A reading from the book of judges.

The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zafin and said to Jephtha,

Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you?

We will burn your house over you with fire.

And Jephta said to them, I and my people had a great dispute with Yamanites, and when I called you,

you did not save me from their hand. And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my

hand and crossed over against the Yamanites, and the Lord gave them into my hand. Why then have you

come up to me this day to fight against me? Then Jephta gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim.

And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim because they said,

You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and Manassah.

And the Gileadites captured the forwards of the Jordan against the Ephraimites,

and when any of the fugitives of Ephraimites said,

Let me go over. The men of Gilead said to him, are you an Ephraimite? When he said, no, they said to him, then say Shibboleth.

And he said, Sibboleth, for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, 42,000 of the Ephraimites fail.

Jephtha judged Israel six years. Then Jephtha the Gileadite died and was buried in his city in Gilead.

After him Ibsen of Bethlehem judged Israel. He had 30 sons and

30 daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and 30 daughters he brought in from outside for his sons,

and he judged Israel seven years. Then Ibsen died, and was buried at Bethlehem. After him, Elan the Zebulunite judged Israel, and he judged Israel

ten years. Then Elyn, the Zebulon died, and was buried at Ejelon in the land of Zebulon. After him,

Abdon, the son of Hillel, the Pyrethanite, judged Israel. He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons, who rode on

70 donkeys, and he judged Israel eight years.

Then Abdon, the son of Hillel, the Pyrethonite died, and was buried at Pyrethon in the land of

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