1 Jephthah|strong="H3316" was|strong="H1961" from|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" tribe of|strong="H1121" Gilead|strong="H1568". He|strong="H1931" was|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" strong|strong="H2428" soldier. But|strong="H1961" Jephthah|strong="H3316" was|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" a|strong="H1961" prostitute|strong="H2181". His|strong="H1961" father|strong="H3205" was|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" man|strong="H1368" named Gilead|strong="H1568".
2 Gilead’s|strong="H1568" wife|strong="H0802" had|strong="H0001" several sons|strong="H1121". When|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" grew|strong="H1431" up|strong="H1431", they|strong="H3588" did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" like|strong="H3808" Jephthah|strong="H3316". They|strong="H3588" forced Jephthah|strong="H3316" to|strong="H0559" leave his|strong="H3588" hometown. They|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" him|strong="H3205", “You|strong="H0859" will|strong="H1004" not|strong="H3808" get any|strong="H0312" of|strong="H1121" our|strong="H3588" father’s|strong="H0001" property, because|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0859" are|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" another|strong="H0312" woman|strong="H0802".”
3 So|strong="H3318" Jephthah|strong="H3316" went|strong="H3318" away|strong="H1272" because|strong="H6440" of|strong="H0776" his|strong="H0376" brothers|strong="H0251" and|strong="H0776" lived|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H6440" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Tob|strong="H2897". In|strong="H3427" the|strong="H6440" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Tob|strong="H2897", some|strong="H0376" rough men|strong="H0376" began to|strong="H0413" follow Jephthah|strong="H3316".
4 After|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" time|strong="H3117" the|strong="H3117" Ammonites|strong="H5983" fought|strong="H3898" with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H3117" Israelites|strong="H3478".
5 The|strong="H0853" Ammonites|strong="H5983" were|strong="H0834" fighting|strong="H3898" against|strong="H5973" Israel|strong="H3478", so|strong="H3947" the|strong="H0853" elders|strong="H2205" in|strong="H3478" Gilead|strong="H1568" went|strong="H1961" to|strong="H1961" Jephthah|strong="H3316". They|strong="H0834" wanted Jephthah|strong="H3316" to|strong="H1961" leave the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H1121" Tob|strong="H2897" and|strong="H1121" come|strong="H1961" back|strong="H3947" to|strong="H1961" Gilead|strong="H1568".
6 The|strong="H0559" elders said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" Jephthah|strong="H3316", “Come|strong="H1961" and|strong="H1121" be|strong="H1961" our|strong="H1961" leader so|strong="H1961" that|strong="H0559" we can|strong="H1121" fight|strong="H3898" the|strong="H0559" Ammonites|strong="H5983".”
7 But|strong="H3808" Jephthah|strong="H3316" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" elders|strong="H2205" of|strong="H1004" the|strong="H0853" land of|strong="H1004" Gilead|strong="H1568", “You|strong="H0859" forced me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" leave my|strong="H0834" father’s|strong="H0001" house|strong="H1004". You|strong="H0859" hate|strong="H8130" me|strong="H0413". So|strong="H3808" why|strong="H4069" are|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" coming|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" now|strong="H6258" that|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0859" are|strong="H0834" having|strong="H3808" trouble|strong="H6862"?”
8 The|strong="H3605" elders|strong="H2205" from|strong="H7725" Gilead|strong="H1568" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Jephthah|strong="H3316", “That|strong="H3605" is|strong="H3651" the|strong="H3605" reason|strong="H3651" we|strong="H6258" have|strong="H1961" come|strong="H1980" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3605" now|strong="H6258". Please come|strong="H1980" with|strong="H5973" us|strong="H0413" and|strong="H1980" fight|strong="H3898" against|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" Ammonites|strong="H5983". You|strong="H3605" will|strong="H1961" be|strong="H1961" the|strong="H3605" commander|strong="H7218" over|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H1121" living|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" Gilead|strong="H1568".”
9 Then|strong="H1961" Jephthah|strong="H3316" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" elders|strong="H2205" from|strong="H7725" Gilead|strong="H1568", “If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0859" want me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" come|strong="H1961" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" Gilead|strong="H1568" and|strong="H1121" fight|strong="H3898" the|strong="H0853" Ammonites|strong="H5983", I|strong="H0595" will|strong="H3068" do|strong="H0518" it|strong="H5414". But|strong="H0518" if|strong="H0518" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" helps me|strong="H0413" win, I|strong="H0595" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H1961" your|strong="H3068" new leader|strong="H7218".”
