|
|
|
|
1. Jephthah was a strong soldier from Gilead. His father was named Gilead, and his mother was a prostitute.
|
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 forced Jephthah to leave his home, saying to him, "You will not get any of our father's property, because 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 ran away from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. There some worthless men began to follow him.
|
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 against Israel.
|
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. When the Ammonites made war against Israel, the older leaders of Gilead went to Jephthah to bring him back from Tob.
|
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. They said to him, "Come and lead our army so 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 them, "Didn't you hate me? You forced me to leave my father's house. Why are you coming to me now that you are in 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 older leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "It is because of those troubles that we come to you now. Please come with us and fight against the Ammonites. You will be the ruler over everyone who lives 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 answered, "If you take me back to Gilead to fight the Ammonites and the Lord helps me win, I will be your ruler."
|
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 older leaders of Gilead said to him, "The Lord is listening to everything we are saying. We promise to do all that 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 older leaders of Gilead, and the people made him their leader and commander of their army. Jephthah repeated all of his words in front of the Lord at 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, asking, "What have you got against Israel? Why have you come to attack 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 answered the messengers of Jephthah, "We are fighting Israel because you took our land when you came up from Egypt. You took our land from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River to the Jordan River. Now give our land back to us peacefully."
|
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. Jephthah sent the messengers to the Ammonite king 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 said: "This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of the people of Moab or Ammon.
|
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 Egypt, they went into the desert to the Red Sea and then 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. Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, 'Let the people of Israel go across your land.' But the king of Edom refused. We sent the same message to the king of Moab, but he also refused. 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 into the desert around the borders of the lands of Edom and Moab. Israel went east of the land of Moab and camped on the other side of the Arnon River, the border of Moab. They did not cross it to go into 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 Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of the city of Heshbon, asking, 'Let the people of Israel pass through your land 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 Sihon did not trust the Israelites to cross his land. So he gathered all of his people and camped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.
|
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, handed Sihon and his army over to Israel. All the land of the Amorites became the property of Israel.
|
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. So Israel took all the land of the Amorites from the Arnon River to the Jabbok River, 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 out the Amorites ahead of the people of Israel. So do you think you can make them leave?
|
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. Take the land that your god Chemosh has given you. We will live in the land the Lord our God has given 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, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel or fight with the people of Israel?
|
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. For three hundred years the Israelites have lived in Heshbon and Aroer and the towns around them and in all the cities along the Arnon River. Why have you not taken these cities back 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. I have not sinned against you, but you are sinning against me by making war on me. May the Lord, the 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. But the king of the Ammonites ignored 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 entered Jephthah. Jephthah passed through Gilead and Manasseh and the city of Mizpah in Gilead 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, saying, "If you will hand over the Ammonites to me,
|
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 as a burnt offering the first thing that comes out of my house to meet me when I return from the victory. It will be the Lord's."
|
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 over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord handed them over to him.
|
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. In a great defeat Jephthah struck them down from the city of Aroer to the area of Minnith, and twenty cities as far as the city of Abel Keramim. So the Ammonites were defeated by the Israelites.
|
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. When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, his daughter was the first one to come out to meet him, playing a tambourine and dancing. She was his only child; he had no 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 his daughter, he tore his clothes to show his sorrow. He said, "My daughter! You have made me so sad because I made a promise to the Lord, and I cannot break 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, "Father, you made a promise to the Lord. So do to me just what you promised, because the Lord helped 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. She also said, "But let me do one thing. Let me be alone for two months to go to the mountains. Since I will never marry, 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." So he sent her away for two months. She and her friends stayed in the mountains and cried for her because she would never marry.
|
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. After two months she returned to her father, and Jephthah did to her what he had promised. Jephthah's daughter never had a husband. From this came a custom in Israel that
|
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.
|
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 .
|