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Judges Chapter قضاۃ باب 12
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Judges Chapter 11 (Verses 27–40)

Verse 27

  • Verse: Wherefore I have not sinned against thee but thou doest me wrong to war against me the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon

  • English Explanation: Jephthah appeals to a higher authority. He asserts that Israel has not wronged Ammon legally or historically; therefore, he leaves the final verdict of the war to God, the Supreme Judge.

  • Urdu Explanation: جفتاح نے واضح کیا کہ اس نے عمونیوں کا کوئی نقصان نہیں کیا بلکہ عمونی بلاوجہ جنگ کر رہے ہیں۔ اس نے خدا کو منصف مانا کہ وہی فیصلہ کرے کہ حق پر کون ہے۔

Verse 28

  • Verse: Howbeit the king of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him

  • English Explanation: Despite Jephthah’s logical and historical defense, the King of Ammon ignored the peace message, choosing war instead.

  • Urdu Explanation: عمونیوں کے بادشاہ نے جفتاح کی امن پسندی اور دلیلوں پر کوئی کان نہ دھرا اور جنگ پر اصرار کیا۔

Verse 29

  • Verse: Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah and he passed over Gilead and Manasseh and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon

  • English Explanation: God empowers Jephthah for leadership. The “Spirit of the Lord” signifies divine authorization and strength to mobilize the tribes for battle.

  • Urdu Explanation: اس وقت خداوند کی روح جفتاح پر نازل ہوئی اور اس نے جلعاد اور منسی کے علاقوں سے گزر کر اپنی فوج اکٹھی کی تاکہ عمونیوں کا مقابلہ کر سکے۔

Verse 30-31

  • Verse: And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the LORD and said If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into mine hands Then it shall be that whatsoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the children of Ammon shall surely be the LORD’s and I will offer it up for a burnt offering

  • English Explanation: In a moment of intense pressure, Jephthah makes a rash vow. He promises to sacrifice whatever first comes out of his house to meet him if he returns victorious.

  • Urdu Explanation: جفتاح نے ایک منت مانی کہ اگر خدا اسے فتح دے گا تو واپسی پر جو سب سے پہلے اس کے گھر سے استقبال کے لیے نکلے گا، وہ اسے خدا کے لیے قربان کر دے گا۔

Verse 32-33

  • Verse: So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them and the LORD delivered them into his hands And he smote them from Aroer even till thou come to Minnith even twenty cities and unto the plain of the vineyards with a very great slaughter Thus the children of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel

  • English Explanation: God grants a decisive victory. Jephthah conquers twenty cities, effectively ending the Ammonite threat.

  • Urdu Explanation: جفتاح نے عمونیوں پر حملہ کیا اور خدا نے انہیں شکست دی۔ اس نے بیس شہروں کو فتح کیا اور بنی عمون کو مکمل طور پر مغلوب کر دیا۔

Verse 34-35

  • Verse: And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house and behold his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances and she was his only child beside her he had neither son nor daughter And it came to pass when he saw her that he rent his clothes and said Alas my daughter thou hast brought me very low and thou art one of them that trouble me for I have opened my mouth unto the LORD and I cannot go back

  • English Explanation: Victory turns to tragedy. His only child, his daughter, is the first to greet him. Jephthah is devastated because, according to his understanding of his vow, he cannot retract his word to God.

  • Urdu Explanation: جب جفتاح گھر پہنچا تو اس کی اکلوتی بیٹی دف بجاتی ہوئی استقبال کو نکلی۔ اسے دیکھ کر جفتاح نے غم سے اپنے کپڑے پھاڑ دیے کیونکہ وہ اپنی منت سے پیچھے نہیں ہٹ سکتا تھا۔

Verse 36-38

  • Verse: And she said unto him My father if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the LORD do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth… let me alone two months… And he said Go

  • English Explanation: The daughter displays incredible faith and submission, accepting the vow’s fulfillment but requesting two months to mourn her youth and future (virginity) with her friends.

