Now Jephthahוְיִפְתָּחthe Gileaditeהַגִּלְעָדִיwasהָיָהa valiantגִּבּוֹרwarrior,חַיִלand heוְהוּאwas the sonבֶּןof a woman,אִשָּׁהa prostitute;זוֹנָהand GileadגִּלְעָדfatheredוַיּוֹלֶדJephthah.אֶת יִפְתָּח
The wifeאֵשֶׁתof Gileadגִּלְעָדbore himוַתֵּלֶד לוֹsons;בָּנִיםand the sonsוַ בְנֵיof the wifeהָאִשָּׁהgrew upיִּגְדְּלוּand drove outוַיְגָרְשׁוּJephthahאֶת יִפְתָּחand said to him,וַיֹּאמְרוּ לוֹ“You shall notלֹאinheritתִנְחַלin the houseבְּבֵיתof our father,אָבִינוּforכִּיyou areאָתָּהthe sonבֶּןof anotherאַחֶרֶתwoman.”אִשָּׁה
Jephthahיִפְתָּחfledוַיִּבְרַחfromמִפְּנֵיhis brothersאֶחָיוand livedוַיֵּשֶׁבin the landבְּאֶרֶץof Tob;טוֹבand there gatheredוַיִּתְלַקְּטוּaroundאֶלJephthahיִפְתָּחemptyרֵיקִיםmen,אֲנָשִׁיםand they went outוַיֵּצְאוּwith him.עִמּוֹ
After some timeוַיְהִי מִיָּמִיםthe sonsבְנֵיof AmmonעַמּוֹןfoughtוַיִּלָּחֲמוּagainstעִםIsrael.יִשְׂרָאֵל
And whenוַיְהִי כַּאֲשֶׁרthe sonsבְנֵיof AmmonעַמּוֹןfoughtנִלְחֲמוּagainstעִםIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלthe eldersזִקְנֵיof Gileadגִלְעָדwentוַיֵּלְכוּto bringלָקַחַתJephthahאֶת יִפְתָּחfrom the landמֵאֶרֶץof Tob.טוֹב
They saidוַיֹּאמְרוּto Jephthah,לְיִפְתָּח“Comeלְכָהand beוְהָיִיתָהour commander,לָּנוּ לְקָצִיןand let us fightוְנִלָּחֲמָהagainst the sonsבִּבְנֵיof Ammon.”עַמּוֹן
Jephthahיִפְתָּחsaidוַיֹּאמֶרto the eldersלְזִקְנֵיof Gilead,גִלְעָד“Did notהֲלֹאyouאַתֶּםhate meשְׂנֵאתֶם אוֹתִיand drive me outוַתְּגָרְשׁוּנִיof the houseמִבֵּיתof my father?אָבִיWhyוּמַדּוּעַhave you comeבָּאתֶםto meאֵלַיnow,עַתָּהwhenכַּאֲשֶׁרyou are in distress?”צַר לָכֶם
The eldersזִקְנֵיof GileadגִלְעָדsaidוַיֹּאמְרוּtoאֶלJephthah,יִפְתָּח“That is whyלָכֵןwe have nowעַתָּהcome backשַׁבְנוּto you,אֵלֶיךָso that you may goוְהָלַכְתָּwith usעִמָּנוּand fightוְנִלְחַמְתָּagainst the sonsבִּבְנֵיof Ammonעַמּוֹןand beוְהָיִיתָourלָּנוּhead,לְרֹאשׁover allלְכֹלthe inhabitantsיֹשְׁבֵיof Gilead.”גִלְעָד
Jephthahיִפְתָּחsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe eldersזִקְנֵיof Gilead,גִלְעָד“Ifאִםyouאַתֶּםbring me backמְשִׁיבִים אוֹתִיto fightלְהִלָּחֵםagainst the sonsבִּבְנֵיof Ammon,עַמּוֹןand YHWHוְ יְהוָהgives themנָתַן אוֹתָםover before me,לְפָנָיIאָנֹכִיwill beאֶהְיֶהyourלָכֶםhead.”לְרֹאשׁ
The eldersזִקְנֵיof GileadגִלְעָדsaidוַיֹּאמְרוּtoאֶלJephthah,יִפְתָּח“YHWHיְהוָהwill beיִהְיֶהthe one who hearsשֹׁמֵעַbetween us,בֵּינוֹתֵינוּifאִםwe do notלֹאdoכֵּן נַעֲשֶׂהaccording to your word.”כִדְבָרְךָ
So Jephthahיִפְתָּחwentוַיֵּלֶךְwithעִםthe eldersזִקְנֵיof Gilead,גִלְעָדand the peopleוַ הָעָםmade himיָּשִׂימוּ אוֹתוֹover themעֲלֵיהֶםheadלְרֹאשׁand commander;וּלְקָצִיןand Jephthahוַ יִפְתָּחspokeיְדַבֵּרallאֶת כָּלhis wordsדְּבָרָיוbeforeלִפְנֵיYHWHיְהוָהat Mizpah.בַּמִּצְפָּה
Jephthahיִפְתָּחsentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםtoאֶלthe kingמֶלֶךְof the sonsבְּנֵיof Ammon,עַמּוֹןsaying,לֵאמֹר“Whatמַהis there between me and you,לִּי וָלָךְthatכִּיyou have comeבָאתָto meאֵלַיto fightלְהִלָּחֵםin my land?”בְּאַרְצִי
The kingמֶלֶךְof the sonsבְּנֵיof Ammonעַמּוֹןsaidוַיֹּאמֶרtoאֶלthe messengersמַלְאֲכֵיof Jephthah,יִפְתָּח“BecauseכִּיIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלtookלָקַחmy landאֶת אַרְצִיwhen it came upבַּעֲלוֹתוֹfrom Egypt,מִמִּצְרַיִםfrom the Arnonמֵאַרְנוֹןtoוְעַדthe Jabbokהַיַּבֹּקand toוְעַדthe Jordan;הַיַּרְדֵּןnow thereforeוְעַתָּהreturn themהָשִׁיבָה אֶתְהֶןin peace.”בְּשָׁלוֹם
Jephthahיִפְתָּחagainוַיּוֹסֶף עוֹדsentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםtoאֶלthe kingמֶלֶךְof the sonsבְּנֵיof Ammon,עַמּוֹן
and said to him,וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ“ThusכֹּהsaysאָמַרJephthah:יִפְתָּחIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלdid notלֹאtakeלָקַחthe landאֶת אֶרֶץof Moabמוֹאָבor the landוְאֶת אֶרֶץof the sonsבְּנֵיof Ammon.עַמּוֹן
Forכִּיwhen they came upבַּעֲלוֹתָםfrom Egypt,מִמִּצְרָיִםIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלwentוַיֵּלֶךְthrough the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּרtoעַדthe Seaיַםof Reedsסוּףand cameוַיָּבֹאto Kadesh.קָדֵשָׁה
Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלsentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםtoאֶלthe kingמֶלֶךְof Edom,אֱדוֹםsaying,לֵאמֹר‘Let me pass,אֶעְבְּרָהplease,נָּאthrough your land,’בְאַרְצֶךָbut the kingוְ מֶלֶךְof Edomאֱדוֹםdid notלֹאlisten.שָׁמַעHe sentשָׁלַחalsoוְגַםtoאֶלthe kingמֶלֶךְof Moab,מוֹאָבbut he was notוְלֹאwilling.אָבָהSo Israelוַ יִשְׂרָאֵלstayedיֵּשֶׁבat Kadesh.בְּקָדֵשׁ
Then he wentוַיֵּלֶךְthrough the wildernessבַּמִּדְבָּרand went aroundוַיָּסָבthe landאֶת אֶרֶץof Edomאֱדוֹםand the landוְאֶת אֶרֶץof Moab,מוֹאָבand cameוַיָּבֹאfrom the risingמִמִּזְרַחof the sunשֶׁמֶשׁto the landלְאֶרֶץof Moab,מוֹאָבand they campedוַיַּחֲנוּןbeyondבְּעֵבֶרthe Arnon;אַרְנוֹןand they did notוְלֹאenterבָאוּthe territoryבִּגְבוּלof Moab,מוֹאָבforכִּיthe Arnonאַרְנוֹןwas the borderגְּבוּלof Moab.מוֹאָב
IsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלsentוַיִּשְׁלַחmessengersמַלְאָכִיםtoאֶלSihon,סִיחוֹןkingמֶלֶךְof the Amorite,הָאֱמֹרִיkingמֶלֶךְof Heshbon,חֶשְׁבּוֹןand Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלsaid to him,וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ‘Let us pass,נַעְבְּרָהplease,נָּאthrough your landבְאַרְצְךָtoעַדmy place.’מְקוֹמִי
But Sihonוְ סִיחוֹןdid notלֹאtrustהֶאֱמִיןIsraelאֶת יִשְׂרָאֵלto passעֲבֹרthrough his territory;בִּגְבֻלוֹSihonסִיחוֹןgatheredוַיֶּאֱסֹףallאֶת כָּלhis people,עַמּוֹand they campedוַיַּחֲנוּat Jahaz,בְּיָהְצָהand he foughtוַיִּלָּחֶםagainstעִםIsrael.יִשְׂרָאֵל
