8. And they vexed and oppressed the children of Israel that year: eighteen years oppressed they all the children of Israel that were beyond Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead.
9. And the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim; so that Israel was sore distressed.
10. And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, even because we have forsaken our God, and have served the Baalim.
11. And the Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I save you from the Egyptians, and from the Amorites, from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?
12. The Zidonians also, and the Amalekites, and the Maonites, did oppress you; and ye cried unto me, and I saved you out of their hand.
13. Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods: wherefore I will save you no more.
14. Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress.
15. And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; only deliver us, we pray thee, this day.
16. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
17. Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpah.
18. And the people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.