Judges 12

1 But behold there arose a sedition in Ephraim. And passing towards the north, they said to Jephte: When thou wentest to fight against the children of Ammon, why wouldst thou not call us, that we might go with thee? Therefore we will burn thy house.

And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passed you over to fight against the children of Ammon, and did not call us to go with you? we will burn your house upon you with fire.

2 And he answered them: I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon: and I called you to assist me, and you would not do it.

And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, all of you delivered me not out of their hands.

3 And when I saw this, I put my life in my own hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hands. What have I deserved, that you should rise up to fight against me?

And when I saw that all of you delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed opposite to the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are all of you come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

4 Then calling to him all the men of Galaad, he fought against Ephraim: and the men of Galaad defeated Ephraim, because he had said: Galaad is a fugitive of Ephraim, and dwelleth in the midst of Ephraim and Manasses.

Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead stroke Ephraim, because they said, All of you Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites.

5 And the Galaadites secured the fords of the Jordan, by which Ephraim was to return. And when any one of the number of Ephraim came thither in the flight, and said: I beseech you let me pass: the Galaadites said to him: Art thou not an Ephraimite? If he said: I am not:

And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Are you an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;

6 They asked him: Say then, Scibboleth, which is interpreted, An ear of corn. But he answered, Sibboleth, not being able to express an ear of corn by the same letter. Then presently they took him and killed him in the very passage of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of Ephraim two and forty thousand.

Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.

7 And Jephte the Galaadite judged Israel six years: and he died, and was buried in his city of Galaad.

And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

8 After him Abesan of Bethlehem judged Israel:

And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.

9 He had thirty sons, and as many daughters, whom he sent abroad, and gave to husbands, and took wives for his sons of the same number, bringing them into his house. And he judged Israel seven years:

And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

10 And he died, and was buried in Bethlehem.

Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.

11 To him succeeded Ahialon a Zabulonite: and he judged Israel ten years:

And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.

12 And he died, and was buried in Zabulon.

And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.

13 After him Abdon, the son of Illel, a Pharathonite, judged Israel:

And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

14 And he had forty sons, and of them thirty grandsons, mounted upon seventy ass colts, and he judged Israel eight years:

And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.

15 And he died, and was buried in Pharathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of Amalech.

And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.