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.
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.
And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?
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.
And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;
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 at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.
And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
And after him Ibzan of Beth–lehem judged Israel.
And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.
Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Beth–lehem.
And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.
And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.
And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.
And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.
Judges 12 unfolds in the aftermath of Jephthah's tragic vow and victory over the Ammonites, highlighting the internal conflicts that plagued Israel during this period. This chapter serves as a bridge, connecting the tumultuous story of Jephthah to the introduction of another well-known judge, Samson. We see a continuation of the cycle of flawed leadership and the consequences of pride and tribal division.
The Ephraimites' Grievance and a Deadly Conflict (Judges 12:1-6)
Just as they had with Gideon (Judges 8:1), the men of Ephraim, dwelling west of the Jordan River, felt slighted. They confronted Jephthah, demanding to know why they weren't summoned to fight against the Ammonites (Judges 12:1). Their anger wasn't merely a question; it was a threat. They crossed the Jordan, armed and ready for battle, threatening to burn down Jephthah's house.
Jephthah's response reveals the potential for miscommunication and the deep-seated tensions between the tribes. He explained that he had called upon Ephraim, but perhaps they had been indifferent at the time. He recounts how he and the men of Gilead risked their lives and, with the Lord's help, achieved victory (Judges 12:2-3).
The Ephraimites' motives are questionable. Were they genuinely upset about being excluded, or was their wounded pride and desire for territorial expansion fueling their aggression? They taunted the Gileadites, calling them "fugitives of Ephraim," implying they had no right to the land. This insult ignited the conflict further.
Jephthah, taking the threat seriously, gathered his forces and attacked the Ephraimites (Judges 12:4). The Gileadites seized the fords of the Jordan River, preventing the fleeing Ephraimites from returning home (Judges 3:28). This led to a brutal and tragic test. Suspected Ephraimites were asked to pronounce the word "Shibboleth." Their distinct accent betrayed them, leading to their slaughter (Judges 12:5-6). This grim episode resulted in the death of forty-two thousand Ephraimites, a devastating loss fueled by pride and tribal animosity. This serves as a stark reminder of how pride can lead to destruction, a sin that even led to Satan's fall as he desired to be more than he was created to be.
The Judges Who Followed: Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (Judges 12:7-15)
After Jephthah's death, the narrative briefly introduces three more judges: Ibzan of Bethlehem, Elon the Zebulunite, and Abdon of Pirathon. These judges, along with Shamgar, Tola, and Jair, are often referred to as "minor" judges because less is known about their lives and accomplishments. Jephthah judged Israel for six years (Judges 12:7). Ibzan judged for seven years (Judges 12:8-10), Elon for ten years (Judges 12:11-12), and Abdon for eight years (Judges 12:13-15).
Ibzan expanded his influence through strategic marriages of his thirty sons and thirty daughters, marrying them outside his clan. Elon's tenure is only noted by his years of service and burial in Zebulun, making him the most obscure of the judges. Abdon's wealth and influence are highlighted by his large family, with forty sons and thirty grandsons, each riding on his own donkey.
These brief accounts serve as a sobering reminder of our mortality. Unless Christ returns, we will all die. The question is, how will we be remembered? Will we use our lives to serve God or something else? Like these judges, our choices define our legacy. If we desire to reign with Christ, we must trust and follow Him in the present.
The cycle of Judges continues, and the stage is set for the story of Samson, one of the most well-known and complex figures in the book. The introduction of Samson in the following chapters promises a new chapter in Israel's struggle with sin, oppression, and the need for deliverance.
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.
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.
And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?
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.
And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay;
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 at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.
And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
And after him Ibzan of Beth–lehem judged Israel.
And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.
Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Beth–lehem.
And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.
And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.
And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.
And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.
Judges 12 unfolds in the aftermath of Jephthah's tragic vow and victory over the Ammonites, highlighting the internal conflicts that plagued Israel during this period. This chapter serves as a bridge, connecting the tumultuous story of Jephthah to the introduction of another well-known judge, Samson. We see a continuation of the cycle of flawed leadership and the consequences of pride and tribal division.
The Ephraimites' Grievance and a Deadly Conflict (Judges 12:1-6)
Just as they had with Gideon (Judges 8:1), the men of Ephraim, dwelling west of the Jordan River, felt slighted. They confronted Jephthah, demanding to know why they weren't summoned to fight against the Ammonites (Judges 12:1). Their anger wasn't merely a question; it was a threat. They crossed the Jordan, armed and ready for battle, threatening to burn down Jephthah's house.
Jephthah's response reveals the potential for miscommunication and the deep-seated tensions between the tribes. He explained that he had called upon Ephraim, but perhaps they had been indifferent at the time. He recounts how he and the men of Gilead risked their lives and, with the Lord's help, achieved victory (Judges 12:2-3).
The Ephraimites' motives are questionable. Were they genuinely upset about being excluded, or was their wounded pride and desire for territorial expansion fueling their aggression? They taunted the Gileadites, calling them "fugitives of Ephraim," implying they had no right to the land. This insult ignited the conflict further.
Jephthah, taking the threat seriously, gathered his forces and attacked the Ephraimites (Judges 12:4). The Gileadites seized the fords of the Jordan River, preventing the fleeing Ephraimites from returning home (Judges 3:28). This led to a brutal and tragic test. Suspected Ephraimites were asked to pronounce the word "Shibboleth." Their distinct accent betrayed them, leading to their slaughter (Judges 12:5-6). This grim episode resulted in the death of forty-two thousand Ephraimites, a devastating loss fueled by pride and tribal animosity. This serves as a stark reminder of how pride can lead to destruction, a sin that even led to Satan's fall as he desired to be more than he was created to be.
The Judges Who Followed: Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon (Judges 12:7-15)
After Jephthah's death, the narrative briefly introduces three more judges: Ibzan of Bethlehem, Elon the Zebulunite, and Abdon of Pirathon. These judges, along with Shamgar, Tola, and Jair, are often referred to as "minor" judges because less is known about their lives and accomplishments. Jephthah judged Israel for six years (Judges 12:7). Ibzan judged for seven years (Judges 12:8-10), Elon for ten years (Judges 12:11-12), and Abdon for eight years (Judges 12:13-15).
Ibzan expanded his influence through strategic marriages of his thirty sons and thirty daughters, marrying them outside his clan. Elon's tenure is only noted by his years of service and burial in Zebulun, making him the most obscure of the judges. Abdon's wealth and influence are highlighted by his large family, with forty sons and thirty grandsons, each riding on his own donkey.
These brief accounts serve as a sobering reminder of our mortality. Unless Christ returns, we will all die. The question is, how will we be remembered? Will we use our lives to serve God or something else? Like these judges, our choices define our legacy. If we desire to reign with Christ, we must trust and follow Him in the present.
The cycle of Judges continues, and the stage is set for the story of Samson, one of the most well-known and complex figures in the book. The introduction of Samson in the following chapters promises a new chapter in Israel's struggle with sin, oppression, and the need for deliverance.