26. For 300 years the Israelites have lived in Heshbon and Aroer and the towns around them. They have lived for 300 years in all the cities along the Arnon River. Why have you not taken these cities back in all that time?
27. I have not sinned against you. But you are sinning against me by making war on me! May the Lord, the Judge, decide whether the Israelites or Ammonites are right.”
28. But the king of the Ammonites ignored this message from Jephthah.
29. Then the Spirit of the Lord entered Jephthah. Jephthah passed through Gilead and Manasseh. He came to the city of Mizpah in Gilead. From there, Jephthah passed through to the land of the Ammonites.
30. Jephthah made a promise to the Lord. He said, “If you will let me defeat the Ammonites,
31. I will give you a burnt offering. I will sacrifice the first thing that comes out of my house to meet me when I return from the victory. It will be the Lord’s.”
32. Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites. The Lord helped him defeat them.