The Book of Judges, Chapter 11שפטים 11

וְיִפְתָּ֣ח הַגִּלְעָדִ֗י הָיָה֙ גִּבּ֣וֹר חַ֔יִל וְה֖וּא בֶּן אִשָּׁ֣ה זוֹנָ֑ה וַיּ֥וֹלֶד גִּלְעָ֖ד אֶת יִפְתָּֽח

Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead had begotten Jephthah.

וַתֵּ֧לֶד אֵֽשֶׁת גִּלְעָ֛ד ל֖וֹ בָּנִ֑ים וַיִּגְדְּל֨וּ בְֽנֵי הָאִשָּׁ֜ה וַיְגָרְשׁ֣וּ אֶת יִפְתָּ֗ח וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לוֹ֙ לֹֽא תִנְחַ֣ל בְּבֵית אָבִ֔ינוּ כִּ֛י בֶּן אִשָּׁ֥ה אַחֶ֖רֶת אָֽתָּה

And Gilead's wife bore him sons, and when the wife's sons grew up they drove Jephthah out and said to him, You shall not inherit in our father's house, for you are the son of another woman.

וַיִּבְרַ֤ח יִפְתָּח֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י אֶחָ֔יו וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב בְּאֶ֣רֶץ ט֑וֹב וַיִּֽתְלַקְּט֤וּ אֶל יִפְתָּח֙ אֲנָשִׁ֣ים רֵיקִ֔ים וַיֵּצְא֖וּ עִמּֽוֹ

And Jephthah fled from before his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and empty men collected around Jephthah and went out with him.

וַיְהִ֖י מִיָּמִ֑ים וַיִּלָּחֲמ֥וּ בְנֵֽי עַמּ֖וֹן עִם יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And after a time the sons of Ammon made war with Israel.

וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁר נִלְחֲמ֥וּ בְנֵֽי עַמּ֖וֹן עִם יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙ זִקְנֵ֣י גִלְעָ֔ד לָקַ֥חַת אֶת יִפְתָּ֖ח מֵאֶ֥רֶץ טֽוֹב

And when the sons of Ammon made war with Israel, the elders of Gilead went to take Jephthah from the land of Tob.

וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לְיִפְתָּ֔ח לְכָ֕ה וְהָיִ֥יתָה לָּ֖נוּ לְקָצִ֑ין וְנִֽלָּחֲמָ֖ה בִּבְנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן

And they said to Jephthah, Come, and you shall be our commander, and we will fight with the sons of Ammon.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִפְתָּח֙ לְזִקְנֵ֣י גִלְעָ֔ד הֲלֹ֤א אַתֶּם֙ שְׂנֵאתֶ֣ם אוֹתִ֔י וַתְּגָרְשׁ֖וּנִי מִבֵּ֣ית אָבִ֑י וּמַדּ֜וּעַ בָּאתֶ֤ם אֵלַי֙ עַ֔תָּה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר צַ֥ר לָכֶֽם

And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father's house? So why have you come to me now when you are in distress?

וַיֹּאמְרוּ֩ זִקְנֵ֨י גִלְעָ֜ד אֶל יִפְתָּ֗ח לָכֵן֙ עַתָּה֙ שַׁ֣בְנוּ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְהָלַכְתָּ֣ עִמָּ֔נוּ וְנִלְחַמְתָּ֖ בִּבְנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן וְהָיִ֤יתָ לָּ֨נוּ֙ לְרֹ֔אשׁ לְכֹ֖ל יֹשְׁבֵ֥י גִלְעָֽד

And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, Therefore we have now turned back to you, that you may go with us and fight with the sons of Ammon, and you shall be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יִפְתָּ֜ח אֶל זִקְנֵ֣י גִלְעָ֗ד אִם מְשִׁיבִ֨ים אַתֶּ֤ם אוֹתִי֙ לְהִלָּחֵם֙ בִּבְנֵ֣י עַמּ֔וֹן וְנָתַ֧ן יְהוָ֛ה אוֹתָ֖ם לְפָנָ֑י אָנֹכִ֕י אֶהְיֶ֥ה לָכֶ֖ם לְרֹֽאשׁ

And Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, If you bring me back to fight with the sons of Ammon, and YHWH gives them over before me, I will be your head.

