10. So the Israelites cried to the Lord for help. They said, “God, we have sinned against you. We left our God and worshiped the false god Baal.”
11. The Lord answered the Israelites, “You cried to me when the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, and the Philistines hurt you. I saved you from these people.
12. You cried to me when the people of Sidon, the Amalekites, and the Midianites hurt you. I also saved you from those people.
13. But you left me and started worshiping other gods, so I refuse to save you again.
14. You like worshiping those gods, so go call to them for help. Let them save you when you are in trouble.”
15. But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do whatever you want to do to us, but please save us today.”
16. Then the Israelites threw away the foreign gods and began to worship the Lord again. So he felt sorry for them when he saw them suffering.
17. The Ammonites gathered together for war. Their camp was in the area of Gilead. The Israelites gathered together. Their camp was at the city of Mizpah.
18. The leaders of the people living in the area of Gilead said, “Whoever leads us in the attack against the Ammonites will become the head of all the people living in Gilead.”