23. ‘And now, יהוה Elohim of Yisra’ĕl has driven out the Amorites from before His people Yisra’ĕl, should you then possess it?
24. ‘Whatever Kemosh your mighty one gives you to possess, do you not possess it? And all that which יהוה our Elohim takes possession of before us, we possess.
25. ‘And now are you any better than Balaq son of Tsippor, sovereign of Mo’aḇ? Did he ever strive against Yisra’ĕl? Did he ever fight against them?
26. ‘While Yisra’ĕl dwelt in Ḥeshbon and its villages, and in Aro‛ĕr and its villages, and in all the cities along the banks of Arnon, for three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time?
27. ‘So I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me evil by fighting against me. Let יהוה the Judge, judge today between the children of Yisra’ĕl and the children of Ammon.’ ”
28. But the sovereign of the children of Ammon did not listen to the words which Yiphtaḥ sent him.
29. And the Spirit of יהוה came upon Yiphtaḥ, and he passed through Gil‛aḏ and Menashsheh, and passed through Mitspeh of Gil‛aḏ. And from Mitspeh of Gil‛aḏ he passed on toward the children of Ammon.
30. And Yiphtaḥ made a vow to יהוה, and said, “If You give the children of Ammon into my hands,
31. then it shall be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall belong to יהוה, and I shall offer it up as a burnt offering.”