The leaders of Gilead spoke to one another. They said,“ Who will lead the attack against the Ammonites? That person will be the ruler of all the people who live in Gilead.”

基列的民和众首领彼此商议说：“谁能先去攻打亚扪人，谁必作基列一切居民的领袖。”

基列百姓中的领袖彼此说：“谁领先出去攻打亚扪人，谁就作基列所有居民的领袖。”

基列百姓中的领袖彼此说：“谁领先出去攻打亚扪人，谁就作基列所有居民的领袖。”

基列的首领们彼此商议说：“谁先攻打亚扪人，谁就做所有基列人的首领。”

基列的人民和众领袖彼此说：“谁先去攻打亚扪人，谁就可以作基列所有居民的首领。

基列的民和眾首領彼此商議說：「誰能先去攻打亞捫人，誰必作基列一切居民的領袖。」

基列百姓中的領袖彼此說：「誰領先出去攻打亞捫人，誰就作基列所有居民的領袖。」

基列百姓中的領袖彼此說：「誰領先出去攻打亞捫人，誰就作基列所有居民的領袖。」

基列的首領們彼此商議說：「誰先攻打亞捫人，誰就做所有基列人的首領。」

基列的人民和眾領袖彼此說：“誰先去攻打亞捫人，誰就可以作基列所有居民的首領。

基列的人民、基列的首領、就彼此說：『哪一個人能先去攻打亞捫人，那一個人就可以做基列一切居民的首領。』

基列民之牧伯相議曰、誰先戰亞捫人、彼必為基列民長、

基列民及其長相議曰、誰先戰亞捫族、必為基列民之牧。

基列之民及諸牧伯相議曰、誰先戰亞捫人、必為基列一切居民之首、

The leaders of the people of Gilead said to each other,“ Whoever will take the lead in attacking the Ammonites will be head over all who live in Gilead.”

And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said one to another,“ Who is the man who will begin to fight against the Ammonites? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

The leaders of Gilead said to each other,“ Whoever attacks the Ammonites first will become ruler over all the people of Gilead.”

The rulers of Gilead said to one another,“ Which man will begin the fight against the Ammonites? He will be the leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another,“ Who is the man who will begin to fight against the sons of Ammon? He shall become head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

And the people, the leaders of Gilead, said to one another,“ Who is the man who will begin the fight against the people of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

And the people, the princes of Gilead, said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

The rulers of Gilead said to one another,“ Which man will lead the fight against the Ammonites? He will be the leader of all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

And the people[ and] princes of Gilead said one to another, What man[ is he] that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.

The leaders of Gilead said to one another,“ Who is willing to lead the charge against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!”

The people, the princes of Gilead, said to one another,“ Who is the man who will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? He shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.”

So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead. And the people made him their leader and commander. He went to Mizpah. There he repeated to the Lord everything he had said.

The Israelites had been saying,“ Just look at how this man keeps daring Israel to fight him! The king will make the man who kills Goliath very wealthy. The king will also give his own daughter to be that man’s wife. The king won’t require anyone in the man’s family to pay any taxes in Israel.”

Here is what the Lord who rules over all is about to do. The Lord will take away from Jerusalem and Judah supplies and help alike. He will take away all the supplies of food and water.He’ll take away heroes and soldiers. He’ll take away judges and prophets. He’ll take away fortune tellers and elders.He’ll take away captains of groups of 50 men. He’ll take away government leaders. He’ll take away advisers, skilled workers and those who are clever at doing evil magic.The Lord will make mere youths their leaders. Children will rule over them.People will treat one another badly. They will fight against one another. They will fight against their neighbors. Young people will attack old people. Ordinary people will attack those who are more important.A man will grab one of his brothers in his father’s house. He will say,“ You have a coat. So you be our leader. Take charge of all these broken- down buildings!”But at that time the brother will cry out,“ I can’t help you. I don’t have any food or clothing in my house. Don’t make me the leader of these people.”Jerusalem is about to fall. And so is Judah. They say and do things against the Lord. They dare to disobey him to his very face.

Joshua died. After that, the Israelites spoke to the Lord. They asked him,“ Who of us will go up first and fight against the Canaanites?”

Jephthah led Israel for six years. Then he died. He was buried in a town in Gilead. Jephthah was from the land of Gilead.

So the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob.“ Come with us,” they said.“ Be our commander. Then we can fight against the Ammonites.”Jephthah said to them,“ Didn’t you hate me? Didn’t you drive me away from my father’s house? Why are you coming to me only when you are in trouble?”The elders of Gilead replied to him.“ You are right,” they said.“ That’s why we’re turning to you now. Come with us and fight against the Ammonites. Then you will rule over all of us who live in Gilead.”

Edom’s nobles won’t have anything left there that can be called a kingdom. All its princes will vanish.