Judges 12

1 And the men of Efrayim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Yiftach, “Wherefore passedst you over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with you? We will burn your house upon you with fire.”

2 And Yiftach said unto them, “I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, you delivered me not out of their hands.

3 And when I saw that you delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed opposite the children of Ammon, and יהוה delivered them into my hand; wherefore then are you come up unto me this day, to fight against me?”

4 Then Yiftach gathered together all the men of Gilad, and fought with Efrayim; and the men of Gilad smote Efrayim, because they said, “You Giladites are fugitives of Efrayim among the Efrayimites, and among the Manassites.”

5 And the Giladites took the passages of Jordan (Yarden) before the Efrayimites; and it was so, that when those Efrayimites which were escaped said, “Let me go over,” that the men of Gilad said unto him, “Are you an Efrayimite?” If he said, “Nay,”

6 Then said they unto him, “Say now ‘Shibbolet’” But he said “Sibbolet” for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan (Yarden); and there fell at that time of the Efrayimites forty and two thousand.

7 And Yiftach judged Yisrael six years. Then died Yiftach the Giladite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilad.

8 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem (Beit-Lechem) judged Yisrael.

9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Yisrael seven years.

10 Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem (Beit-Lechem).

11 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Yisrael; and he judged Yisrael ten years.

12 And Elon the Zevulonite died, and was buried in Ayalon in the country of Zevulun.

13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Yisrael.

14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts; and he judged Yisrael eight years.

15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Efrayim, in the mount of the Amalekites.