JudgesChapter 12
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1Then the men of Ephraim gathered their troops and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!" 2Jephthah answered, "My people and I were in a big fight with the Ammonites. I called you, but you didn't save me from them. 3When I saw that you wouldn't save me, I risked my life. I went over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD handed them over to me. So why have you come today to fight me?" 4Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The men of Gilead struck them down. They did this because the men of Ephraim had said, "You people of Gilead are just runaways from Ephraim. You live in the land of Ephraim and Manasseh." 5The men of Gilead took control of the river crossings of the Jordan that led to Ephraim. Whenever a man from Ephraim who was running away said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead would ask him, "Are you from Ephraim?" If he said, "No," 6they said, "Then say 'Shibboleth.'" He would say "Sibboleth," because he could not say the word right. Then they grabbed him and killed him at the river crossings of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 men of Ephraim were killed. 7Jephthah led Israel as judge for six years. When he died, he was buried in one of the towns of Gilead. 8After Jephthah, Ibzan from Bethlehem led Israel as judge. 9He had 30 sons and 30 daughters. He gave his daughters to be married to men outside his clan. And he brought in 30 wives from outside for his sons. Ibzan led Israel as judge for seven years. 10Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem. 11After Ibzan, Elon from the tribe of Zebulun led Israel as judge for ten years. 12Then Elon from Zebulun died. He was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. 13After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel led Israel as judge. He was from Pirathon. 14He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons. They rode on 70 donkeys. He led Israel as judge for eight years. 15Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died. He was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.