The younger daughter also had a son. She named him Ben- Ammi. He’s the father of the Ammonites of today.

小女儿也生了儿子，给他起名叫便亚米，就是现今亚扪人的始祖。

小女儿也生了儿子，给他起名叫便‧亚米，就是现今亚扪人的始祖。

小女儿也生了儿子，给他起名叫便‧亚米，就是现今亚扪人的始祖。

小女儿也生了一个儿子，给他取名叫便·亚米，他是今天亚扪人的祖先。

小女儿也生了一个儿子，给他起名叫便．亚米，就是现在亚扪人的始祖。

至于小女儿，她也生了一个儿子，给他起名为本·亚米，他就是今天亚扪子孙的始祖。

小女兒也生了兒子，給他起名叫便‧亞米，就是現今亞捫人的始祖。

小女兒也生了兒子，給他起名叫便‧亞米，就是現今亞捫人的始祖。

小女兒也生了兒子，給他起名叫便‧亞米，就是現今亞捫人的始祖。

小女兒也生了一個兒子，給他取名叫便·亞米，他是今天亞捫人的祖先。

小女兒也生了一個兒子，給他起名叫便．亞米，就是現在亞捫人的始祖。

小女兒也生個兒子，她給他起名叫便亞米，就是今日亞捫人的始祖。

至於小女兒，她也生了一個兒子，給他起名為便亞米，他就是今天亞捫子孫的始祖。

季女亦生子、命名便亞米、為亞捫族之祖、

季女亦生子、命名便亞米、為亞捫族之祖。

季女亦生子、命名便亞米、即今亞捫族之祖、

The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today.

The younger also bore a son and called his name Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites to this day.

When the younger daughter gave birth to a son, she named him Ben ammi. He became the ancestor of the nation now known as the Ammonites.

The younger also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites of today.

As for the younger, she also gave birth to a son, and named him Ben ammi; he is the father of the sons of Ammon to this day.

And the younger, she also bore a son and called his name Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the people of Ammon to this day.

And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben- ammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

The younger also gave birth to a son, and she named him Ben-ammi. He is the father of the Ammonites of today.

And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same[ is] the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

The younger daughter also gave birth to a son and named him Ben-Ammi. He is the ancestor of the Ammonites of today.

The younger also bore a son, and called his name Ben Ammi. He is the father of the children of Ammon to this day.

When you come to the Ammonites, do not attack them. Do not make them angry. If you do, they will go to war against you. I will not give you any of their land as your own. I have given it to the people in the family line of Lot. I have given it to them as their own.”

Then the Lord said to me,“ Do not attack the Moabites. Do not even make them angry. If you do, they will go to war against you. I will not give you any part of their land. I have given Moab to the people in the family line of Lot. I have given it to them as their own.”

“ Come,” they say.“ Let’s destroy that whole nation. Then the name of Israel won’t be remembered anymore.”All of them agree on the evil plans they have made. They join forces against you.Their forces include the people of Edom, Ishmael, Moab and Hagar.They also include the people of Byblos, Ammon, Amalek, Philistia and Tyre.Even Assyria has joined them to give strength to the people of Moab and Ammon.

