<p class="bodytext">It was some time after this when the Ammonites fought with Israel.

The <sc>Lordsc> was furious with Israel<n id="1" /> and turned them over to<n id="2" /> the Philistines and Ammonites.

<t /><p class="bodytext">The Ammonites assembled<n id="1" /> and camped in Gilead; the Israelites gathered together and camped in Mizpah.

They said,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Come, be our commander, so we can fight with the Ammonites.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">Jephthah sent messengers back to the Ammonite king

But the Ammonite king disregarded<n id="1" /> the message sent by Jephthah.<n id="2" />p>

Jephthah made a vow to the <sc>Lordsc>, saying, &#8220;If you really do hand the Ammonites over to me,

Jephthah approached<n id="1" /> the Ammonites to fight with them, and the <sc>Lordsc> handed them over to him.

Eglon formed alliances with<n id="1" /> the Ammonites and Amalekites. He came and defeated Israel, and they seized the City of Date Palm Trees.

The Ammonites crossed the Jordan to fight with Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim.<n id="1" /> Israel suffered greatly.<n id="2" />p>

The <sc>Lordsc> said to the Israelites, &#8220;Did I not deliver you from Egypt, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines,

When the Ammonites attacked,<n id="1" /> the leaders<n id="2" /> of Gilead asked Jephthah to come back<n id="3" /> from the land of Tob.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king, saying, &#8220;Why have<n id="1" /> you come against me to attack my land?&#8221;

and said to him, &#8220;This is what Jephthah says, &#8216;Israel did not steal<n id="1" /> the land of Moab and the land of the Ammonites.

then whoever is the first to come through<n id="1" /> the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from fighting the Ammonites &#8211; he<n id="2" /> will belong to the <sc>Lordsc> and<n id="3" /> I will offer him up as a burnt sacrifice.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">Jephthah said to them, &#8220;My people and I were entangled in controversy with the Ammonites.<n id="1" /> I asked for your help, but you did not deliver me from their power.<n id="2" />

The leaders<n id="1" /> of Gilead said to one another, &#8220;Who is willing to lead the charge<n id="2" /> against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!&#8221;p>

The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, &#8220;That may be true,<n id="1" /> but now we pledge to you our loyalty.<n id="2" /> Come with us and fight with the Ammonites. Then you will become the leader<n id="3" /> of all who live in Gilead.&#8221;<n id="4" />

Jephthah said to the leaders of Gilead, &#8220;All right!<n id="1" /> If you take me back to fight with the Ammonites and the <sc>Lordsc> gives them to me,<n id="2" /> I will be your leader.&#8221;<n id="3" />

The Ammonite king said to Jephthah&#8217;s messengers, &#8220;Because Israel stole<n id="1" /> my land when they<n id="2" /> came up from Egypt &#8211; from the Arnon River in the south to the Jabbok River in the north, and as far west as the Jordan.<n id="3" /> Now return it<n id="4" /> peaceably!&#8221;p>