1 Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. He was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was Jephthah’s father. 2 Gilead’s wife also bore him sons. When his wife’s sons grew up, they drove Jephthah out and said to him, “You will have no inheritance in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.” 3 Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob. Worthless men gathered around Jephthah and went out with him.

4 After some time, the Ammonites made war against Israel. 5 When the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob. 6 They said to Jephthah, “Come and be our commander, so that we may fight the Ammonites.” 7 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now, when you are in distress?” 8 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have now returned to you, so that you may go with us, fight the Ammonites, and become our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” 9 Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me back to fight the Ammonites and the LORD gives them over to me, will I be your head?” 10 The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “May the LORD be witness between us if we do not do as you have said.” 11 Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him their head and commander. Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at Mizpah.

12 Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me, that you have come to fight against my land?” 13 The king of the Ammonites said to Jephthah’s messengers, “Because Israel took my land when they came up from Egypt, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan. Now return those lands in peace.” 14 Jephthah again sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, 15 saying to him, “This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites. 16 When they came up from Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness as far as the Red Sea and came to Kadesh. 17 Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Please let me pass through your land.’ But the king of Edom would not listen. Israel also sent to the king of Moab, but he would not agree, so Israel stayed at Kadesh. 18 Then Israel went through the wilderness, around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and came to the east side of the land of Moab. They camped beyond the Arnon and did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was Moab’s border. 19 Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon. Israel said to him, ‘Please let us pass through your land to my place.’ 20 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. Sihon gathered all his people, and they camped at Jahaz and fought against Israel. 21 The LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they struck them down. Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites who inhabited that land. 22 They took possession of all the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness to the Jordan. 23 Now the LORD, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites before his people Israel. Would you take possession of their land? 24 Do you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So we will possess the land of all whom the LORD our God has driven out before us. 25 Now are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever contend with Israel or ever fight against them? 26 Israel has lived in Heshbon and its settlements, in Aroer and its settlements, and in all the cities along the Arnon for three hundred years. Why did you not recover them during that time? 27 I have not sinned against you, but you are doing me wrong by making war against me. May the LORD, the Judge, judge this day between the people of Israel and the Ammonites.” 28 But the king of the Ammonites did not listen to the words Jephthah had sent him.

29 The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah. He passed through Gilead and Manasseh and through Mizpah of Gilead. From Mizpah of Gilead he advanced against the Ammonites. 30 Jephthah made a vow to the LORD and said, “If you indeed give the Ammonites into my hand, 31 then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the Ammonites will belong to the LORD, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

32 Jephthah advanced against the Ammonites to fight them, and the LORD gave them into his hand. 33 He struck them from Aroer as far as the approach to Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a very great slaughter. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.

34 When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and dancing. She was his only child; apart from her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 When he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low, and you are among those who bring me trouble. I have opened my mouth to the LORD and cannot take it back.” 36 She said to him, “My father, you have opened your mouth to the LORD. Do to me what has gone out of your mouth, since the LORD has taken vengeance for you on your enemies, the Ammonites.” 37 She said to her father, “Let this be done for me: leave me alone for two months, so that my companions and I may go down into the mountains and weep over my virginity.” 38 He said, “Go.” He sent her away for two months, and she went with her companions and wept over her virginity on the mountains. 39 At the end of two months she returned to her father, and he did to her according to the vow he had made. She had never had relations with a man. It became a custom in Israel 40 that year after year the daughters of Israel went to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite for four days each year.