The people, the princes of Gil`ad, said one to another, What man is he who will begin to fight against the children of `Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gil`ad.
It happened after the death of Yehoshua, the children of Yisra'el asked of the LORD, saying, Who shall go up for us first against the Kena`anim, to fight against them?
Then the children of `Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gil`ad. The children of Yisra'el assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mitzpah.
Then Yiftach went with the elders of Gil`ad, and the people made him head and chief over them: and Yiftach spoke all his words before the LORD in Mitzpah.
The men of Yisra'el said, Have you seen this man who is come up? surely to defy Yisra'el is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who kills him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Yisra'el.