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.
Yefta Na Efraimu
112:1 Yos 13:27; Amu 11:1; 8:1Watu wa Efraimu wakaita majeshi yao, wakavuka kwenda Zafoni, wakamwambia Yefta, “Kwa nini mmekwenda kupigana na Waamoni bila kutuita ili twende pamoja nawe? Basi tutaichoma moto nyumba yako, pamoja nawe ukiwa ndani yake.”
2Yefta akajibu, “Mimi na watu wangu tulikuwa na ugomvi mkubwa na Waamoni, hata ingawa niliwaita hamkuniokoa katika mkono wao. 312:3 Amu 9:17; Kum 20:7; 1Sam 19:5; Ay 13:14Nilipoona kuwa hamkunipa msaada nikauhatarisha uhai wangu na nikavuka kupigana na Waamoni. Naye Bwana akanipatia ushindi dhidi yao. Sasa kwa nini mnanijia leo ili kupigana nami?”
412:4 1Fal 17:1; Mwa 46:20; Isa 9:21; 19:2Ndipo Yefta akakusanya watu wa Gileadi pamoja na kupigana na Efraimu. Wagileadi wakawashinda Efraimu, kwa kuwa Waefraimu walisema, “Ninyi Wagileadi ni watoro mliotoroka toka Efraimu na Manase.” 512:5 Yos 2:5-7; Amu 3:28Wagileadi wakaviteka vivuko vya Yordani dhidi ya hao Waefraimu, kisha ilikuwa yeyote yule aliyenusurika katika Efraimu aliposema, “Niache nivuke,” hao watu wa Gileadi walimuuliza, “Je wewe ni Mwefraimu?” Kama alijibu “Hapana,” 6walimwambia, “Sawa, sema ‘Shibolethi.’ ” Iwapo alitamka, “Sibolethi,” kwa sababu hakuweza kutamka hilo neno sawasawa, walimkamata na kumuua hapo kwenye vivuko vya Yordani. Waefraimu 42,000 waliuawa wakati huo.
7Yefta akawa mwamuzi wa Waisraeli kwa muda wa miaka sita. Basi Yefta akafa, akazikwa katika mmojawapo wa miji ya Gileadi.
Ibzani, Eloni Na Abdoni
812:8 Mwa 35:19Baada yake, Ibzani wa Bethlehemu akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli. 9Alikuwa na wana thelathini na binti thelathini. Akawaoza binti zake kwa watu wengine nje ya ukoo wake, na kuwatwalia wanawe wanawake thelathini toka nje ya ukoo wake. Ibzani akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli kwa muda wa miaka saba. 10Ibzani akafa, akazikwa huko Bethlehemu.
11Baada yake Eloni, Mzabuloni, akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli, naye akawaamua kwa muda wa miaka kumi. 1212:12 Yos 10:12Kisha Eloni akafa, akazikwa katika Aiyaloni, katika nchi ya Zabuloni.
1312:13 2Sam 23:30; 1Nya 11:31; 27:14Baada yake, Abdoni mwana wa Hileli, Mpirathoni, akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli. 1412:14 Amu 8:30; 5:10; 10:4Naye akazaa wana arobaini na wana wa wanawe thelathini waliopanda punda sabini. Akawa mwamuzi wa Israeli kwa muda wa miaka minane. 1512:15 Amu 5:14Ndipo Abdoni mwana wa Hileli, Mpirathoni, akafa, naye akazikwa huko Pirathoni katika Efraimu, katika nchi ya vilima ya Waamaleki.
