It happened after a while, that the children of Ammon made war against Israel.
What is not related here is the reputation which Jephthah had earned by his association with that band of freebooters that surrounded him.  His exploits, whatever they might have been, had indicated his ability as a military leader and strategist, and the Gileadites swallowed their pride and eagerly sought Jephthah's help in the impending war with the Ammonites.