23. “The Lord God of Israel forced the Amorites out of the way of his people Israel. So what right do you have to take it back?
24. Shouldn’t you take possession of what your god Chemosh took for you? Shouldn’t we take everything the Lord our God took for us?
25. You’re not any better than Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, are you? Did he ever have a case against Israel? Or did he ever fight against Israel?
26. Israel has now lived in Heshbon, Aroer, all their villages, and in all the cities along the Arnon River for 300 years. Why didn’t you recapture these cities during that time?
27. I haven’t sinned against you. But you have done wrong by waging war against me. The Lord is the judge who will decide today whether Israel or Ammon is right.”
28. But the king of Ammon didn’t listen to the message Jephthah sent him.
29. Then the Lord’s Spirit came over Jephthah. Jephthah went through Gilead, Manasseh, and Mizpah in Gilead ⌊to gather an army⌋. From Mizpah in Gilead Jephthah went to attack Ammon.
30. Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. He said, “If you will really hand Ammon over to me,
31. then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from Ammon will belong to the Lord. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”