Judges 12:1-15
Q.1. What complaint did the men of Ephraim level against Jephthah? How did he respond to their aggression? In what unique way were the Ephraimites removed from Gilead? (Jdgs.12:1-6)
Ephraim was located west of the Jordan, in the Promised Land. The men were jealous of Jephthah’s triumph and were offended that he had led the tribe of Manasseh against the Ammonites, without their help. Foolishly, they threatened to burn his house down (Jdgs.12:1-2). Jephthah reminded them that they had ignored the plight of the tribes east of Jordan, so – … I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and the Lord gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me? (Jdgs.12:3). He risked his own life but testified of how God had given him victory. The men of Gilead had tasted success in battle, and soon punished Ephraim for treating them as outcasts of Israel (Jdgs.12:4 c.f. Josh.22:21-25). The people of Manasseh and Ephraim, being Israelites, were indistinguishable and could dwell together, except for their speech differences – 5 The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan opposite Ephraim. And it happened when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,” 6 then they would say to him, “Say now, `Shibboleth.'” But he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it correctly. Then they seized him and slew him at the fords of the Jordan (Jdgs.12:5-6). After just a few generations their accents were different. Jephthah’s army slew forty-two thousand men of Ephraim in a pointless disagreement.
Q.2. How was Israel led? What kind of leadership did the judges provide? Where did the judges come from? How was their leadership often strengthened? – (Jdgs.12:7-15)
Judges represented different tribes and provided some kind of leadership and rule over the tribes. Spiritual leadership was often missing (c.f. Jdgs.3:16; 17:6; 21:25). After Jephthah the Gileadite (in Manasseh) died, Ibzan, from Bethlehem (in Judah), judged (Jdgs.12:7-8). He had a huge family of forty sons and thirty daughters, whom he married off to his own advantage. After him Elon, from the tribe of Zebulun, led the nation. Next was Abdon, from the city of Pirathon (in Ephraim), who had huge influence through his forty sons and thirty grandsons (Jdgs.12:10-15). They ruled for over thirty years.