Judges 12 :: New International Version (NIV)

Jephthah and Ephraim

Jdg 12:1The 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.”

Jdg 12:2

Jdg 12:2Jephthah answered, “I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands.

Jdg 12:3

Jdg 12:3When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?”

Jdg 12:4

Jdg 12:4Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh.”

Jdg 12:5

Jdg 12:5The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead asked him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he replied, “No,”

Jdg 12:6

Jdg 12:6they said, “All right, say ‘Shibboleth.’ ” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.

Jdg 12:7

Jdg 12:7Jephthah led[fn] Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in a town in Gilead.

Ibzan, Elon and Abdon

Jdg 12:8

Jdg 12:8After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel.

Jdg 12:9

Jdg 12:9He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years.

Jdg 12:10

Jdg 12:10Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

Jdg 12:11

Jdg 12:11After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years.

Jdg 12:12

Jdg 12:12Then Elon died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

Jdg 12:13

Jdg 12:13After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel.

Jdg 12:14

Jdg 12:14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel eight years.

Jdg 12:15

Jdg 12:15Then Abdon son of Hillel died and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.

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NIV Footnotes

(12:7)

Traditionally judged; also in verses 8-14

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