The king of Ammon died. His son Hanun became the next king after him.David thought,“ I’m going to be kind to Hanun. His father Nahash was kind to me.” So David sent messengers to Hanun. He wanted them to tell Hanun how sad he was that Hanun’s father had died. David’s messengers went to the land of Ammon.The Ammonite commanders spoke to their master Hanun. They said,“ David has sent messengers to tell you he is sad. They say he wants to honor your father. But the real reason they’ve come is to look the city over. They want to destroy it.”So Hanun grabbed David’s messengers. He shaved off half of each man’s beard. He cut their clothes off just below the waist and left them half naked. Then he sent them away.David was told about it. So he sent messengers to his men because they were filled with shame. King David said to them,“ Stay at Jericho until your beards grow out again. Then come back here.”The Ammonites realized that what they had done had made David very angry with them. So they hired 20,000 Aramean soldiers who were on foot. The soldiers came from Beth Rehob and Zobah. The Ammonites also hired the king of Maakah and 1,000 men. And they hired 12,000 men from Tob.David heard about it. So he sent Joab out with the entire army of Israel’s fighting men.The Ammonites marched out. They took up their battle positions at the entrance of their city gate. The Arameans of Zobah and Rehob gathered their troops together in the open country. So did the men of Tob and Maakah.Joab saw that there were lines of soldiers in front of him and behind him. So he chose some of the best troops in Israel. He sent them to march out against the Arameans.He put the rest of the men under the command of his brother Abishai. Joab sent them to march out against the Ammonites.He said,“ Suppose the Arameans are too strong for me. Then you must come and help me. But suppose the Ammonites are too strong for you. Then I’ll come and help you.Be strong. Let’s be brave as we fight for our people and the cities of our God. The Lord will do what he thinks is best.”Then Joab and the troops with him marched out to attack the Arameans. They ran away from him.The Ammonites realized that the Arameans were running away. So they ran away from Abishai. They went inside the city. After Joab had fought against the Ammonites, he went back to Jerusalem.The Arameans saw that they had been driven away by Israel. So they brought their troops together.Hadadezer had some Arameans brought from east of the Euphrates River. They went to Helam under the command of Shobak. He was the commander of Hadadezer’s army.David was told about it. So he gathered the whole army of Israel together. They went across the Jordan River to Helam. The Arameans lined up their soldiers to go to war against David. They began to fight against him.But then they ran away from Israel. David killed 700 of their chariot riders. He killed 40,000 of their soldiers who were on foot. He also struck down Shobak, the commander of their army. Shobak died there.All the kings who were under the rule of Hadadezer saw that Israel had won the battle over them. So they made a peace treaty with the Israelites. They were brought under Israel’s rule. After that, the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

The people of Ammon and Moab can’t join in worship with the Lord’ s people. That also applies to their children after them for all time to come.