10 The|strong="H0559" elders|strong="H2205" from|strong="H8085" Gilead|strong="H1568" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Jephthah|strong="H3316", “The|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" is|strong="H3068" listening|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" everything we|strong="H0518" are|strong="H3068" saying|strong="H0559". And|strong="H3068" we|strong="H0518" promise|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H6213" everything you|strong="H0518" tell|strong="H0559" us|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" do|strong="H6213".”
11 So|strong="H7760" Jephthah|strong="H3316" went|strong="H6440" with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H3605" elders|strong="H2205" from|strong="H5921" Gilead|strong="H1568", and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" made|strong="H7760" him|strong="H5921" their|strong="H3605" leader|strong="H7218" and|strong="H3068" commander|strong="H7101". Jephthah|strong="H3316" repeated|strong="H1696" all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H3068" his|strong="H3605" words|strong="H1697" in|strong="H5921" front|strong="H6440" of|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" at|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" city of|strong="H3068" Mizpah|strong="H4709".
12 Jephthah|strong="H3316" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0559" Ammonites|strong="H5983" with|strong="H0413" this|strong="H3588" message: “What|strong="H4100" is|strong="H4100" the|strong="H0559" problem between the|strong="H0559" Ammonites|strong="H5983" and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0559" Israelites? Why|strong="H4100" have|strong="H1121" you|strong="H3588" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" fight|strong="H3898" in|strong="H0935" our|strong="H3588" land|strong="H0776"?”
13 The|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" Ammonites|strong="H5983" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" messengers|strong="H4397" of|strong="H1121" Jephthah|strong="H3316", “We|strong="H3588" are|strong="H3478" fighting Israel|strong="H3478" because|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478" took|strong="H3947" our|strong="H3588" land|strong="H0776" when|strong="H3588" they|strong="H3588" came|strong="H5927" up|strong="H5927" from|strong="H7725" Egypt|strong="H4714". They|strong="H3588" took|strong="H3947" our|strong="H3588" land|strong="H0776" from|strong="H7725" the|strong="H0853" Arnon|strong="H0769" River|strong="H5704" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" Jabbok|strong="H2999" River|strong="H5704" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" Jordan|strong="H3383" River|strong="H5704". Now|strong="H6258", tell|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478" to|strong="H0413" give|strong="H7725" our|strong="H3588" land|strong="H0776" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" us|strong="H0413" without fighting for|strong="H3588" it|strong="H3588".”
14 So|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0413" messengers|strong="H4397" of|strong="H1121" Jephthah|strong="H3316" took this message back|strong="H5750" to|strong="H0413" Jephthah|strong="H3316". Then|strong="H7971" Jephthah|strong="H3316" sent|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0413" messengers|strong="H4397" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0413" Ammonites|strong="H5983" again|strong="H5750".
15 They|strong="H3808" took|strong="H3947" this|strong="H3541" message:
16 When|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3588" Israelites|strong="H3478" came|strong="H0935" out|strong="H0935" of|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3588" land of|strong="H0935" Egypt|strong="H4714", they|strong="H3588" went|strong="H0935" into|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3588" desert|strong="H4057". They|strong="H3588" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3588" Red Sea|strong="H3220". Then|strong="H0935" they|strong="H3588" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Kadesh|strong="H6946".
17 The|strong="H0559" Israelites|strong="H3478" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Edom|strong="H0123". The|strong="H0559" messengers|strong="H4397" asked|strong="H0559" for|strong="H0413" a|strong="H8085" favor|strong="H4428". They|strong="H3808" said|strong="H0559", ‘Let|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0559" Israelites|strong="H3478" cross|strong="H5674" through|strong="H5674" your|strong="H8085" land|strong="H0776".’ But|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Edom|strong="H0123" didn’t|strong="H3808" let|strong="H7971" us|strong="H4994" go|strong="H7971" through|strong="H5674" his|strong="H8085" land|strong="H0776". We|strong="H8085" also|strong="H1571" sent|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0559" same message to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Moab|strong="H4124". But|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Moab|strong="H4124" would|strong="H0014" not|strong="H3808" let|strong="H7971" us|strong="H4994" go|strong="H7971" through|strong="H5674" his|strong="H8085" land|strong="H0776" either|strong="H1571". So|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0559" Israelites|strong="H3478" stayed|strong="H3427" at|strong="H0413" Kadesh|strong="H6946".