וַיֹּאמְר֥וּ זִקְנֵֽי גִלְעָ֖ד אֶל יִפְתָּ֑ח יְהוָ֗ה יִהְיֶ֤ה שֹׁמֵ֨עַ֙ בֵּֽינוֹתֵ֔ינוּ אִם לֹ֥א כִדְבָרְךָ֖ כֵּ֥ן נַעֲשֶֽׂה

And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, YHWH will be listener between us, if we do not do so according to your word.

וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ יִפְתָּח֙ עִם זִקְנֵ֣י גִלְעָ֔ד וַיָּשִׂ֨ימוּ הָעָ֥ם אוֹת֛וֹ עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לְרֹ֣אשׁ וּלְקָצִ֑ין וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר יִפְתָּ֧ח אֶת כָּל דְּבָרָ֛יו לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה בַּמִּצְפָּֽה

And Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people set him over them as head and as commander, and Jephthah spoke all his words before YHWH at Mizpah.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יִפְתָּח֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל מֶ֥לֶךְ בְּנֵֽי עַמּ֖וֹן לֵאמֹ֑ר מַה לִּ֣י וָלָ֔ךְ כִּֽי בָ֥אתָ אֵלַ֖י לְהִלָּחֵ֥ם בְּאַרְצִֽי

And Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the sons of Ammon, saying, What is there between me and you, that you have come to me to fight in my land?

וַיֹּאמֶר֩ מֶ֨לֶךְ בְּנֵי עַמּ֜וֹן אֶל מַלְאֲכֵ֣י יִפְתָּ֗ח כִּֽי לָקַ֨ח יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל אֶת אַרְצִי֙ בַּעֲלוֹת֣וֹ מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם מֵאַרְנ֥וֹן וְעַד הַיַּבֹּ֖ק וְעַד הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן וְעַתָּ֕ה הָשִׁ֥יבָה אֶתְהֶ֖ן בְּשָׁלֽוֹם

And the king of the sons of Ammon said to Jephthah's messengers, Because Israel took my land when they came up from Egypt, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok and as far as the Jordan; and now restore them in peace.

וַיּ֥וֹסֶף ע֖וֹד יִפְתָּ֑ח וַיִּשְׁלַח֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל מֶ֖לֶךְ בְּנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן

And Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the sons of Ammon,

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יִפְתָּ֑ח לֹֽא לָקַ֤ח יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֶת אֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֔ב וְאֶת אֶ֖רֶץ בְּנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן

and said to him, Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the sons of Ammon.

כִּ֖י בַּעֲלוֹתָ֣ם מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם וַיֵּ֨לֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל בַּמִּדְבָּר֙ עַד יַם ס֔וּף וַיָּבֹ֖א קָדֵֽשָׁה

For when they came up from Egypt, Israel went in the wilderness as far as the Sea of Reeds and came to Kadesh.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֣ח יִשְׂרָאֵ֣ל מַלְאָכִ֣ים אֶל מֶלֶךְ֩ אֱד֨וֹם לֵאמֹ֜ר אֶעְבְּרָה נָּ֣א בְאַרְצֶ֗ךָ וְלֹ֤א שָׁמַע֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֱד֔וֹם וְגַ֨ם אֶל מֶ֧לֶךְ מוֹאָ֛ב שָׁלַ֖ח וְלֹ֣א אָבָ֑ה וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּקָדֵֽשׁ

And Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, Please let me pass through your land, and the king of Edom would not listen. And also to the king of Moab he sent, and he was not willing, and Israel lived at Kadesh.

וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ בַּמִּדְבָּ֗ר וַיָּ֜סָב אֶת אֶ֤רֶץ אֱדוֹם֙ וְאֶת אֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֔ב וַיָּבֹ֤א מִמִּזְרַח שֶׁ֨מֶשׁ֙ לְאֶ֣רֶץ מוֹאָ֔ב וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּן בְּעֵ֣בֶר אַרְנ֑וֹן וְלֹא בָ֨אוּ֙ בִּגְב֣וּל מוֹאָ֔ב כִּ֥י אַרְנ֖וֹן גְּב֥וּל מוֹאָֽב

And he went through the wilderness and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came from the sunrise to the land of Moab, and they encamped beyond the Arnon, and they did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon is the border of Moab.

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ מַלְאָכִ֔ים אֶל סִיח֥וֹן מֶֽלֶךְ הָאֱמֹרִ֖י מֶ֣לֶךְ חֶשְׁבּ֑וֹן וַיֹּ֤אמֶר לוֹ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל נַעְבְּרָה נָּ֥א בְאַרְצְךָ֖ עַד מְקוֹמִֽי

And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and Israel said to him, Please let us pass through your land to my place.

וְלֹא הֶאֱמִ֨ין סִיח֤וֹן אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ עֲבֹ֣ר בִּגְבֻל֔וֹ וַיֶּאֱסֹ֤ף סִיחוֹן֙ אֶת כָּל עַמּ֔וֹ וַֽיַּחֲנ֖וּ בְּיָ֑הְצָה וַיִּלָּ֖חֶם עִם יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory, and Sihon gathered all his people and encamped at Jahaz and fought with Israel.

וַ֠יִּתֵּן יְהוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵֽי יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶת סִיח֧וֹן וְאֶת כָּל עַמּ֛וֹ בְּיַ֥ד יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וַיַּכּ֑וּם וַיִּירַשׁ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֚ת כָּל אֶ֣רֶץ הָאֱמֹרִ֔י יוֹשֵׁ֖ב הָאָ֥רֶץ הַהִֽיא

And YHWH the God of Israel gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them, and Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorite, the inhabitant of that land.

וַיִּ֣ירְשׁ֔וּ אֵ֖ת כָּל גְּב֣וּל הָאֱמֹרִ֑י מֵֽאַרְנוֹן֙ וְעַד הַיַּבֹּ֔ק וּמִן הַמִּדְבָּ֖ר וְעַד הַיַּרְדֵּֽן

And they took possession of all the territory of the Amorite, from the Arnon as far as the Jabbok, and from the wilderness as far as the Jordan.

וְעַתָּ֞ה יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל הוֹרִישׁ֙ אֶת הָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י מִפְּנֵ֖י עַמּ֣וֹ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּירָשֶֽׁנּוּ

So now YHWH the God of Israel has dispossessed the Amorite from before his people Israel, and will you take possession of it?

הֲלֹ֞א אֵ֣ת אֲשֶׁ֧ר יוֹרִֽישְׁךָ֛ כְּמ֥וֹשׁ אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ אוֹת֥וֹ תִירָ֑שׁ וְאֵת֩ כָּל אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹרִ֜ישׁ יְהוָ֧ה אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ מִפָּנֵ֖ינוּ אוֹת֥וֹ נִירָֽשׁ

Will you not take possession of what Chemosh your god dispossesses for you? And all that YHWH our God has dispossessed before us, that we will take possession of.

וְעַתָּ֗ה הֲט֥וֹב טוֹב֙ אַתָּ֔ה מִבָּלָ֥ק בֶּן צִפּ֖וֹר מֶ֣לֶךְ מוֹאָ֑ב הֲר֥וֹב רָב֙ עִם יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אִם נִלְחֹ֥ם נִלְחַ֖ם בָּֽם

And now, are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel, or did he ever fight against them?

