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1 Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a prostitute. And Gilead became the father of Jephthah. 2 Gilead's wife bore him sons; and when his wife's sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah, and said to him, |You shall not inherit in our father's house; for you are the son of another woman.| 3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him. 4 It happened after a while, that the people of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 It was so, that when the people of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob; 6 and they said to Jephthah, |Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the people of Ammon.| 7 And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, |Did you not hate me, and drive me out of my father's house, and sent me away from you? And why have you come to me now when you are in distress?| 8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, |Not so. We have turned to you now, that you may go with us, and fight with the people of Ammon; and you shall be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.| 9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, |If you bring me home again to fight with the people of Ammon, and the LORD delivers them before me, shall I be your head?| 10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, |The LORD shall be witness between us; surely according to your word so will we do.| 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and chief over them. And Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD in Mizpah. 12 Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, saying, |What have you to do with me, that you are come to me to fight against my land?| 13 And the king of the people of Ammon answered the messengers of Jephthah, |Because Israel took away my land, when he came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon even to the Jabbok, and to the Jordan. Now therefore restore it peaceably, and I will depart.| Judges 11:1-13, New Heart English Bible. Public domain.
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