18 “Then|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" Israelites went|strong="H0935" through|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" desert|strong="H4057" and|strong="H0935" around|strong="H5437" the|strong="H0853" edges of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Edom|strong="H0123" and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Moab|strong="H4124". They|strong="H3588" traveled|strong="H0935" east|strong="H4217" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Moab|strong="H4124". They|strong="H3588" made|strong="H5437" their|strong="H3588" camp|strong="H2583" on|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" other|strong="H5676" side|strong="H5676" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" Arnon|strong="H0769" River|strong="H0776". They|strong="H3588" did|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" cross the|strong="H0853" border|strong="H1366" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Moab|strong="H4124". (The|strong="H0853" Arnon|strong="H0769" River|strong="H0776" was|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" border|strong="H1366" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Moab|strong="H4124".)
19 “Then|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0559" Israelites|strong="H3478" sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" Sihon|strong="H5511" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" Amorites|strong="H0567". Sihon|strong="H5511" was|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" city of|strong="H4428" Heshbon|strong="H2809". The|strong="H0559" messengers|strong="H4397" asked|strong="H0559" Sihon|strong="H5511", ‘Let|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0559" Israelites|strong="H3478" pass|strong="H5674" through|strong="H5674" your|strong="H4994" land|strong="H0776". We|strong="H5704" want to|strong="H0413" go|strong="H7971" to|strong="H0413" our|strong="H7971" land|strong="H0776".’
20 But|strong="H3808" King Sihon|strong="H5511" of|strong="H1366" the|strong="H3605" Amorites would|strong="H3478" not|strong="H3808" let|strong="H3808" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" cross|strong="H5674" his|strong="H3605" borders|strong="H1366". So|strong="H3808" Sihon|strong="H5511" gathered|strong="H0622" all|strong="H3605" of|strong="H1366" his|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" and|strong="H3478" made|strong="H3605" a|strong="H3808" camp|strong="H2583" at|strong="H2583" Jahaz|strong="H3096". Then|strong="H0853" the|strong="H3605" Amorites fought|strong="H3898" with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478".
21 But|strong="H5221" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H3605" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H0776" Israel|strong="H3478", helped|strong="H3027" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" defeat|strong="H5221" Sihon|strong="H5511" and|strong="H3068" his|strong="H3605" army|strong="H5971". So|strong="H5414" the|strong="H3605" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H3605" Amorites|strong="H0567" became the|strong="H3605" property of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478".
22 The|strong="H3605" Israelites got all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" land|strong="H1366" of|strong="H1366" the|strong="H3605" Amorites|strong="H0567" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H3605" Arnon|strong="H0769" River|strong="H5704" to|strong="H5704" the|strong="H3605" Jabbok|strong="H2999" River|strong="H5704". The|strong="H3605" land|strong="H1366" also|strong="H0853" went from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H3605" desert|strong="H4057" to|strong="H5704" the|strong="H3605" Jordan|strong="H3383" River|strong="H5704".
23 “It|strong="H3068" was|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H0853" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H0430" Israel|strong="H3478", who|strong="H3068" forced the|strong="H0853" Amorites|strong="H0567" to|strong="H3068" leave|strong="H3423" their|strong="H3068" land|strong="H6440". And|strong="H3068" he|strong="H0430" gave the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H6440" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478". Do you|strong="H0859" think you|strong="H0859" can make the|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478" leave|strong="H3423" this|strong="H6258" land|strong="H6440"?
24 Surely|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" can|strong="H0834" live in|strong="H0430" the|strong="H3605" land|strong="H6440" that|strong="H0834" your|strong="H3068" god|strong="H0430" Chemosh|strong="H3645" has|strong="H3068" given|strong="H3423" to|strong="H3068" you|strong="H0834". So|strong="H3808" we|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" live in|strong="H0430" the|strong="H3605" land|strong="H6440" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" our|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" has|strong="H3068" given|strong="H3423" to|strong="H3068" us|strong="H6440".
25 Are|strong="H3478" you|strong="H0859" any better|strong="H2896" than|strong="H2896" Balak|strong="H1111" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Zippor|strong="H6834"? He|strong="H0518" was|strong="H3478" the|strong="H0518" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0518" land of|strong="H1121" Moab|strong="H4124". Did he|strong="H0518" argue|strong="H7378" with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H0518" Israelites|strong="H3478"? Did he|strong="H0518" actually fight|strong="H3898" with|strong="H5973" the|strong="H0518" Israelites|strong="H3478"?
