12. the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you.
13. Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore.
14. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!”
15. But the Israelites pleaded with the lord and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.”
16. Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the lord. And he was grieved by their misery.
17. At that time the armies of Ammon had gathered for war and were camped in Gilead, and the people of Israel assembled and camped at Mizpah.
18. The leaders of Gilead said to each other, “Whoever attacks the Ammonites first will become ruler over all the people of Gilead.”