בְּשֶׁ֣בֶת יִ֠שְׂרָאֵל בְּחֶשְׁבּ֨וֹן וּבִבְנוֹתֶ֜יהָ וּבְעַרְע֣וֹר וּבִבְנוֹתֶ֗יהָ וּבְכָל הֶֽעָרִים֙ אֲשֶׁר֙ עַל יְדֵ֣י אַרְנ֔וֹן שְׁלֹ֥שׁ מֵא֖וֹת שָׁנָ֑ה וּמַדּ֥וּעַ לֹֽא הִצַּלְתֶּ֖ם בָּעֵ֥ת הַהִֽיא

While Israel lived in Heshbon and its daughters and in Aroer and its daughters and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them in that time?

וְאָֽנֹכִי֙ לֹֽא חָטָ֣אתִי לָ֔ךְ וְאַתָּ֞ה עֹשֶׂ֥ה אִתִּ֛י רָעָ֖ה לְהִלָּ֣חֶם בִּ֑י יִשְׁפֹּ֨ט יְהוָ֤ה הַשֹּׁפֵט֙ הַיּ֔וֹם בֵּ֚ין בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּבֵ֖ין בְּנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן

I have not sinned against you, and you are doing me harm to fight against me. Let YHWH the judge judge today between the sons of Israel and the sons of Ammon.

וְלֹ֣א שָׁמַ֔ע מֶ֖לֶךְ בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן אֶל דִּבְרֵ֣י יִפְתָּ֔ח אֲשֶׁ֥ר שָׁלַ֖ח אֵלָֽיו

And the king of the sons of Ammon did not listen to the words of Jephthah that he sent to him.

וַתְּהִ֤י עַל יִפְתָּח֙ ר֣וּחַ יְהוָ֔ה וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר אֶת הַגִּלְעָ֖ד וְאֶת מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַֽיַּעֲבֹר֙ אֶת מִצְפֵּ֣ה גִלְעָ֔ד וּמִמִּצְפֵּ֣ה גִלְעָ֔ד עָבַ֖ר בְּנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן

And the Spirit of YHWH was upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and he passed through Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed on to the sons of Ammon.

וַיִּדַּ֨ר יִפְתָּ֥ח נֶ֛דֶר לַיהוָ֖ה וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אִם נָת֥וֹן תִּתֵּ֛ן אֶת בְּנֵ֥י עַמּ֖וֹן בְּיָדִֽי

And Jephthah vowed a vow to YHWH and said, If you will indeed give the sons of Ammon into my hand,

וְהָיָ֣ה הַיּוֹצֵ֗א אֲשֶׁ֨ר יֵצֵ֜א מִדַּלְתֵ֤י בֵיתִי֙ לִקְרָאתִ֔י בְּשׁוּבִ֥י בְשָׁל֖וֹם מִבְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֑וֹן וְהָיָה֙ לַֽיהוָ֔ה וְהַעֲלִיתִ֖הוּ עוֹלָֽה

then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the sons of Ammon shall be YHWH's, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.

וַיַּעֲבֹ֥ר יִפְתָּ֛ח אֶל בְּנֵ֥י עַמּ֖וֹן לְהִלָּ֣חֶם בָּ֑ם וַיִתְּנֵ֥ם יְהוָ֖ה בְּיָדֽוֹ

And Jephthah passed over to the sons of Ammon to fight against them, and YHWH gave them into his hand.

וַיַּכֵּ֡ם מֵעֲרוֹעֵר֩ וְעַד בּוֹאֲךָ֨ מִנִּ֜ית עֶשְׂרִ֣ים עִ֗יר וְעַד֙ אָבֵ֣ל כְּרָמִ֔ים מַכָּ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד וַיִּכָּֽנְעוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י עַמּ֔וֹן מִפְּנֵ֖י בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And he struck them from Aroer as far as you come to Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, a very great blow. And the sons of Ammon were subdued before the sons of Israel.

