Judges 12

And a man of Ephraim was summoned, and he crossed over northward. And they said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight with the sons of Ammon but did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.”

And Jephthah said to them, “I was a man of strife, I and my people and the sons of Ammon, exceedingly. And I summoned you, but you did not save me from their hand. \*

And I saw that you {were} not a savior, and I put my life in my palm and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and God gave them into my hand. So why have you come up to me this day to fight with me?”

And Jephthah assembled all of the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim because they said, “You, Gilead, {are} fugitives of Ephraim in the midst of Ephraim, in the midst of Manasseh.” \*

And Gilead captured the fords of the Jordan to Ephraim. And it happened, when the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” then the men of Gilead said to him, “{Are} you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,”

then they said to him, “Please say ‘Shibboleth.’” And he said “Sibboleth,” for he was not able to pronounce {it} correctly. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. And at that time 42,000 from Ephraim fell. \*

And Jephthah judged Israel six years. And Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried among the cities of Gilead. \*

And after him Ibzan from Bethlehem judged Israel.

And 30 sons were to him. And 30 daughters he sent outside, and 30 daughters he brought in for his sons from outside. And he judged Israel seven years. \*

Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

And after him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel. And he judged Israel ten years.

Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. \*

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

And 40 sons and 30 sons of sons were to him, riding on 70 donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years.

Then Abdon, the son of Hillel, the Pirathonite, died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekite. \*