9. The Ammonites also crossed to the west side of the Jordan and attacked Judah, Benjamin, and Ephraim.The Israelites were in great distress.
10. Finally, they cried out to the lord for help, saying, “We have sinned against you because we have abandoned you as our God and have served the images of Baal.”
11. The lord replied, “Did I not rescue you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines,
12. the Sidonians, the Amalekites, and the Maonites? When they oppressed you, you cried out to me for help, and I rescued you.
13. Yet you have abandoned me and served other gods. So I will not rescue you anymore.
14. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!”
15. But the Israelites pleaded with the lord and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.”
16. Then the Israelites put aside their foreign gods and served the lord. And he was grieved by their misery.
17. At that time the armies of Ammon had gathered for war and were camped in Gilead, and the people of Israel assembled and camped at Mizpah.