Judges 10:9–18

⁹The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah,^d Benjamin and Ephraim;^e Israel was in great distress. ¹⁰Then the Israelites cried^f out to the Lord, “We have sinned^g against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”^h

¹¹The Lord replied, “When the Egyptians,ⁱ the Amorites,^j the Ammonites,^k the Philistines,^{l 12}the Sidonians, the Amalekites^m and the Maonites^cn oppressed you^o and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? ¹³But you have forsaken^p me and served other gods,^q so I will no longer save you. ¹⁴Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save^r you when you are in trouble!^s”

¹⁵But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best,^t but please rescue us now.” ¹⁶Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord.^u And he could bear Israel’s misery^v no longer.^w

¹⁷When the Ammonites were called to arms and camped in Gilead, the Israelites assembled and camped at Mizpah.^{x 18}The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head^y over all who live in Gilead.”