Once again the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. They served gods that were named Baal. They served female gods that were named Ashtoreth. They worshiped the gods of Aram and Sidon. They served the gods of Moab and Ammon. They also worshiped the gods of the Philistines. The Israelites deserted the Lord. They didn’t serve him anymore.So the Lord became very angry with them. He handed them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites.That year they broke Israel’s power completely. They treated the Israelites badly for 18 years. The people who did this lived east of the Jordan River. They lived in Gilead. That was the land of the Amorites.The Ammonites also went across the Jordan. They crossed over to fight against the tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Ephraim. Israel was suffering terribly.Then the Israelites cried out to the Lord. They said,“ We have sinned against you. We have deserted our God. We have served gods that are named Baal.”The Lord replied,“ The Egyptians and Amorites treated you badly. So did the Ammonites and Philistines.And so did the Amalekites and the people of Sidon and Maon. Each time you cried out to me for help. And I saved you from their power.But you have deserted me. You have served other gods. So I will not save you anymore.Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you get into trouble!”But the Israelites replied to the Lord,“ We have sinned. Do to us what you think is best. But please save us now.”Then they got rid of the false gods that were among them. They served the Lord. And he couldn’t stand to see Israel suffer anymore.The Ammonites were called together to fight. They camped in the land of Gilead. Then the Israelites gathered together. They camped at the city of Mizpah.The leaders of Gilead spoke to one another. They said,“ Who will lead the attack against the Ammonites? That person will be the ruler of all the people who live in Gilead.”Jephthah was a mighty warrior. He was from the land of Gilead. His father’s name was Gilead. Jephthah’s mother was a prostitute.Gilead’s wife also had sons by him. When they had grown up, they drove Jephthah away.“ You aren’t going to get any share of our family’s property,” they said.“ You are the son of another woman.”So Jephthah ran away from his brothers. He made his home in the land of Tob. A group of men who weren’t good for anything gathered around him there. And they followed him.Some time later, the Ammonites were fighting against Israel.So the elders of Gilead went to get Jephthah from the land of Tob.“ Come with us,” they said.“ Be our commander. Then we can fight against the Ammonites.”Jephthah said to them,“ Didn’t you hate me? Didn’t you drive me away from my father’s house? Why are you coming to me only when you are in trouble?”The elders of Gilead replied to him.“ You are right,” they said.“ That’s why we’re turning to you now. Come with us and fight against the Ammonites. Then you will rule over all of us who live in Gilead.”Jephthah said,“ Suppose you take me back to fight against the Ammonites. And suppose the Lord gives me victory over them. Then will I really be your leader?”The elders of Gilead replied,“ The Lord is our witness. We’ll certainly do as you say.”So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead. And the people made him their leader and commander. He went to Mizpah. There he repeated to the Lord everything he had said.Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of Ammon. They asked,“ What do you have against me? Why have you attacked my country?”The king of Ammon answered Jephthah’s messengers. He said,“ Israel came up out of Egypt. At that time they took my land away. They took all the land between the Arnon River and the Jabbok River. It reached all the way to the Jordan River. Now give it back. Then there will be peace.”Jephthah sent messengers back to the king of Ammon.They said,“ Here is what Jephthah says to you. Israel didn’t take the land of Moab. They didn’t take the land of Ammon.When Israel came up out of Egypt, they went through the desert to the Red Sea. From there they went on to Kadesh.Then Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom. They said,‘ Please let us go through your country.’ But the king of Edom wouldn’t listen to them. They sent the same message to the king of Moab. But he refused too. So Israel stayed at Kadesh.“ Next, they traveled through the desert. They traveled along the borders of the lands of Edom and Moab. They passed along the east side of the country of Moab. They camped on the other side of the Arnon River. They didn’t enter the territory of Moab. The Arnon River was Moab’s border.“ Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon. He was the king of the Amorites. He ruled in Heshbon. They said to him,‘ Let us pass through your country to our own land.’But Sihon didn’t trust Israel to pass through his territory. Instead, he gathered all his troops together. They camped at Jahaz. And they fought against Israel.“ Then the Lord, the God of Israel, handed Sihon and his whole army over to Israel. Israel won the battle over them. Amorites were living in the country at that time. And Israel took over all their land.Israel captured all the land between the Arnon River and the Jabbok River. It reached from the desert all the way to the Jordan River.“ The Lord, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out to make room for his people. So what right do you have to take it over?You will take what your god Chemosh gives you, won’t you? In the same way, we will take over what the Lord our God has given us.Are you any better than Balak, the son of Zippor? Balak was the king of Moab. Did he ever argue with Israel? Did he ever fight against them?For 300 years Israel has been living in Heshbon and Aroer. They have been living in the settlements around those cities. They have also been living in all the towns along the Arnon River. Why didn’t you take those places back during that time?I haven’t done anything wrong to you. But you are doing something wrong to me. You have gone to war against me. The Lord is the Judge. So let him decide our case today. Let him settle matters between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”But the king of Ammon didn’t pay any attention to the message Jephthah sent him.Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Jephthah. He went across the territories of Gilead and Manasseh. He passed through Mizpah in the land of Gilead. From there he attacked the people of Ammon.Jephthah made a promise to the Lord. Jephthah said,“ Hand the Ammonites over to me.If you do, here’s what I’ll do when I come back from winning the battle. Anything that comes out the door of my house to meet me will belong to the Lord. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”Then Jephthah went over to fight against the Ammonites. The Lord handed them over to him.Jephthah destroyed 20 towns between Aroer and the area of Minnith. He destroyed them all the way to Abel Keramim. So Israel brought Ammon under their control.Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah. And guess who came out to meet him. It was his daughter! She was dancing to the beat of tambourines. She was his only child. He didn’t have any other sons or daughters.When Jephthah saw her, he was so upset that he tore his clothes. He cried out,“ Oh no, my daughter! You have filled me with trouble and sorrow. I’ve made a promise to the Lord. And I can’t break it.”“ My father,” she replied,“ you have given your word to the Lord. So do to me just what you promised to do. The Ammonites were your enemies. And the Lord has paid them back for what they did to you.But please do one thing for me,” she continued.“ Give me two months to wander around in the hills. Let me weep there with my friends. I want to do that because I’ll never get married.”“ You may go,” he said. He let her go for two months. She and her friends went into the hills. They were filled with sadness because she would never get married.After the two months were over, she returned to her father. He did to her just what he had promised to do. And she was a virgin. So that became a practice in Israel.Each year the young women of Israel go away for four days. They do it in honor of the daughter of Jephthah. He was from the land of Gilead.