  • Urdu Explanation: اس کی بیٹی نے بڑی ہمت کا مظاہرہ کیا اور کہا کہ جو منت مانی ہے اسے پورا کریں۔ اس نے صرف دو ماہ کی مہلت مانگی تاکہ وہ پہاڑوں پر جا کر اپنی سہیلیوں کے ساتھ اپنی کنوارگی کا ماتم کر سکے۔

Verse 39-40

  • Verse: And it came to pass at the end of two months that she returned unto her father who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed… And it was a custom in Israel That the daughters of Israel went yearly to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year

  • English Explanation: Jephthah fulfills his vow. While scholars debate if she was killed or dedicated to lifelong temple service, the text emphasizes the gravity of the act, leading to an annual tradition of remembrance in Israel.

  • Urdu Explanation: دو ماہ بعد جفتاح نے اپنی منت پوری کی۔ اس واقعہ کی یاد میں اسرائیل کی بیٹیاں سال میں چار دن جفتاح کی بیٹی کے لیے ماتم کرنے یا اسے یاد کرنے جایا کرتی تھیں۔

Judges Chapter 12 (Verses 1–7)

Verse 1

  • Verse: And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together and went northward and said unto Jephthah Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon and didst not call us to go with thee we will burn thine house upon thee with fire

  • English Explanation: The tribe of Ephraim, driven by pride, threatens Jephthah. They were angry they weren’t invited to the battle, seeking a share of the glory and plunder.

  • Urdu Explanation: قبیلہ افرائیم کے لوگ جفتاح سے لڑنے آئے کہ اسے فتح ملی اور اس نے انہیں جنگ میں کیوں نہیں بلایا۔ انہوں نے دھمکی دی کہ وہ اس کا گھر جلا دیں گے۔

Verse 2-3

  • Verse: And Jephthah said unto them I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon and when I called you ye delivered me not out of their hands… I put my life in my hands…

  • English Explanation: Jephthah counters their claim, stating he did ask for help, but they ignored him. He took the risk alone, and God gave the victory.

  • Urdu Explanation: جفتاح نے جواب دیا کہ جب مجھے ضرورت تھی تب تم نہیں آئے، اس لیے میں نے اپنی جان ہتھیلی پر رکھ کر اکیلے جنگ لڑی اور خدا نے فتح دی۔

Verse 4

  • Verse: Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim because they said Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites and among the Manassites

  • English Explanation: Civil war breaks out. The Ephraimites insulted the Gileadites as “fugitives,” sparking a bloody conflict.

  • Urdu Explanation: جلعادیوں اور افرائیمیوں کے درمیان جنگ چھڑ گئی کیونکہ افرائیمیوں نے جلعادیوں کی توہین کی تھی۔ جلعادیوں نے افرائیم کو شکست دی۔

Verse 5-6

  • Verse: And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites… Then said they unto him Say now Shibboleth and he said Sibboleth for he could not frame to pronounce it right Then they took him and slew him…

  • English Explanation: The famous “Shibboleth” test. To identify fleeing Ephraimites, Gileadites used a linguistic test. Ephraimites could not pronounce the “Sh” sound, saying “Sibboleth” instead, leading to the death of 42,000 men.

  • Urdu Explanation: جلعادیوں نے دریا کے گھاٹ روک لیے۔ وہ ہر شخص سے “شِبولِت” کہلواتے تھے، کیونکہ افرائیمی اسے “سِبولِت” پکارتے تھے۔ اس تلفظ کی غلطی سے 42 ہزار افرائیمی مارے گئے۔

Verse 7

  • Verse: And Jephthah judged Israel six years Then died Jephthah the Gileadite and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead

  • English Explanation: Jephthah’s turbulent leadership lasted only six years. His life serves as a somber reminder of the costs of war and the weight of words.

  • Urdu Explanation: جفتاح نے چھ سال تک اسرائیل کی عدالت کی۔ اس کی موت کے بعد اسے جلعاد کے ایک شہر میں دفن کیا گیا۔