¹⁷The Ammonites were called together to fight. They camped in the land of Gilead. Then the men of Israel gathered together. They camped at the city of Mizpah.

¹⁸The leaders of Gilead spoke to each other. They said, “Who will lead the attack against the Ammonites? That man will be the ruler of all of the people who live in Gilead.”

11Jephthah was a mighty warrior. He was from the land of Gilead. His father’s name was Gilead. Jephthah’s mother was a prostitute.

²Gilead’s wife also had sons by him. When they had grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You aren’t going to get any share of our family’s property,” they said. “You are the son of another woman.”

³So Jephthah ran away from his brothers. He settled in the land of Tob. A group of men who weren’t good for anything gathered around him there. And they followed him.

⁴Some time later, the Ammonites went to war against Israel. ⁵So the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob. ⁶“Come with us,” they said. “Be our commander. Then we can fight against the Ammonites.”

⁷Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me? Didn’t you drive me away from my father’s house? Why are you coming to me only when you are in trouble?”

⁸The elders of Gilead replied to him. “You are right,” they said. “That’s why we’re turning to you now. Come with us and fight against the Ammonites. Then you will be our leader. You will rule over everyone who lives in Gilead.”

⁹Jephthah said, “Suppose you take me back to fight against the Ammonites. And suppose the Lord gives them over to me. Then will I really be your leader?”

¹⁰The elders of Gilead replied, “The Lord is our witness. We’ll certainly do as you say.” ¹¹So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead. And the people made him their leader and commander. He went to Mizpah. There he repeated to the Lord everything he had said.

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