4. In those days the children of Ammon made war against Israel.
5. And as they pressed hard upon them, the ancients of Galaad went to fetch Jephte out of the land of Tob to help them:
6. And they said to him: Come thou and be our prince, and fight against the children of Ammon.
7. And he answered them: Are not you the men that hated me, and cast me out of my father's house, and now you are come to me constrained by necessity?
8. And the princes of Galaad said to Jephte: For this cause we are now come to thee, that thou mayst go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be head over all the inhabitants of Galaad.
9. Jephte also said to them: If you be come to me sincerely, that I should fight for you against the children of Ammon, and the Lord shall deliver them into my band, shall I be your prince?
10. They answered him: The Lord who heareth these things, he himself is mediator and witness that we will do as we have promised.
11. Jephte therefore went with the princes of Galaad, and all the people made him their prince. And Jephte spoke all his words before the Lord in Maspha.