Shuphatym (Judges) — 12

Aphraim Fights with Yaphthah

1 Then the people of Aphraim mobilized an army and crossed over the Yurdan River to Zaphun. They sent this message to Yaphthah: “Why didn’t you call for us to help you fight against the Ammunites? We are going to burn down your house with you in it!”

2 Yaphthah replied, “I summoned you at the beginning of the dispute, but you refused to come! You failed to help us in our struggle against Ammun. 

3 So when I realized you were not coming, I risked my life and went to battle without you, and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH gave me victory over the Ammunites. So why have you now come to fight me?”

4 The people of Aphraim responded, “You men of Gilaad are nothing more than fugitives from Aphraim and Manassah.” So Yaphthah gathered all the men of Gilaad and attacked the men of Aphraim and defeated them.

5 Yaphthah captured the shallow crossings of the Yurdan River, and whenever a fugitive from Aphraim tried to go back across, the men of Gilaad would challenge him. “Are you a member of the tribe of Aphraim?” they would ask. If the man said, “No, I’m not,” 

6 they would tell him to say “Sibbulath.” If he was from Aphraim, he would say “Sibbulath,” because people from Aphraim cannot pronounce the word correctly. Then they would take him and kill him at the shallow crossings of the Yurdan. In all, forty two thousand Aphraimites were killed at that time.

7 Yaphthah judged Yashar'AL for six years. When he died, he was buried in one of the towns of Gilaad.

Ibzan Becomes Yashar'AL’s Judge

8 After Yaphthah died, Ibzan from Bathlaham judged Yashar'AL. 

9 He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He sent his daughters to marry men outside his clan, and he brought in thirty young women from outside his clan to marry his sons. Ibzan judged Yashar'AL for seven years. 

10 When he died, he was buried at Bathlaham.

Alun Becomes Yashar'AL’s Judge

11 After Ibzan died, Alun from the tribe of Zabulun judged Yashar'AL for ten years. 

12 When he died, he was buried at Aijalun in Zabulun.

Abdon Becomes Yashar'AL’s Judge

13 After Alun died, Abdun son of Hillal, from Pirathon, judged Yashar'AL. 

14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Yashar'AL for eight years. 

15 When he died, he was buried at Pirathon in Aphraim, in the hill country of the Amalakites.