Judges 11:1-15

YAHWEH raised up a brave, fearless champion from Gilead to deliver Israel. His name was Jephthah, and he was the son of a prostitute. His father Gilead had other sons by his wife, and when they grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave home. They said to him, “You will inherit nothing of our father’s wealth because you are the son of another woman.” Jephthah fled from his half brothers and lived in the land of Tob. There he recruited a gang of lawless mercenaries who traveled around with him. Sometime later, the Ammonites waged war against Israel. When they attacked Israel, the leaders of Gilead went to the land of Tob to find Jephthah and to bring him back from exile. Swallowing their pride, they said to him, “Come and lead us so that we can fight the Ammonites.” Jephthah answered, “You’re the very people who hated me so much that you kicked me out of my father’s house. Why are you coming to me now that you’re in trouble?” They said to Jephthah, “We’re turning to you now because we want you to lead us in battle. Come and fight the Ammonites. You’re the one we need!” Jephthah said to them, “Very well. If you take me back home to fight the Ammonites and YAHWEH gives me victory, then you will make me your ruler. Agreed?” “That’s right,” they replied. “With YAHWEH as our witness, we pledge our loyalty to you.” So Jephthah returned home with the leaders of Gilead, and the people made him their commander and ruler. Jephthah stated his terms in a solemn ceremony at Mizpah in the presence of YAHWEH. Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of Ammon to ask, “What is your quarrel with us? Why have you invaded our country?” The king of Ammon answered Jephthah’s messengers, “When the Israelites came out of Egypt, they seized my land from the River Arnon to the River Jabbok, as far as the River Jordan. Now give it all back, and we’ll be at peace.” Jephthah again sent messengers back to the king of Ammon with this answer: “Israel seized neither the land of Moab nor the land of Ammon.