1. And Jephthah the Gileadite hath been a mighty man of valour, and he [is] son of a woman, a harlot; and Gilead begetteth Jephthah,
2. and the wife of Gilead beareth to him sons, and the wife's sons grow up and cast out Jephthah, and say to him, `Thou dost not inherit in the house of our father; for son of another woman [art] thou.'
3. And Jephthah fleeth from the face of his brethren, and dwelleth in the land of Tob; and vain men gather themselves together unto Jephthah, and they go out with him.
4. And it cometh to pass, after a time, that the Bene-Ammon fight with Israel,
5. and it cometh to pass, when the Bene-Ammon have fought with Israel, that the elders of Gilead go to take Jephthah from the land of Tob;
6. and they say unto Jephthah, `Come, and thou hast been to us for captain, and we fight against the Bene-Ammon.'
7. And Jephthah saith to the elders of Gilead, `Have not ye hated me? and ye cast me out from the house of my father, and wherefore have ye come unto me now when ye are in distress?'
8. and the elders of Gilead say unto Jephthah, `Therefore, now, we have turned back unto thee; and thou hast gone with us, and fought against the Bene-Ammon, and thou hast been to us for head--to all the inhabitants of Gilead.'
9. And Jephthah saith unto the elders of Gilead, `If ye are taking me back to fight against the Bene-Ammon, and Jehovah hath given them before me--I, am I to you for a head?'
10. And the elders of Gilead say unto Jephthah, `Jehovah is hearkening between us--if according to thy word we do not so.'
11. And Jephthah goeth with the elders of Gilead, and the people set him over them for head and for captain, and Jephthah speaketh all his words before Jehovah in Mizpeh.
12. And Jephthah sendeth messengers unto the king of the Bene-Ammon, saying, `What--to me and to thee, that thou hast come in unto me, to fight in my land.'