וַיָּבֹ֨א יִפְתָּ֣ח הַמִּצְפָּה֮ אֶל בֵּיתוֹ֒ וְהִנֵּ֤ה בִתּוֹ֙ יֹצֵ֣את לִקְרָאת֔וֹ בְתֻפִּ֖ים וּבִמְחֹל֑וֹת וְרַק֙ הִ֣יא יְחִידָ֔ה אֵֽין ל֥וֹ מִמֶּ֛נּוּ בֵּ֖ן אוֹ בַֽת

And Jephthah came to Mizpah, to his house, and behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dances. And she was an only child; he had besides her neither son nor daughter.

וַיְהִי֩ כִרְאוֹת֨וֹ אוֹתָ֜הּ וַיִּקְרַ֣ע אֶת בְּגָדָ֗יו וַיֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֲהָ֤הּ בִּתִּי֙ הַכְרֵ֣עַ הִכְרַעְתִּ֔נִי וְאַ֖תְּ הָיִ֣יתְ בְּעֹֽכְרָ֑י וְאָנֹכִ֗י פָּצִ֤יתִי פִי֙ אֶל יְהוָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א אוּכַ֖ל לָשֽׁוּב

And when he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you have become the one who troubles me. For I have opened my mouth to YHWH, and I cannot take it back.

וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו אָבִי֙ פָּצִ֤יתָה אֶת פִּ֨יךָ֙ אֶל יְהוָ֔ה עֲשֵׂ֣ה לִ֔י כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר יָצָ֣א מִפִּ֑יךָ אַחֲרֵ֡י אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂה֩ לְךָ֙ יְהוָ֧ה נְקָמ֛וֹת מֵאֹיְבֶ֖יךָ מִבְּנֵ֥י עַמּֽוֹן

And she said to him, My father, you have opened your mouth to YHWH; do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, after YHWH has done for you vengeances from your enemies, from the sons of Ammon.

וַתֹּ֨אמֶר֙ אֶל אָבִ֔יהָ יֵעָ֥שֶׂה לִּ֖י הַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֑ה הַרְפֵּ֨ה מִמֶּ֜נִּי שְׁנַ֣יִם חֳדָשִׁ֗ים וְאֵֽלְכָה֙ וְיָרַדְתִּ֣י עַל הֶֽהָרִ֔ים וְאֶבְכֶּה֙ עַל בְּתוּלַ֔י אָנֹכִ֖י ורעיתי וְרֵעוֹתָֽי

And she said to her father, Let this thing be done for me: let me alone two months, and I will go and go down on the mountains and weep over my virginity, I and my companions.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לֵ֔כִי וַיִּשְׁלַ֥ח אוֹתָ֖הּ שְׁנֵ֣י חֳדָשִׁ֑ים וַתֵּ֤לֶךְ הִיא֙ וְרֵ֣עוֹתֶ֔יהָ וַתֵּ֥בְךְּ עַל בְּתוּלֶ֖יהָ עַל הֶהָרִֽים

And he said, Go. And he sent her for two months, and she went, she and her companions, and she wept over her virginity on the mountains.

וַיְהִ֞י מִקֵּ֣ץ שְׁנַ֣יִם חֳדָשִׁ֗ים וַתָּ֨שָׁב֙ אֶל אָבִ֔יהָ וַיַּ֣עַשׂ לָ֔הּ אֶת נִדְר֖וֹ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נָדָ֑ר וְהִיא֙ לֹא יָדְעָ֣ה אִ֔ישׁ וַתְּהִי חֹ֖ק בְּיִשְׂרָאֵֽל

And at the end of two months she returned to her father, and he did to her his vow that he had vowed. And she had not known a man. And it became a custom in Israel

מִיָּמִ֣ים יָמִ֗ימָה תֵּלַ֨כְנָה֙ בְּנ֣וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לְתַנּ֕וֹת לְבַת יִפְתָּ֖ח הַגִּלְעָדִ֑י אַרְבַּ֥עַת יָמִ֖ים בַּשָּׁנָֽה

that from year to year the daughters of Israel go to recount of the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite, four days in the year.