The men of Ephraim were called to arms: This verse begins with the Hebrew waw conjunction, which Revised Standard Version and many other versions leave untranslated. However, there is an important time gap here, so it may be rendered “Sometime later” or “Then” (New Living Translation). The men of Ephraim is literally “the man of Ephraim,” but obviously a group of men is in view here. Since these men were soldiers, this phrase may be translated “the soldiers from Ephraim” or “the Ephraimite warriors.” The Hebrew verb rendered were called to arms is a technical term meaning “to summon for military service” (see verse 10.17). This passive verb may be rendered as an active one, for example, “Then the leaders of Ephraim called their warriors to battle” or “Then the leaders of Ephraim mobilized an army.”

And they crossed to Zaphon: Once again the Hebrew verb for crossed (ʿavar) plays an important role in the story of Jephthah, describing military movements (see verse 10.9; verse 11.29, verse 32). The verb is reminiscent of the passing over of the angel of death in Egypt (Exo 12.12, 23), when the Israelites were spared, and also of the crossing of the Sea of Reeds (verse 4.23). This verb often refers to crossing a body of water, and here it implies that the Ephraimite troops crossed the Jordan River. Several versions make this explicit (Good News Translation, Contemporary English Version, New Jerusalem Bible). The location of the town of Zaphon is unknown, though the name itself means “north.” Certainly this town was on the eastern side of the Jordan River.

And said to Jephthah: The Ephraimites go directly to the leader of the people of Gilead, Jephthah, and speak to him. In some languages it will be necessary to make explicit that “They arrived where Jephthah was and said to him.”

Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites…?: This rhetorical question is similar to the one the Ephraimites posed to Gideon (verse 8.1). It repeats the verb cross. However, it is unlikely that Jephthah and his troops crossed the Jordan River to fight the Ammonites, since Gilead was located on the eastern side of the river, near Ammon. So Good News Translation and Traduction œcuménique de la Bible say “cross the border.” New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh uses the verb “march.” For the Hebrew verb rendered fight (lacham), see verse 1.1. Contemporary English Version provides an acceptable model, saying “Why did you go to war with the Ammonites…?”

And did not call us to go with you: The problem that the soldiers of Ephraim raise is not that Jephthah went to battle against Ammon, but that he did not summon them to join him. They are upset that Jephthah conducted this battle without informing them. Call renders a general Hebrew verb. It is not the same one translated were called to arms. It is used when someone calls someone’s name, and in this context it means “summon” or “invite” to join in battle. In English this independent clause is well rendered as a dependent one by saying “without calling us to go with you” (Good News Translation, New American Bible, New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh), “without asking us to go with you” (New Jerusalem Bible), or “without asking us to help” (Contemporary English Version).

This rhetorical question is a reprimand, showing that the Ephraimites are angry at Jephthah and his men. It may be translated “How could you go fight against the Ammonites without calling us to fight?” The question can also be rendered as strong statement, for example, “You went to fight the Ammonites, and you didn’t even call us to come and help!”

We will burn your house over you with fire: In Hebrew this clause does not begin with a conjunction, but in some languages it may be necessary to begin with a transition expression, such as “Since this is so.” Contemporary English Version begins with “Just for that.” The theme of fire first occurred in Jotham’s fable (verse 9.15) and later in the burning of the temple of El-berith (verse 9.49). It also occurs here and will figure prominently in the Samson story (verse 14.15; verse 15.5-6). In many languages burn … with fire is redundant, so translators might simply say “We will burn down your house, with you in it!” Your house could refer either to Jephthah’s physical house or to his family, but in this context it appears to refer to a physical building. Thus Good News Translation says “We’ll burn the house down over your head!” and Contemporary English Version is similar with “we’re going to burn down your house with you inside!”

There are many repetitive sounds in the Hebrew text here. In the first sentence the consonants ts, f and sh are repeated, while in the last sentence the consonants f and sh are again prominent. These fricative sounds, which evoke fire, also occur in the final verse of this section (verse 12.6), thus forming a kind of envelope around this literary unit.

Translation models for this verse are:

• After some time the leaders of Ephraim called their warriors to battle, and they crossed the Jordan River, arriving in the town of Zaphon. When they found Jephthah, they said to him, “Why didn’t you call us to come to war with you when you went to fight the Ammonites? Just for that, we will burn you and your house* down!”
* The word “house” could refer to Jephthah’s family.

• Later the Ephraimites were mobilized for battle. They crossed the Jordan River and went to Zaphon. They approached Jephthah and said, “When you went to fight the Ammonites, you didn’t ask us to come with you. Because of that, we will burn down your house with you in it!”

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .