Open English Translation JDG Chapter 12

12 Now the men of Efrayim (Ephraim) were summoned and they passed northward and they said to Yiftah (Jephthah), “Why did you pass through in order to fight against the Amonim, but you didn’t call us to go with you? We’re going to burn your house down over you!”

2 “I’ve been involved in very intense disputes—my people against the Amonim,” Yiftah told them. “When I summoned you all, you didn’t come and rescue me from them. 3 When I could see that you weren’t coming to assist, I took my life into my own hands. I advanced against the Amonim, and Yahweh gave me victory over them. So why then have you all come here to fight against me today?” 4 Then Yiftah assembled all of the men of Gilead and they battled against Efrayim. The men of Gilead struck Efrayim because they had said, “You Gilead people are just fugitives from Efrayim—living here in the middle of Efrayim, in the middle of Menasheh (Manasseh).” 5 The Giladim captured the crossing places of the Yarden (Jordan) along Efrayim. Then when any of the survivors from Efrayim would say, “May I cross over,” the men of Gilead would ask, “Are you an Efrati?” If he said, “No,” 6 then they’d demand, “Now say: Shibboleth.” But if he said “Sibboleth” because he didn’t have time to think to pronounce it correctly, they would seize him and would slaughter him at those crossing places of the Yarden. Forty-two thousand from Efrayim fell at that time.

7 Yiftah the Giladi led Yisrael (Israel) for six years, then he died and was buried among the cities of Gilead.

8 Then after him, Ivtsan of Beyt-Lehem (Bethlehem) led Yisrael (Israel). 9 Now he had thirty sons. He gave away thirty daughters to be married to outsiders, and he brought in thirty daughters for his sons from the outside. Ivtsan led Yisrael for seven years, 10 and when he died, he was buried in Beyt-Lehem.

11 After him, Eylon the Zevuluni led Yisrael for ten years. 12 When he died, he was buried in Ayalon in the land of Zevulun. 13 After him, Avdon, the son of Hilel the Pireatoni led Yisrael. 14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy young male donkeys. He led Yisrael for eight years. 15 Then Avdon (the son of Hilel the Pireatoni) died, and he was buried in Pireaton in the land of Efrayim (Ephraim), in the hill country of the Amalekim.