26 The|strong="H3605" Israelites|strong="H3478" have|strong="H0834" lived|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1323" Heshbon|strong="H2809" and|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3605" towns|strong="H1323" around|strong="H5921" it|strong="H1931" for|strong="H5921" 300 years|strong="H8141". They|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" lived|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1323" Aroer|strong="H6177" and|strong="H3478" the|strong="H3605" towns|strong="H1323" around|strong="H5921" it|strong="H1931" for|strong="H5921" 300 years|strong="H8141". They|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" lived|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" cities|strong="H5892" along|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" side|strong="H3027" of|strong="H1323" the|strong="H3605" Arnon|strong="H0769" River for|strong="H5921" 300 years|strong="H8141". Why|strong="H4069" have|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" tried to|strong="H5921" take|strong="H5337" these|strong="H1931" cities|strong="H5892" in|strong="H3427" all|strong="H3605" that|strong="H0834" time|strong="H6256"?
27 The|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478" have|strong="H1121" not|strong="H3808" sinned|strong="H2398" against|strong="H2398" you|strong="H0859". But|strong="H3808" you|strong="H0859" are|strong="H3117" doing|strong="H6213" a|strong="H3068" very bad|strong="H7451" thing|strong="H7451" against|strong="H2398" them|strong="H0853". May|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H0853" true|strong="H3068" Judge|strong="H8199", decide|strong="H8199" whether|strong="H0996" the|strong="H0853" Israelites|strong="H3478" or|strong="H3808" the|strong="H0853" Ammonites|strong="H5983" are|strong="H3117" right.”
28 The|strong="H0834" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0834" Ammonites|strong="H5983" refused|strong="H3808" to|strong="H0413" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" this|strong="H1697" message|strong="H1697" from|strong="H8085" Jephthah|strong="H3316".
29 Then|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" Spirit|strong="H7307" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H1961" on|strong="H5921" Jephthah|strong="H3316", and|strong="H1121" he|strong="H3068" passed|strong="H5674" through|strong="H5674" the|strong="H0853" area of|strong="H1121" Gilead|strong="H1568" and|strong="H1121" Manasseh|strong="H4519". He|strong="H3068" went|strong="H1961" through|strong="H5674" the|strong="H0853" city of|strong="H1121" Mizpah|strong="H4708" in|strong="H5921" Gilead|strong="H1568" on|strong="H5921" his|strong="H5921" way|strong="H5921" to|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" land of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0853" Ammonites|strong="H5983".
30 Jephthah|strong="H3316" made|strong="H5414" a|strong="H5414" promise|strong="H3068" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068". He|strong="H0518" said|strong="H0559", “If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H5414" will|strong="H3068" let|strong="H5414" me|strong="H5414" defeat|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" Ammonites|strong="H5983",
31 I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" give|strong="H7725" you|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0834" first thing that|strong="H0834" comes|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318" of|strong="H1121" my|strong="H3068" house|strong="H1004" when|strong="H1961" I|strong="H0834" come|strong="H1961" back|strong="H7725" from|strong="H7725" the|strong="H0834" victory. I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" give|strong="H7725" it|strong="H7725" to|strong="H7725" the|strong="H0834" LORD|strong="H3068" as|strong="H0834" a|strong="H1961" burnt|strong="H5930" offering|strong="H5927".”
32 Then|strong="H5414" Jephthah|strong="H3316" went|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" land of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0413" Ammonites|strong="H5983". He|strong="H3068" fought|strong="H3898" the|strong="H0413" Ammonites|strong="H5983", and|strong="H1121" the|strong="H0413" LORD|strong="H3068" helped|strong="H3027" him|strong="H0413" defeat|strong="H5414" them|strong="H0413".
33 He|strong="H5704" defeated|strong="H5221" them|strong="H5221" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H6440" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1121" Aroer|strong="H6177" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H6440" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1121" Minnith|strong="H4511". Jephthah captured 20 cities|strong="H5892". Then|strong="H0935" he|strong="H5704" fought the|strong="H6440" Ammonites|strong="H5983" to|strong="H0935" the|strong="H6440" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H1121" Abel Keramim. The|strong="H6440" Israelites|strong="H3478" defeated|strong="H5221" them|strong="H5221". It|strong="H5704" was|strong="H3478" a|strong="H0935" very|strong="H3966" great|strong="H1419" defeat|strong="H5221" for|strong="H0935" the|strong="H6440" Ammonites|strong="H5983".
34 Jephthah|strong="H3316" went|strong="H3318" back|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Mizpah|strong="H4709". He|strong="H1931" went|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0413" his|strong="H0935" house|strong="H1004", and|strong="H1121" his|strong="H0935" daughter|strong="H1323" came|strong="H0935" out|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0413" meet|strong="H7125" him|strong="H0413". She|strong="H1931" was|strong="H0369" playing a|strong="H0176" tambourine|strong="H8596" and|strong="H1121" dancing|strong="H4246". She|strong="H1931" was|strong="H0369" his|strong="H0935" only|strong="H7535" daughter|strong="H1323", and|strong="H1121" Jephthah|strong="H3316" loved her|strong="H0413" very much. He|strong="H1931" did|strong="H7535" not|strong="H0369" have|strong="H0369" any|strong="H4480" other|strong="H0369" sons|strong="H1121" or|strong="H0176" daughters|strong="H1323".
