Judges 11:1-7

1Jephthah of Gilead was a brave soldier. His father's name was Gilead, but his mother was a prostitute.

2Gilead's wife also gave birth to sons for him. When they were older, they sent Jephthah away from the family home. They said to him, ‘You will not receive any of our father's things when he dies. You are the son of a prostitute, not our mother.’

3So Jephthah ran away from his brothers. He went to live in the land of Tob. Other men joined the group that Jephthah led. They did not obey any laws.

4Some time later, the Ammonite soldiers came to fight against Israel.

5When the Ammonites attacked, the leaders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob.

6They said to him, ‘Come and lead our army to fight against the Ammonites.’

7Jephthah said to them, ‘Before this, you hated me. You made me leave my father's house. So why do you come to me for help, now that you are in trouble?’