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APRIL 23
away the land of Moab, nor the land of the
people of Ammon; for when Israel came up
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April 23 from Egypt, they walked through the wilder-
ness as far as the Red Sea and came to Kadesh.
17 Then Israel sent messengers to the king of
Judges 11:1–12:15
Edom, saying, “Please let me pass through
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty your land.” But the king of Edom would not
11 man of valor, but he was the son of a har- heed. And in like manner they sent to the king
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lot; and Gilead begot Jephthah. Gilead’s wife of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel
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bore sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, remained in Kadesh. And they went along
they drove Jephthah out, and said to him, through the wilderness and bypassed the land
“You shall have no inheritance in our father’s of Edom and the land of Moab, came to the
house, for you are the son of another woman.” east side of the land of Moab, and encamped
3 Then Jephthah fled from his brothers and on the other side of the Arnon. But they did
dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless men not enter the border of Moab, for the Arnon
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banded together with Jephthah and went out was the border of Moab. Then Israel sent
raiding with him. messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites,
4 It came to pass after a time that the people king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, “Please
of Ammon made war against Israel. And so it let us pass through your land into our place.”
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was, when the people of Ammon made war 20 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through
against Israel, that the elders of Gilead went to his territory. So Sihon gathered all his people
get Jephthah from the land of Tob. Then they together, encamped in Jahaz, and fought
6
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said to Jephthah, “Come and be our com- against Israel. And the LORD God of Israel de-
mander, that we may fight against the people livered Sihon and all his people into the hand
of Ammon.” of Israel, and they defeated them. Thus Israel
7 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, gained possession of all the land of the
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“Did you not hate me, and expel me from my Amorites, who inhabited that country. They
father’s house? Why have you come to me took possession of all the territory of the
now when you are in distress?” Amorites, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and
8 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, from the wilderness to the Jordan.
“That is why we have turned again to you now, 23 ‘And now the LORD God of Israel has dis-
that you may go with us and fight against the possessed the Amorites from before His people
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people of Ammon, and be our head over all the Israel; should you then possess it? Will you
inhabitants of Gilead.” not possess whatever Chemosh your god gives
9 So Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you to possess? So whatever the LORD our God
you take me back home to fight against the takes possession of before us, we will possess.
people of Ammon, and the LORD delivers them 25 And now, are you any better than Balak the
to me, shall I be your head?” son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever
10 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, strive against Israel? Did he ever fight against
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“The LORD will be a witness between us, if we them? While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its
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do not do according to your words.” Then villages, in Aroer and its villages, and in all the
Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and cities along the banks of the Arnon, for three
the people made him head and commander hundred years, why did you not recover them
over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words within that time? Therefore I have not sinned
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before the LORD in Mizpah. against you, but you wronged me by fighting
12 Now Jephthah sent messengers to the against me. May the LORD, the Judge, render
king of the people of Ammon, saying, “What judgment this day between the children of Is-
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do you have against me, that you have come to rael and the people of Ammon.’ ” However,
fight against me in my land?” the king of the people of Ammon did not heed
13 And the king of the people of Ammon the words which Jephthah sent him.
answered the messengers of Jephthah, “Be- 29 Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon
cause Israel took away my land when they Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and
came up out of Egypt, from the Arnon as far as Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of
the Jabbok, and to the Jordan. Now therefore, Gilead; and from Mizpah of Gilead he
restore those lands peaceably.” advanced toward the people of Ammon. And
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14 So Jephthah again sent messengers to the Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If
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king of the people of Ammon, and said to You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon
him, “Thus says Jephthah: ‘Israel did not take into my hands, then it will be that whatever
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