3. So Jephthah ran away from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Worthless men gathered around Jephthah and became his posse.
4. Sometime afterward, the Ammonites made war against Israel.
5. And when the Ammonites attacked Israel, Gilead’s elders went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob.
6. They said to him, "Come be our commander so we can fight against the Ammonites."
7. But Jephthah replied to Gilead’s elders, "Aren’t you the ones who hated me and drove me away from my father’s household? Why are you coming to me now when you’re in trouble?"
8. Gilead’s elders answered Jephthah, "That may be, but now we’re turning back to you, so come with us and fight the Ammonites. Then you’ll become the leader over us and everyone who lives in Gilead."
9. And Jephthah said to Gilead’s elders, "If you bring me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them over to me, I alone will be your leader."
10. Gilead’s elders replied to him, "The Lord is our witness; we will surely do what you’ve said."
11. So Jephthah went with Gilead’s elders, and the people made him leader and commander over them. At Mizpah before the Lord, Jephthah repeated everything he had said.
12. Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king, saying, "What is the problem between us that you’ve come against me to make war in my land?"
13. The Ammonite king responded to Jephthah’s messengers, "When the Israelites were coming up from Egypt, they seized my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and all the way to the Jordan. Now give it back peacefully!"
14. Then Jephthah again sent messengers to the Ammonite king