Judges

Ephraim’s contingent mustered and crossed [the Jordan] to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you march to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’ll burn your house down over you!”

Jephthah answered them, “I and my people were involved in a bitter conflict with the Ammonites; and I summoned you, but you did not save me from them.

When I saw that you were no saviors, I risked my life and advanced against the Ammonites; and GOD delivered them into my hands. Why have you come here now to fight against me?”

And Jephthah gathered all the Gileadites and fought Ephraim. The Gileadites defeated Ephraim; for they had said, “You, Gilead, are nothing but fugitives from Ephraim—being in Manasseh is like being in Ephraim.”athey had said, “You, Gilead, … Ephraim.” Meaning of Heb. uncertain.

Gilead held the fords of the Jordan against Ephraim. And when any fugitive from Ephraim said, “Let me cross,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?”; if he said “No,”

they would say to him, “Then say shibboleth”; but he would say “sibboleth,” not being able to pronounce it correctly. Thereupon they would seize him and slay him by the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand from Ephraim fell at that time.

Jephthah led Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and he was buried in one of the towns of Gilead.

After him, Ibzan of BethlehembBethlehem I.e., Bethlehem in Zebulun; cf. Josh. 19.15. led Israel.

He had thirty sons, and he married off thirty daughters outside the clan and likewise brought in thirty from outside the clan for his sons. He led Israel seven years.

Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel; he led Israel for ten years.

Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon, in the territory of Zebulun.

After him, Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite led Israel.

He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy jackasses. He led Israel for eight years.

Then Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died. He was buried in Pirathon, in the territory of Ephraim, on the hill of the Amalekites.