of Jephthah from Gilead and to cry for her.
|
40. That the daughters H1323 of Israel H3478 went H1980 yearly H4480 H3117 H3117 to lament H8567 the daughter H1323 of Jephthah H3316 the Gileadite H1569 four H702 days H3117 in a year H8141 .
|