35 When|strong="H1961" Jephthah saw|strong="H7200" that|strong="H7200" his|strong="H3068" daughter|strong="H1323" was|strong="H1961" the|strong="H0853" first thing to|strong="H0413" come|strong="H1961" out|strong="H0413" of|strong="H3068" his|strong="H3068" house, he|strong="H3068" tore|strong="H7167" his|strong="H3068" clothes|strong="H0899" to|strong="H0413" show|strong="H7200" his|strong="H3068" sadness. Then|strong="H1961" he|strong="H3068" said|strong="H0559", “Oh|strong="H0162", my|strong="H3068" daughter|strong="H1323"! You|strong="H0859" have|strong="H1961" ruined me|strong="H0413"! You|strong="H0859" have|strong="H1961" made|strong="H1961" me|strong="H0413" very|strong="H3766" sad! I|strong="H0595" made|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" promise|strong="H3068" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", and|strong="H3068" I|strong="H0595" cannot|strong="H3808" change|strong="H7725" it|strong="H7725"!”
36 Then|strong="H3318" his|strong="H3068" daughter said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Jephthah, “Father|strong="H0001", you|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" made|strong="H6213" a|strong="H0834" promise|strong="H3068" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", so|strong="H6213" keep|strong="H6213" your|strong="H3068" promise|strong="H3068". Do|strong="H6213" what|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0559" you|strong="H0834" would|strong="H3068" do|strong="H6213". After|strong="H0310" all|strong="H0310", the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" did|strong="H6213" help you|strong="H0834" defeat your|strong="H3068" enemies|strong="H0341", the|strong="H0853" Ammonites|strong="H5983".”
37 Then|strong="H2088" Jephthah’s daughter said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" her|strong="H0413" father|strong="H0001", “But|strong="H0559" do|strong="H6213" this|strong="H2088" one|strong="H2088" thing|strong="H1697" for|strong="H5921" me|strong="H0413" first|strong="H2088". Let|strong="H7503" me|strong="H0413" be|strong="H1697" alone|strong="H7503" for|strong="H5921" two|strong="H8147" months|strong="H2320". Let|strong="H7503" me|strong="H0413" go|strong="H3381" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" mountains|strong="H2022". I|strong="H0595" will|strong="H1697" not|strong="H2088" marry|strong="H5921" and|strong="H0001" have|strong="H0001" children, so|strong="H4480" let|strong="H7503" me|strong="H0413" and|strong="H0001" my|strong="H5921" friends go|strong="H3381" and|strong="H0001" cry together|strong="H5921".”
38 Jephthah said|strong="H0559", “Go|strong="H7971".” He|strong="H1931" sent|strong="H7971" her|strong="H7971" away|strong="H7971" for|strong="H5921" two|strong="H8147" months|strong="H2320". Jephthah’s daughter and|strong="H7971" her|strong="H7971" friends stayed in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" mountains|strong="H2022". They|strong="H5921" cried|strong="H1058" for|strong="H5921" her|strong="H7971" because|strong="H5921" she|strong="H1931" would|strong="H0559" not marry|strong="H5921" and|strong="H7971" have|strong="H2022" children.
39 At|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" end|strong="H7093" of|strong="H0376" two|strong="H8147" months|strong="H2320", Jephthah’s daughter returned|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" her|strong="H0413" father|strong="H0001", and|strong="H3478" Jephthah did|strong="H6213" what|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" promised|strong="H5087". His|strong="H7725" daughter never|strong="H3808" had|strong="H0834" sexual relations|strong="H3045" with|strong="H0413" anyone|strong="H0376". So|strong="H6213" this|strong="H1931" became|strong="H1961" a|strong="H1961" custom|strong="H2706" in|strong="H0413" Israel|strong="H3478".
40 Every|strong="H3117" year|strong="H8141" the|strong="H3117" young|strong="H3117" women|strong="H1323" of|strong="H3117" Israel|strong="H3478" would|strong="H3478" go out for|strong="H3117" four|strong="H0702" days|strong="H3117" to|strong="H3478" remember the|strong="H3117" daughter|strong="H1323" of|strong="H3117" Jephthah|strong="H3316" from|strong="H3478" Gilead and|strong="H3478" to|strong="H3478" cry for|strong="H3117" her|strong="H3117".