YHWH,יְהוָהthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלgaveוַיִּתֵּןSihonאֶת סִיחוֹןand allוְאֶת כָּלhis peopleעַמּוֹinto the handבְּיַדof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלand they struck them;וַיַּכּוּםso Israelוַ יִשְׂרָאֵלtook possessionיִּירַשׁof allאֵת כָּלthe landאֶרֶץof the Amorite,הָאֱמֹרִיwho livedיוֹשֵׁבin thatהַהִיאland.הָאָרֶץ
They took possessionוַיִּירְשׁוּof allאֵת כָּלthe territoryגְּבוּלof the Amorite,הָאֱמֹרִיfrom the Arnonמֵאַרְנוֹןtoוְעַדthe Jabbok,הַיַּבֹּקand fromוּמִןthe wildernessהַמִּדְבָּרtoוְעַדthe Jordan.הַיַּרְדֵּן
So nowוְעַתָּהYHWH,יְהוָהthe Elohimאֱלֹהֵיof Israel,יִשְׂרָאֵלhas dispossessedהוֹרִישׁthe Amoriteאֶת הָאֱמֹרִיbeforeמִפְּנֵיhis peopleעַמּוֹIsrael;יִשְׂרָאֵלand are youוְאַתָּהgoing to take possession of it?תִּירָשֶׁנּוּ
Do you notהֲלֹאtake possessionתִירָשׁof whatאֵת אֲשֶׁר אוֹתוֹChemoshכְּמוֹשׁyour godאֱלֹהֶיךָgives you to possess?יוֹרִישְׁךָSo whateverוְאֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהour Elohimאֱלֹהֵינוּhas dispossessedהוֹרִישׁbefore us,מִפָּנֵינוּthatאוֹתוֹwe will take possession of.נִירָשׁ
And now,וְעַתָּהare youהֲ אַתָּהreally any betterטוֹב טוֹבthan Balakמִבָּלָקsonבֶּןof Zippor,צִפּוֹרkingמֶלֶךְof Moab?מוֹאָבDid he ever contendהֲרוֹב רָבwithעִםIsrael,יִשְׂרָאֵלorאִםdid he ever fightנִלְחֹם נִלְחַםagainst them?בָּם
WhileבְּIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵלlivedשֶׁבֶתin Heshbonבְּחֶשְׁבּוֹןand its villages,וּבִבְנוֹתֶיהָand in Aroerוּבְעַרְעוֹרand its villages,וּבִבְנוֹתֶיהָand in allוּבְכָלthe citiesהֶעָרִיםthatאֲשֶׁרare alongעַל יְדֵיthe Arnon,אַרְנוֹןthreeשְׁלֹשׁhundredמֵאוֹתyears,שָׁנָהwhyוּמַדּוּעַdid you notלֹאrecover themהִצַּלְתֶּםat thatבָּ הַהִיאtime?עֵת
Iוְאָנֹכִיhave notלֹאsinnedחָטָאתִיagainst you,לָךְbut youוְאַתָּהare doingעֹשֶׂהmeאִתִּיwrongרָעָהby fightingלְהִלָּחֶםagainst me.בִּיMay YHWH,יְהוָהthe Judge,הַשֹּׁפֵטjudgeיִשְׁפֹּטtodayהַיּוֹםbetweenבֵּיןthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלandוּבֵיןthe sonsבְּנֵיof Ammon.”עַמּוֹן
But the kingוְ מֶלֶךְof the sonsבְּנֵיof Ammonעַמּוֹןdid notלֹאlistenשָׁמַע אֶלto the wordsדִּבְרֵיof Jephthahיִפְתָּחthatאֲשֶׁרhe had sent him.שָׁלַח אֵלָיו
The spiritרוּחַof YHWHיְהוָהcameוַתְּהִיuponעַלJephthah,יִפְתָּחand he passed throughוַיַּעֲבֹרGileadאֶת הַגִּלְעָדand Manasseh,וְאֶת מְנַשֶּׁהpassed onוַיַּעֲבֹרto Mizpahאֶת מִצְפֵּהof Gilead,גִלְעָדand from Mizpahוּמִמִּצְפֵּהof Gileadגִלְעָדhe passed onעָבַרto the sonsבְּנֵיof Ammon.עַמּוֹן
Jephthahיִפְתָּחmadeוַיִּדַּרa vowנֶדֶרto YHWHלַיהוָהand said,וַיֹּאמַר“Ifאִםyou will indeed giveנָתוֹן תִּתֵּןthe sonsאֶת בְּנֵיof Ammonעַמּוֹןinto my hand,בְּיָדִי
then it shall be thatוְהָיָהthe one that comes out,הַיּוֹצֵאthatאֲשֶׁרcomes outיֵצֵאof the doorsמִדַּלְתֵיof my houseבֵיתִיto meet meלִקְרָאתִיwhen I returnבְּשׁוּבִיin peaceבְשָׁלוֹםfrom the sonsמִבְּנֵיof Ammon,עַמּוֹןshall beוְהָיָהYHWH’s,לַיהוָהand I will offer that one upוְהַעֲלִיתִהוּas a burnt offering.”עוֹלָה
