耶弗他打敗以法蓮人
1後來，以法蓮人召集軍隊，渡過約旦河來到撒分。他們對耶弗他說：「你為什麼不召我們一起去攻打亞捫人呢？我們要把你和你的房子一起燒掉。」 2耶弗他說：「我和我的人民與亞捫人激戰時，我曾召你們參戰，你們卻不肯來援救我們。 3我見你們不來援救，只好冒死去迎戰亞捫人，耶和華把敵人交在了我手中。你們今天為什麼來攻打我呢？」 4以法蓮人說：「你們這些在以法蓮和瑪拿西境內的基列人不過是以法蓮的逃亡者。」於是，耶弗他號召基列人起來迎戰以法蓮人，打敗了他們。 5基列人佔據約旦河各渡口，不讓以法蓮人過去。如果有以法蓮的逃兵請求過河，基列人便問他：「你是以法蓮人嗎？」如果他否認， 6他們就讓他說「示播列」。因為以法蓮人咬字不清，如果有人把「示播列」說成「西播列」，基列人便抓住他，在那裡處死他。那時，有四萬二千名以法蓮人被殺。
7耶弗他做以色列的士師六年，死後葬在基列的一座城裡。
以比贊、以倫、押頓
8耶弗他死後，伯利恆人以比贊做以色列的士師。 9他有三十個兒子、三十個女兒，他從別的宗族給兒子們娶來三十個媳婦，又把女兒都嫁到別的宗族。他做以色列的士師七年， 10死後葬在伯利恆。 11以比贊死後，西布倫人以倫做以色列的士師十年。 12他死後葬在西布倫的亞雅崙。 13以倫死後，比拉頓人希列的兒子押頓做以色列的士師。 14他有四十個兒子、三十個孫子，他的兒孫每人騎一頭驢。押頓做以色列的士師八年， 15死後葬在以法蓮的比拉頓，在亞瑪力人的山區。
Jephthah Wins the Battle Over Ephraim
1The troops of Ephraim were called out. The troops went across the Jordan River to Zaphon. When they arrived, they said to Jephthah, “You went to fight against the Ammonites. Why didn’t you ask us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.”
2Jephthah answered, “I and my people were taking part in a great struggle. We were at war with the Ammonites. I asked you for help. But you didn’t come to save me from their power. 3I saw that you wouldn’t help. So I put my own life in danger. I went across the Jordan to fight against the Ammonites. The Lord helped me win the battle over them. So why have you come up today to fight against me?”
4Then Jephthah called the men of Gilead together. They fought against Ephraim. The men of Gilead struck them down. The people of Ephraim had said, “You people of Gilead are nothing but deserters from Ephraim and Manasseh.” 5The men of Gilead captured the places where people go across the Jordan River to get to Ephraim. Some men of Ephraim weren’t killed in the battle. When they arrived at the river, they would say, “Let us go across.” Then the men of Gilead would ask each one, “Are you from Ephraim?” Suppose he replied, “No.” 6Then they would say, “All right. Say ‘Shibboleth.’ ” If he said “Sibboleth,” the way he said the word would give him away. He couldn’t say it correctly. So they would grab him. Then they would kill him at one of the places where people go across the Jordan. At that time, 42,000 men of Ephraim were killed.
7Jephthah led Israel for six years. Then he died. He was buried in a town in Gilead. Jephthah was from the land of Gilead.
Ibzan, Elon and Abdon
8After Jephthah, Ibzan from Bethlehem led Israel. 9He had 30 sons and 30 daughters. He gave his daughters to be married to men who were outside his family group. He brought in 30 young women to be married to his sons. Those women also came from outside his family group. Ibzan led Israel for seven years. 10Then he died. He was buried in Bethlehem.
11After Ibzan, Elon led Israel. He was from the tribe of Zebulun. Elon led Israel for ten years. 12Then he died. He was buried in Aijalon. It was in the land of Zebulun.
13After Elon, Abdon led Israel. Abdon was the son of Hillel. Abdon was from Pirathon. 14He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons. They rode on 70 donkeys. Abdon led Israel for eight years. 15Then he died. He was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim. Pirathon was in the hill country of the Amalekites. Abdon was the son of Hillel.
