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.
耶弗他打败以法莲人
1后来，以法莲人召集军队，渡过约旦河来到撒分。他们对耶弗他说：“你为什么不召我们一起去攻打亚扪人呢？我们要把你和你的房子一起烧掉。” 2耶弗他说：“我和我的人民与亚扪人激战时，我曾召你们参战，你们却不肯来援救我们。 3我见你们不来援救，只好冒死去迎战亚扪人，耶和华把敌人交在了我手中。你们今天为什么来攻打我呢？” 4以法莲人说：“你们这些在以法莲和玛拿西境内的基列人不过是以法莲的逃亡者。”于是，耶弗他号召基列人起来迎战以法莲人，打败了他们。 5基列人占据约旦河各渡口，不让以法莲人过去。如果有以法莲的逃兵请求过河，基列人便问他：“你是以法莲人吗？”如果他否认， 6他们就让他说“示播列”。因为以法莲人咬字不清，如果有人把“示播列”说成“西播列”，基列人便抓住他，在那里处死他。那时，有四万二千名以法莲人被杀。
7耶弗他做以色列的士师六年，死后葬在基列的一座城里。
以比赞、以伦、押顿
8耶弗他死后，伯利恒人以比赞做以色列的士师。 9他有三十个儿子、三十个女儿，他从别的宗族给儿子们娶来三十个媳妇，又把女儿都嫁到别的宗族。他做以色列的士师七年， 10死后葬在伯利恒。 11以比赞死后，西布伦人以伦做以色列的士师十年。 12他死后葬在西布伦的亚雅仑。 13以伦死后，比拉顿人希列的儿子押顿做以色列的士师。 14他有四十个儿子、三十个孙子，他的儿孙每人骑一头驴。押顿做以色列的士师八年， 15死后葬在以法莲的比拉顿，在亚玛力人的山区。