Together they will rush down the slopes of Philistia to the west. They’ll take what belongs to the people of the east. They’ll take over Edom and Moab. The people of Ammon will be under their control.

So Moab will become like Sodom,” announces the Lord who rules over all.“ Ammon will be like Gomorrah. Weeds and salt pits will cover those countries. They will be dry and empty deserts forever. Those who are still left alive among my people will take all their valuable things. So they will receive those lands as their own. And that is just as sure as I am alive.” The Lord is the God of Israel.

Nahash was the king of Ammon. He and his army went up to Jabesh Gilead. They surrounded it and got ready to attack it. All the men of Jabesh spoke to Nahash. They said,“ Make a peace treaty with us. Then we’ll be under your control.”Nahash, the king of Ammon, replied,“ I will make a peace treaty with you. But I’ll do it only on one condition. You must let me put out the right eye of every one of you. I want to bring shame on the whole nation of Israel.”The elders of Jabesh said to him,“ Give us seven days to report back to you. We’ll send messengers all through Israel. If no one comes to save us, we’ll hand ourselves over to you.”The messengers came to Gibeah of Saul. They reported to the people the terms Nahash had required. Then all the people wept out loud.Just then Saul was coming in from the fields. He was walking behind his oxen. He asked,“ What’s wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” He was told what the men of Jabesh had said.When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully on him. He became very angry.He got a pair of oxen and cut them into pieces. He sent the pieces by messengers all through Israel. They announced,“ You must follow Saul and Samuel. If you don’t, this is what will happen to your oxen.” The terror of the Lord fell on the people. So all of them came together with one purpose in mind.Saul brought his army together at Bezek. There were 300,000 men from Israel and 30,000 from Judah.The messengers who had come were told,“ Go back and report to the men of Jabesh Gilead. Tell them,‘ By the hottest time of the day tomorrow, you will be rescued.’ ” The messengers went and reported it to the men of Jabesh. It made those men very happy.They said to the people of Ammon,“ Tomorrow we’ll hand ourselves over to you. Then you can do to us whatever you like.”The next day Saul separated his men into three groups. While it was still dark, they broke into the camp of the Ammonite army. They kept killing the men of Ammon until the hottest time of the day. Those who got away were scattered. There weren’t two of them left together anywhere.The people said to Samuel,“ Who asked,‘ Is Saul going to rule over us?’ Turn these men over to us. We’ll put them to death.”But Saul said,“ No one will be put to death today! After all, this is the day the Lord has rescued Israel.”Then Samuel said to the people,“ Come on. Let’s go to Gilgal. There we’ll agree again to have Saul as our king.”So all the people went to Gilgal. There, with the Lord as witness, they made Saul their king. There they sacrificed friendship offerings to the Lord. And there Saul and all the Israelites celebrated with great joy.

In those days I also saw that some men of Judah had married women from Ashdod. Others had married women from Ammon or Moab.Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod. Or they spoke the language of one of the other nations. They didn’t even know how to speak the language of Judah.So I gave them a warning. I cursed them. I beat up some of them. I pulled their hair out. I had them make a promise in God’s name. I said,“ You must promise not to give your daughters to be married to their sons. You must promise not to let their daughters marry your sons. And you must not marry their daughters either.That’s how Solomon, the king of Israel, sinned. He married women from other nations. There wasn’t a king like him anywhere. His God loved him. In fact, God made him king over the whole nation of Israel. But even he was led into sin by women from other lands.Now I hear that you too are doing all of the same terrible and evil things. You aren’t being faithful to our God. You are marrying women from other lands.”One of the sons of Joiada was the son- in- law of Sanballat the Horonite. Joiada, the son of Eliashib, was the high priest. I drove Joiada’s son away from me.

At that time the Book of Moses was read out loud. All the people heard it. It was written there that no Ammonite or Moabite could ever become a member of God’s community.That’s because they hadn’t given the people of Israel food and water. Instead, they had hired Balaam to put a curse on them. But our God turned the curse into a blessing.When that law was read, the people of Judah obeyed it. They sent out of Israel everyone who was from another nation.