Judges 12 - International Standard Version (ISV)

Jephthah’s Dispute with the Tribe of Ephraim

12 A little while later, the army of Ephraim was mustered, and they crossed to Zaphon. They confronted Jephthah and asked, “Why did you cross over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to accompany you? We’re going to burn your house down around you!”

2 But Jephthah replied to them, “My army and I were engaged in a serious fight with the Ammonites. I called for you, but you didn’t deliver me from their control. 3 When I saw that you wouldn’t be delivering me, I took my own life in my hands, crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into my control. So why have you come here today to fight me?” 4 Then Jephthah mustered all the men of Gilead, fought the tribe of Ephraim, and defeated them, because they had been claiming, “You descendants of Gilead are fugitives in the midst of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh.”

Shibboleth vs. Sibboleth

5 The descendants of Gilead seized control of the Jordan River’s fords along the border of Ephraim’s territory.[a] Later on, when any fugitive from Ephraim asked them, “Let me cross over,” the men from Gilead would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said “No,” 6 they would order him, “Pronounce the word ‘Shibboleth’ right now.” If he said “Sibboleth,” not being able to pronounce it correctly, they would seize him and slaughter him there at the fords of the Jordan River. During those days 42,000 descendants of Ephraim died that way. 7 Jephthah governed Israel for six years. Then Jephthah died and was buried somewhere in the cities of Gilead.

Ibzan, Israel’s Ninth Judge

8 After he died,[b] Ibzan from Bethlehem governed Israel for ten years. 9 He had 30 sons and 30 daughters, but he gave his daughters[c] in marriage to outsiders and brought in 30 outsiders[d] for his sons. He governed Israel for seven years, 10 then he died and was buried in Bethlehem.

Elon, Israel’s Tenth Judge

11 Elon the Zebulunite governed Israel after him for ten years. 12 Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon within the territory of Zebulun.

Abdon, Israel’s Eleventh Judge

13 Hillel the Pirathonite’s son Abdon governed Israel after him. 14 He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons who rode on 70 donkeys. He governed Israel for eight years. 15 Then he died and was buried at Pirathon in the territory of Ephraim, in the mountainous region[e] of the Amalekites.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 12:5 Lit. fords opposite Ephraim
  2. Judges 12:8 Lit. After him
  3. Judges 12:9 Lit. gave them
  4. Judges 12:9 Lit. 30 daughters from outside
  5. Judges 12:15 Or the hill country

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12 And the men of Ephraim are called together, and pass over northward, and say to Jephthah, `Wherefore has thou passed over to fight against the Bene-Ammon, and on us hast not called to go with thee? thy house we burn over thee with fire.' 2 And Jephthah saith unto them, `A man of great strife I ha...
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Judges 12 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

12 And, lo! dissension (a)rose in Ephraim; for they, that passed toward the north (who crossed over to Zaphon), said to Jephthah, Why wentest thou to battle against the sons of Ammon, and wouldest not call us, (so) that we should go with thee. Therefore we shall burn (down) thine house. 2 To which h...
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Judges 12 - World English Bible (WEB)

12 The men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Jephthah, “Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn’t call us to go with you? We will burn your house around you with fire!” 2 Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were at great stri...
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Judges 12 - The Voice (VOICE)

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Judges 12 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

12 Then the men of Ephraim were summoned and crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the children of Ammon without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.” 2 So Jephthah responded to them, “I and my people were in a bitt...
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Judges 12 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Intertribal Dissension12 The men of E′phraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.” 2 And Jephthah said to them, “I and my people h...
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Judges 12 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Intertribal Dissension12 The men of E′phraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.” 2 And Jephthah said to them, “I and my people h...
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Judges 12 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Intertribal Dissension12 The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down over you!” 2 Jephthah said to them, “My people and I were engage...
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Judges 12 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Intertribal Dissension12 The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, ‘Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down over you!’ 2 Jephthah said to them, ‘My people and I were engage...
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Judges 12 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Intertribal Dissension12 The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down over you!”(A)2 Jephthah said to them, “My people and I were engage...
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Judges 12 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Ephraim Fights with Jephthah12 Then the people of Ephraim mobilized an army and crossed over the Jordan River to Zaphon. They sent this message to Jephthah: “Why didn’t you call for us to help you fight against the Ammonites? We are going to burn down your house with you in it!” 2 Jephthah replied, ...
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Judges 12 - New Life Version (NLV)

Jephthah and Ephraim12 Then the men of Ephraim got ready for war. They crossed over to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight the men of Ammon without calling us to go with you? With fire we will burn down your house with you in it.” 2 Jephthah said to them, “I and my people ...
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Judges 12 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Jephthah’s Conflict with Ephraim12 Then (A)the men of Ephraim [a]gathered together, crossed over toward Zaphon, and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the people of Ammon, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you with fire!” 2 And Jephthah said ...
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Judges 12 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Jephthah and Ephraim12 The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, ‘Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.’ 2 Jephthah answered, ‘I and my people were engaged in a...
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Judges 12 - New International Version (NIV)

Jephthah and Ephraim12 The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon.(A) They said to Jephthah,(B) “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you?(C) We’re going to burn down your house over your head.” 2 Jephthah answered, “I and my people were eng...
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Judges 12 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Jephthah Wins the Battle Over Ephraim12 The 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 he...
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Judges 12 - New English Translation (NET)

Civil Strife Mars the Victory12 The Ephraimites assembled[a] and crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go and fight[b] with the Ammonites without asking[c] us to go with you? We will burn your house down right over you!”[d] 2 Jephthah said to them, “My people and I were in a st...
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