Jephthahיִפְתָּחcrossed overוַיַּעֲבֹרtoאֶלthe sonsבְּנֵיof Ammonעַמּוֹןto fightלְהִלָּחֶםagainst them,בָּםand YHWHוַ יְהוָהgave themיִתְּנֵםinto his hand.בְּיָדוֹ
He struck themוַיַּכֵּםfrom Aroerמֵעֲרוֹעֵרtoוְעַדthe approachבּוֹאֲךָof Minnith,מִנִּיתtwentyעֶשְׂרִיםcities,עִירand as far asוְעַדAbel-keramim,אָבֵל כְּרָמִיםwith a veryמְאֹדgreatגְּדוֹלָהblow.מַכָּהSo the sonsוַ בְּנֵיof Ammonעַמּוֹןwere subduedיִּכָּנְעוּbeforeמִפְּנֵיthe sonsבְּנֵיof Israel.יִשְׂרָאֵל
Jephthahיִפְתָּחcameוַיָּבֹאto Mizpah,הַמִּצְפָּהtoאֶלhis house,בֵּיתוֹand thereוְהִנֵּהwas his daughterבִתּוֹcoming outיֹצֵאתto meet himלִקְרָאתוֹwith tambourinesבְתֻפִּיםand dances.וּבִמְחֹלוֹתSheהִיאwas his only child;וְרַק יְחִידָהhe had noאֵין לוֹsonבֵּןorאוֹdaughterבַתbesides her.מִמֶּנּוּ
Whenוַיְהִי כִhe saw her,רְאוֹתוֹ אוֹתָהּhe toreוַיִּקְרַעhis clothesאֶת בְּגָדָיוand said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Alas,אֲהָהּmy daughter!בִּתִּיYou have brought me very low,הַכְרֵעַ הִכְרַעְתִּנִיand youוְאַתְּareהָיִיתְamong those who bring me ruin.בְּעֹכְרָיIוְאָנֹכִיhave openedפָּצִיתִיmy mouthפִיtoאֶלYHWH,יְהוָהand I cannotוְלֹא אוּכַלturn back.”לָשׁוּב
She said to him,וַתֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו“My father,אָבִיyou have openedפָּצִיתָהyour mouthאֶת פִּיךָtoאֶלYHWH;יְהוָהdoעֲשֵׂהto meלִיaccording to whatכַּאֲשֶׁרcame outיָצָאof your mouth,מִפִּיךָnow thatאַחֲרֵי אֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהhas doneעָשָׂהfor youלְךָvengeanceנְקָמוֹתon your enemies,מֵאֹיְבֶיךָon the sonsמִבְּנֵיof Ammon.”עַמּוֹן
And she saidוַתֹּאמֶרtoאֶלher father,אָבִיהָ“Let thisהַזֶּהthingהַדָּבָרbe doneיֵעָשֶׂהfor me:לִּיleave me aloneהַרְפֵּה מִמֶּנִּיtwoשְׁנַיִםmonths,חֳדָשִׁיםso that I may goוְאֵלְכָהand go downוְיָרַדְתִּיuponעַלthe mountainsהֶהָרִיםand weepוְאֶבְכֶּהforעַלmy virginity,בְּתוּלַיIאָנֹכִיand my companions.”וְרֵעוֹתָי
He said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Go.”לֵכִיAnd he sent her awayוַיִּשְׁלַח אוֹתָהּfor twoשְׁנֵיmonths;חֳדָשִׁיםand sheהִיאwent,וַתֵּלֶךְwith her companions,וְרֵעוֹתֶיהָand weptוַתֵּבְךְּforעַלher virginityבְּתוּלֶיהָonעַלthe mountains.הֶהָרִים
At the endוַיְהִי מִקֵּץof twoשְׁנַיִםmonthsחֳדָשִׁיםshe returnedוַתָּשָׁבtoאֶלher father,אָבִיהָand he didוַיַּעַשׂwith herלָהּhis vowאֶת נִדְרוֹthatאֲשֶׁרhe had vowed;נָדָרand sheוְהִיאhad notלֹאknownיָדְעָהa man.אִישׁAnd it becameוַתְּהִיa statuteחֹקin Israel:בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל
from year to yearמִיָּמִים יָמִימָהthe daughtersבְּנוֹתof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלgoתֵּלַכְנָהto commemorateלְתַנּוֹתthe daughterלְבַתof Jephthahיִפְתָּחthe Gileaditeהַגִּלְעָדִיfourאַרְבַּעַתdaysיָמִיםin the year.בַּשָּׁנָה