1Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor, and he was the son of a prostitute: and Gilead became the father of Jephthah.
2Gilead`s wife bore him sons; and when his wife`s sons grew up, they drove out Jephthah, and said to him, You shall not inherit in our father`s house; for you are the son of another woman.
3Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and lived in the land of Tob: and there were gathered vain fellows to Jephthah, and they went out with him.
4It happened after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.
5It was so, that when the children of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah out of the land of Tob;
6and they said to Jephthah, Come and be our chief, that we may fight with the children of Ammon.
7Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, Didn`t you hate me, and drive me out of my father`s house? and why are you come to me now when you are in distress?