1Abantu bako-Efrayimi babiza amabutho abo, bachaphela eZafoni basebesithi kuJeftha, “Kungani wena wayakulwa lama-Amoni ungasibizanga ukuba sihambe lawe na? Sizakutshisela endlini yakho.”
2UJeftha waphendula wathi, “Mina labantu bami sasilengxabano enkulu lama-Amoni njalo, lanxa nje ngalibiza, kalingihlenganga ezandleni zawo.
3Kwathi sengibona ukuthi lalingeke lingisize, ngabeka impilo yami engozini ngachaphela ngaphetsheya ukuyakulwa lama-Amoni, uThixo wawanikela esandleni sami. Pho kungani lina lamhla selizekulwa lami?”
4UJeftha wabuthanisa amadoda aseGiliyadi balwa lo-Efrayimi. AbaseGiliyadi babacakazela phansi ngoba abako-Efrayimi babethe, “Lina maGiliyadi labhazuka ko-Efrayimi lakoManase.”
5AbaseGiliyadi bathumba amazibuko aseJodani awokuya ko-Efrayimi, njalo kwakusithi owako-Efrayimi osindileyo angathi, “Ngivumelani ngichaphele ngaphetsheya,” abantu baseGiliyadi babembuza bathi, “Ungowako-Efrayimi na?” Angaphendula athi, “Hayi,”
6bathi, “Kulungile, wothi, ‘Shibholethi.’ ” Nxa angathi, “Sibholethi,” ngoba engeke alitsho kuhle, babemphuthuma bambulalele emazibukweni aseJodani. Abako-Efrayimi abazinkulungwane ezingamatshumi amane lambili babulawa ngalesosikhathi.
7UJeftha wakhokhela u-Israyeli iminyaka eyisithupha. UJeftha wafa, wangcwatshwa emzini waseGiliyadi.
8Ngemva kwakhe, u-Ibhizani waseBhethilehema wakhokhela abako-Israyeli.
9Wayelamadodana angamatshumi amathathu lamadodakazi angamatshumi amathathu. Amadodakazi akhe wawendisela kwabangaphandle komhlobo wakibo kwathi amadodana akhe wawalethela izintombi ezingamatshumi amathathu ezingasizo zomhlobo wakibo ukuba zibe ngomkawo. U-Ibhizani wakhokhela abako-Israyeli iminyaka eyisikhombisa.
10U-Ibhizani wafa, wangcwatshwa eBhethilehema.
11Ngemva kwakhe, u-Eloni umZebhuluni wakhokhela abako-Israyeli iminyaka elitshumi.
12U-Eloni wafa, wangcwatshwa e-Ayijaloni elizweni lakoZebhuluni.
13Ngemva kwakhe, u-Abhidoni indodana kaHileli, owasePhirathoni, wakhokhela abako-Israyeli.
14Wayelamadodana angamatshumi amane labazukulu besilisa abangamatshumi amathathu, ayegada obabhemi abangamatshumi ayisikhombisa. Wakhokhela abako-Israyeli iminyaka eyisitshiyagalombili.
15U-Abhidoni indodana kaHileli wafa, wangcwatshwa ePhirathoni ko-Efrayimi, elizweni lezintaba elama-Amaleki.