Jephthah and the Ephraimites
1 The men of Ephraim prepared for battle; they crossed the Jordan River to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross the border to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We'll burn the house down over your head!”
2 But Jephthah told them, “My people and I had a serious quarrel with the Ammonites. I did call you, but you would not rescue me from them. 3 When I saw that you were not going to, I risked my life and crossed the border to fight them, and the Lord gave me victory over them. So why are you coming up to fight me now?” 4 Then Jephthah brought all the men of Gilead together, fought the men of Ephraim and defeated them. (The Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites in Ephraim and Manasseh, you are deserters from Ephraim!”) 5 In order to keep the Ephraimites from escaping, the Gileadites captured the places where the Jordan could be crossed. When any Ephraimite who was trying to escape would ask permission to cross, the men of Gilead would ask, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,” 6 they would tell him to say “Shibboleth.” But he would say “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they would grab him and kill him there at one of the Jordan River crossings. At that time forty-two thousand of the Ephraimites were killed.
7 Jephthah led Israel for six years. Then he died and was buried in his hometown in Gilead.
Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon
8 After Jephthah, Ibzan from Bethlehem led Israel. 9 He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters in marriage outside the clan and brought thirty young women from outside the clan for his sons to marry. Ibzan led Israel for seven years, 10 then he died and was buried at Bethlehem.
11 After Ibzan, Elon from Zebulun led Israel for ten years. 12 Then he died and was buried at Aijalon in the territory of Zebulun.
13 After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel from Pirathon led Israel. 14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. Abdon led Israel for eight years, 15 then he died and was buried at Pirathon in the territory of Ephraim in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Jefta nOvaefraim
1 Ovaefraim va woronganisirwa pamwe okukarwa; owo va konda onḓonḓu Jordan ave i kOsafon nave katja nai ku Jefta: “Okutjavi tji wa karwa nOvaamoni nokuhinokutuisana okuyenda puna ove? Eṱe matu ku nyosire mondjuwo yoye.”
2 Nungwari Jefta wa tja nai ku wo: “Ami novandu vandje twa ri notjiposa otjinene kuna Ovaamoni. Mba kwa ombatero ku eṋe, nungwari eṋe kamu ere okundjiyama ku wo. 3 Nami tji mba muna kutja eṋe kamu nokuya okundjiyama, otji mbe ritwa moumba wokurwisa Ovaamoni; nu Muhona we ndji pa outoṋi kombanda yawo. Nambano eṋe mwe ya okundjirwisira tjike?” 4 Jefta wa woronganisa Ovagilead okukarwisa Ovaefraim; neye we ve havera. Ovaefraim ave tja: “Eṋe, Vagilead, mbu mu kara mokati komuhoko wa Efraim nowa Manasse, oweṋe ovandu ovataure mbu mwa zire kehi ra Efraim.” 5 Nu Ovagilead va tjaerera Ovaefraim pomakondero wa Jordan. Nu ngamwa Omuefraim auhe omuture tja tja: “Ndji esa mbi konde,” Ovagilead otjaave mu pura ave tja: “Oove Omuefraim?” Neye tja ziri a tja: “Kako,” 6 owo otjaave mu raere kutja a tje “Skibolet.” Neye aa tja: “Sibolet,” tjinga aa ha sora okutamuna nawa, otjaave mu kambura nave mu zepere mbo pomakondero wonḓonḓu Jordan. Moruveze ndo mwa ṱa Ovaefraim omayovi omirongo vine na yevari.
7 Nu Jefta wa ri omunane mOisrael oure wozombura hamboumwe. Neye wa koka na pakwa motjihuro tje omuini mOgilead.
Ovapangure ooIbsan na Elon na Abdon
8 Kombunda ya Jefta, Ibsan ngwa zire kObetlehem wa rira omunane mOisrael. 9 Eye wa ri novazandu omirongo vitatu. Novakazona ve omirongo vitatu wa kupisa kwarwe; novasuko omirongo vitatu, mba kapaha kwarwe, wa eta kovazandu ve okurira ovakazendu vawo. Ibsan wa ri omunane mOisrael oure wozombura hambombari. 10 Neye wa koka na pakwa mObetlehem.
11 Kombunda ya Ibsan, Elon ngwa zire kOsebulon wa rira omunane mOisrael oure wozombura omurongo. 12 Nu Elon, Omusebulon, wa koka na pakwa mOajalon mehi ra Sebulon.
13 Kombunda ya Elon, Abdon, omuzandu wa Hilel, ngwa zire kOpiraton wa rira omunane mOisrael. 14 Eye wa ri novazandu omirongo vine, novazandu vovazandu omirongo vitatu, mbaa ve kavire kousino omirongo hambombari. Abdon wa ri omunane mOisrael oure wozombura hambondatu. 15 Nu Abdon, omuzandu wa Hilel, wa koka na pakwa mOpiraton mehi ra Efraim, mehi rozondundu rOvaamalek.
