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 were called together, and passed over northward, —and said unto Jephthah—Wherefore didst thou pass over to do battle with the sons of Ammon, and, for us, didst not call, to go with thee? Thy house, will we consume over thee 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, Great strife, had, I and my people, even with the sons of Ammon; but, when I cried unto you for help, ye saved me not out of their hand.

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?

So, when I saw that thou wast not going to save, then put I my life in my hand, and passed over against the sons of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand. Wherefore, then, have ye come up against 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.

And Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim, —and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said—Fugitives of Ephraim, are, ye, O ye Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim, in the midst of Manasseh.

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 captured the fords of the Jordan, against the Ephraimites, —and so it was, that, when the fugitives of Ephraim said, Let me pass over, the men of Gilead said to him, An Ephraimite, art thou? and, 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.

they said to him, Come now, say Shibboleth, and, if he said Sibboleth, and he could not take heed to speak in that manner, then laid they hold on him, and slew him at the fords of the Jordan, —and there fell, at that time, of the Ephraimites, forty-two thousand.

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

And, when Jephthah had judged Israel six years, then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in [one of] the cities of Gilead.

8 After him Abesan of Bethlehem judged Israel:

And there judged Israel, after him, Ibzan of Bethlehem.

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 so it was, he had thirty sons, and, thirty daughters, sent he abroad, while, thirty daughters, brought he from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

10 And he died, and was buried in Bethlehem.

And Ibzan died, and was buried in Bethlehem.

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

And, after him, did Elon the Zebulunite judge Israel, —and he judged Israel, ten years.

12 And he died, and was buried in Zabulon.

And Elon the Zebulunite died, and was buried in Aijalon, in the land of Zebulun.

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

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

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

And so it was, he had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy 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 son of Hillel, the Pirathonite died, —and was buried in Pirathon, in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.