Jephthah

⁶ Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.^(A) They served the Baals and the Ashtoreths,^(B) and the gods of Aram,^(C) the gods of Sidon,^(D) the gods of Moab, the gods of the Ammonites^(E) and the gods of the Philistines.^(F) And because the Israelites forsook the Lord^(G) and no longer served him, ⁷ he became angry^(H) with them. He sold them^(I) into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites, ⁸ who that year shattered and crushed them. For eighteen years they oppressed all the Israelites on the east side of the Jordan in Gilead,^(J) the land of the Amorites. ⁹ The Ammonites also crossed the Jordan to fight against Judah,^(K) Benjamin and Ephraim;^(L) Israel was in great distress. ¹⁰ Then the Israelites cried^(M) out to the Lord, “We have sinned^(N) against you, forsaking our God and serving the Baals.”^(O)

¹¹ The Lord replied, “When the Egyptians,^(P) the Amorites,^(Q) the Ammonites,^(R) the Philistines,^{(S) 12} the Sidonians, the Amalekites^(T) and the Maonites^[a](U) oppressed you^(V) and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? ¹³ But you have forsaken^(W) me and served other gods,^(X) so I will no longer save you. ¹⁴ Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save^(Y) you when you are in trouble!^(Z)”

¹⁵ But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best,^(AA) but please rescue us now.” ¹⁶ Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord.^(AB) And he could bear Israel’s misery^(AC) no longer.^(AD)

³ So Samuel said to all the Israelites, “If you are returning^(A) to the Lord with all your hearts, then rid^(B) yourselves of the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths^(C) and commit^(D) yourselves to the Lord and serve him only,^(E) and he will deliver^(F) you out of the hand of the Philistines.” ⁴ So the Israelites put away their Baals and Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only.

⁵ Then Samuel^(G) said, “Assemble all Israel at Mizpah,^(H) and I will intercede^(I) with the Lord for you.” ⁶ When they had assembled at Mizpah,^(J) they drew water and poured^(K) it out before the Lord. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, “We have sinned against the Lord.” Now Samuel was serving as leader^[a](L) of Israel at Mizpah.