Judges 11:1-11 - Jephthah Becomes Israel's Leader

¹ Jephthah was a brave soldier from Gilead. He was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was his father. ² They had other sons by his wife, and when they grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave home. They told him: You will have no inheritance from our father for you are the son of another woman. ³ Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. There a group of worthless men joined with him and they went around together.

⁴ After time passed the Ammonites went to war against Israel. ⁵ When this war occurred, the leaders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob. ⁶ They said: Come and be our commander, so that we can fight the Ammonites.

⁷ Jephthah answered: You hated me so much that you forced me to leave my father's house. Why have you come to me now that you are in trouble?

⁸ They replied: We turn to you now because we want you to go with us and fight the Ammonites and lead all the people of Gilead.

⁹ Jephthah said: If you take me back home to fight the Ammonites and Jehovah gives me victory, will I be your ruler?

¹⁰ They replied: We agree. Jehovah is our witness. ¹¹ Jephthah went with the leaders of Gilead. The people made him their ruler and leader. Jephthah stated his terms at Mizpah in Jehovah's presence.