Jephthah and Ephraim. Ibzan, Elon and Abdon. Judges 12:1-15

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1 1 Commentary by Ron Thomas Questions by John C. Sewell Jephthah and Ephraim Ibzan, Elon and Abdon Judges 12:1-15

2 2 Text: Judges 12:1-15, Jephthah and Ephraim Ibzan, Elon and Abdon 1. The men of Ephraim called out their forces, crossed over to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We're going to burn down your house over your head." 2. Jephthah answered, "I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn't save me out of their hands. 3. When I saw that you wouldn't help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?" 4. Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, "You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh." 5. The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead asked him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he replied, "No," 6. they said, "All right, say 'Shibboleth.' " He said, "Sibboleth," because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time. 7. Jephthah led Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in a town in Gilead. Ibzan, Elon and Abdon 8. After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel.

3 He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years. 10. Then Ibzan died, and was buried in Bethlehem. 11. After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years. 12. Then Elon died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. 13. After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel. 14. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel eight years. 15. Then Abdon son of Hillel died, and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. (NIV) Introduction: I. The final days of Jephthah and three other Judges are brought to the attention of the reader. 12:1-15 Commentary: Jephthah and Ephraim Judges 12:1-7, The men of Ephraim called out their forces, crossed over to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We're going to burn down your house over your head." Jephthah answered, "I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn't save me out of their hands. When I saw that you wouldn't help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the LORD gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?" Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, "You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh." The

4 4 Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a survivor of Ephraim said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead asked him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he replied, "No," they said, "All right, say 'Shibboleth.'" He said, "Sibboleth," because he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time. Jephthah led Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in a town in Gilead. (NIV) I. Jephthah s final days. 12:1-7 A. Ephraim stood against Jephthah and Gilead. 12:1. 1. The people of Ephraim were prominent in Judges. 2. When Ehud was judge, he called the people of Ephraim (3:27). a. Judges 3:27, When he arrived there, he blew a trumpet in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went down with him from the hills, with him leading them. (NIV) 3. When Deborah was the judge, she sat in Ephraim and it was the people of Ephraim who went to battle (4:5; 5:14). a. Judges 4:5, She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. (NIV) b. Judges 5:14, Some came from Ephraim, whose roots were in Amalek; Benjamin was with the people who followed you. From Makir captains came down,

5 5 from Zebulun those who bear a commander's staff. (NIV) 4. Gideon called and the people of Ephraim came out (7:24). a. Judges 7:24, Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah." So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. (NIV) b. Yet, there was an occasion on which Gideon had to pacify Ephraim because they were not called (8:1-2). i. Judges 8:1, 2, Now the Ephraimites asked Gideon, "Why have you treated us like this? Why didn't you call us when you went to fight Midian?" And they criticized him sharply. But he answered them, "What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren't the gleanings of Ephraim's grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? (NIV) 1. An earlier judge lived in Ephraim (10:1). a. Judges 10:1, After the time of Abimelech a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim. (NIV) B. Jephthah rejected Ephraim s accusation. 12: Ephraim accused Jephthah of failing to call them to battle, but this wa rejected.

6 6 a. As a matter of fact there was a call, but it was refused. b. Some commentators mention that Ephraim looked down upon the people of Gilead. c. If so, then the people of Gilead would have had some bitterness against Ephraim. 2. The jealousy of the tribe of Ephraim, which was striving after the leadership, had already shown itself in the time of Gideon in such a way that nothing but the moderation of that judge averted open hostilities. And now that the tribes on the east of the Jordan had conquered the Ammonites under the command of Jephthah without the co-operation of the Ephraimites, Ephraim thought it necessary to assert its claim to leadership in Israel in a very forcible manner (Keil & Delitzsch, E-Sword). C. Civil war broke out. 12: Keil & Delitzsch mentioned that Ephraim was looking for a leader (but found none) and, if that is so, then it might be easier to understand why they were defeated here by a much smaller force. 2. Gilead could not match the number of men Ephraim could muster. a. The fight within the men of Gilead was one of experience and fierce. b. When Ephraim fired out their insult (12:4), Gilead took up arms and taught them a serious lesson.

7 With the loss of 42,000 men, Ephraim s military capability was virtually wiped out (cf. Num. 1:33) (Wolf, p. 458). a. Numbers 1:33, The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500. D. Jephthah judged Israel six years. 12:7 Ibzan, Elon and Abdon Judges 12:8-15, After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel. He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years. Then Ibzan died, and was buried in Bethlehem. After him, Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years. Then Elon died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He led Israel eight years. Then Abdon son of Hillel died, and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. (NIV) I. Ibzan. A. He judged Israel 7 years. Davis thought he judged Israel in about 1081 B.C. B. He had 30 sons and 30 daughters. C. His family size was 120 (children and in laws), not to mention grandchildren, aunts, uncles, parents, etc.

8 8 D. Note that he gave his daughters to men who were not Israelites. Compare this to Deuteronomy 25:5. 1. Deuteronomy 25:5, If brothers are living together and one of them dies without a son, his widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. II. Elon. He judged Israel 10 years in approximate 1075 B.C. III. Abdon. A. He judged Israel 8 years. B. The significance of riding on donkeys, in the ancient world especially in Israel, was a royal type power over their region (Younger, p. 278). D. It is interesting to consider that the donkey (mule, ass) was a domestic animal that conveyed the image of peaceful pursuit. The horse did not; it conveyed a military image. IV. The 25 years, apparently consecutive, occupied by the judgeship of Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, seem to have been very uneventful and prosperous, since the only record of them, preserved in the annals of their country, relates to the flourishing families and peaceful magnificence of two of the number (Barnes, E-Sword).

9 9 Questions Judges 12:1-15 (Questions based on NIV text.) 1. Why did the men of Ephraim confront Jephthah? 2. Why were they so eager to fight? 3. What threat did the men of Ephraim make to Jephthah? 4. Tell of the relationship between other judges and the tribe of Ephraim. 5. What answer did Jephthah give the men of Ephraim?

10 Did Jephthah s answer satisfy the men of Ephraim? If not, why not?_ 7. What was the result of the conflict between Jephthah and the men of Ephraim? 8. What does Shibbleth mean? What is the significance of this word in the Jephthah-Ephraimite conflict? 9. How long did Jephthah lead Israel? What happened to him then?

11 How many children did Ibzan have? Why was it important that they married outside their clan? 11. What is a clan? 12. How long did Ibzan lead Israel? What happened to Ibzan then? 13. What good things did Elon do for Israel during his leadership? 14. Record here all the information you have about Abdon. Why was it important for us to know that his sons and grandsons rode on donkeys? How many daughters and granddaughters did Abdon have?

12 List all the judges mentioned in Judges 1-12 and specify the tribe from which each came: Judges Tribes