1 The men of Ephraim were ready for battle. They crossed the Jordan River to Zaphon and said to Jephthah: »Why did you cross the border to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We are going to burn the house down over your head!«2 Jephthah replied: »My people and I had a great struggle with the Ammonites. I called you, but you would not rescue me from them.3 »When I realized you were not going to, I risked my life and crossed the border to fight them. Jehovah gave me victory over them. Why are you coming to fight me now?«4 Jephthah brought all the men of Gilead together and fought the men of Ephraim and defeated them.5 To keep the Ephraimites from escaping, the Gileadites captured the places where the Jordan could be crossed. When any Ephraimite who was trying to escape would ask permission to cross, the men of Gilead would ask: »Are you an Ephraimite?« If he said: »No,«6 they would tell him to say »Shibboleth.« But he would say »Sibboleth,« because he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they would kill him at the Jordan River crossing. Forty-two thousand of the Ephraimites were killed.7 Jephthah led Israel for six years. Then he died and was buried in his hometown in Gilead.8 After Jephthah, Ibzan from Bethlehem led Israel.9 He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters in marriage outside the clan and brought thirty young women from outside the clan for his sons to marry. Ibzan led Israel for seven years,10 then he died and was buried at Bethlehem.11 After Ibzan, Elon from Zebulun led Israel for ten years.12 He died and was buried at Aijalon in the territory of Zebulun.13 After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel from Pirathon was leader of Israel.14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. Abdon led Israel for eight years,15 Abdon died and was buried at Pirathon in the territory of Ephraim in the mountains of the Amalekites.

1 Então os homens de Efraim se congregaram, passaram para Zafom e disseram a Jefté: Por que passaste a combater contra os amonitas, e não nos chamaste para irmos contigo? Queimaremos a fogo a tua casa contigo.2 Disse-lhes Jefté: Eu e o meu povo tivemos grande contenda com os amonitas; e quando vos chamei, não me livrastes da sua mão.3 Vendo eu que não me livráveis, arrisquei a minha vida e fui de encontro aos amonitas, e o Senhor mos entregou nas mãos; por que, pois, subistes vós hoje para combater contra mim?4 Depois ajuntou Jefté todos os homens de Gileade, e combateu contra Efraim, e os homens de Gileade feriram a Efraim; porque este lhes dissera: Fugitivos sois de Efraim, vós gileaditas que habitais entre Efraim e Manassés.5 E tomaram os gileaditas aos efraimitas os vaus do Jordão; e quando algum dos fugitivos de Efraim dizia: Deixai-me passar; então os homens de Gileade lhe perguntavam: És tu efraimita? E dizendo ele: Não;6 então lhe diziam: Dize, pois, Chibolete; porém ele dizia: Sibolete, porque não o podia pronunciar bem. Então pegavam dele, e o degolavam nos vaus do Jordão. Cairam de Efraim naquele tempo quarenta e dois mil.7 Jefté julgou a Israel seis anos; e morreu Jefté, o gileadita, e foi sepultado numa das cidades de Gileade.8 Depois dele julgou a Israel Ibzã de Belém.9 Tinha este trinta filhos, e trinta filhas que casou fora; e trinta filhas trouxe de fora para seus filhos. E julgou a Israel sete anos.10 Morreu Ibzã, e foi sepultado em Belém.11 Depois dele Elom, o zebulonita, julgou a Israel dez anos.12 Morreu Elom, o zebulonita, e foi sepultado em Aijalom, na terra de Zebulom.13 Depois dele julgou a Israel Abdom, filho de Hilel, o piratonita.14 Tinha este quarenta filhos e trinta netos, que cavalgavam sobre setenta jumentos. E julgou a Israel oito anos.15 Morreu Abdom, filho de Hilel, o piratonita, e foi sepultado em Piratom, na terra de Efraim, na região montanhosa dos amalequitas.