Judges 12. Analysis of vv. 1-3:

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1 Judges 12:1-3 Then the men of Ephraim were summoned, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you cross over to fight against the sons of Ammon without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you." 2 And Jephthah said to them, "I and my people were at great strife with the sons of Ammon; when I called you, you did not deliver me from their hand. 3 "And when I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the sons of Ammon, and YHWH gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?" Analysis of vv. 1-3: 1) At some point after the dedication of Jephthah s daughter, men from the tribe of Ephraim crossed over the Jordan River to Zaphon to challenge Jephthah. 2) Here Zaphon is likely a city situated in the territory of Gad, east of the Jordan River (cf. Josh. 13:27). 3) The episode which follows records the most serious breakdown in intertribal relations up to this point in the book (cf. Judges 5:15-17, 23, 8:1-3). 4) Ephraim demanded to know why Jephthah hadn t called them to help in the fight against Ammon. 5) Notice that Ephraim didn t send delegation of official envoys to seek an explanation; instead, they sent an army of at least 42,000 men with hostile intent (cf. v. 6). 6) Once again the powerful tribe of Ephraim arrogantly tried to flex their muscles as with Gideon. 7) They desired the accolades of victory and no to mention the attendant plunder. However with the battle concluded and the accolades going to Jephthah, the tribe wanted to exact some retribution. 8) The Ephraimites were so incensed that they threatened to murder Jephthah (lit: Your house we will burn upon you with fire ). 9) Their unchecked egos would prove to be disastrous for the tribe. 10) In response to this brazen threat, Jephthah asserts that he and his fellow Gileadites had endured a great battle with the Ammonites. 11) Furthermore, he had indeed called the Ephraimites to help him in the battle. 12) However his call for help went unheeded. Ephraim never showed up! 13) Yet without their help, Jephthah indicates that he fought against the Ammonites and defeated them through God s provision. 14) Since God clearly gave him the victory, Jephthah retorts, Why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me? 15) God gave him the victory so their jealousy and anger was completely unjust. 16) In addition they had just threatened God s appointed authority in the region. 17) Basically Ephraim was like a big bully spoiling for a fight. 18) They would get their fight but it wouldn t turn out as they hoped. 1

2 Judges 12:4-7 Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought Ephraim; and the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, "You are fugitives of Ephraim, O Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and in the midst of Manasseh." 5 And 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. Thus there fell at that time 42,000 of Ephraim. 7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. Analysis of vv. 4-7: 1) Apparently Ephraim s ego was not assuaged by Jephthah s explanation. 2) Jephthah collected his army and fought against Ephraim. 3) Unlike Gideon when facing the haughty and domineering Ephraimites, Jephthah countered with physical force not diplomacy (cf. Judges 8:1-3). 4) He energetically opposed the threat and defeated Ephraim. 5) He had just defeated the Ammonites and now he had to fight a civil war. 6) V. 4 also indicates that a verbal insult was instrumental in sparking the conflict. 7) The Ephraimites contemptuously insulted Jephthah and his fellow Gileadites with the words, You are fugitives of Ephraim, O Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and in the midst of Manasseh. 8) Although the meaning of the insult is obscure, the Ephraimites appear to be insulting the Gileadites by describing them as fugitives who were squatting in the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh. 9) The insult was baseless as the Gileadites, those from Manasseh, Gad, and Reuben, rightfully possessed their land. 10) Clearly Ephraim looked down on their tribesmen east of the Jordan. 11) The label fugitives of Ephraim suggests that they were considered social outcasts at least by Ephraim. 12) Perhaps there was a rift because Gilead refused to give aid to Ephraim and the other tribes in the struggle against the Canaanites during Deborah s judgeship (Judges 5:14-17). 13) Over the course of the battle, the Gileadites outmaneuvered their antagonists to capture the fords of the Jordan River and cut off the routes of retreat. 14) Despite labeling the Gileadites as fugitives, now the men of Ephraim are the real fugitives in v ) Those from Ephraim who survived the battle tried to return home by escaping westward across the Jordan to their territory. 2

3 16) The faced a huge problem as the key fords used to cross the river had been captured. 17) Surviving the battle was one thing but surviving the river crossing was different proposition. 18) Those who tried to cross were subjected to a simple yet effective interrogation by the Gileadites who sought to identify any fugitives from Ephraim. 19) They were asked, Are you an Ephraimite? 20) If the reply was No. The Gileadites would then order, Say now, Shibboleth. 21) This was a clever stratagem because an Ephramite wasn t able to pronounce Shibboleth correctly. 22) They pronounced the sh in Shibboleth as s thus pronouncing the word, Sibboleth. 23) Once detected the phonetically challenged fugitive was seized and killed on the spot. 24) Our term slew (jx;v', shachat) may also be translated as slaughtered. 25) The term is used frequently in relation to ritual sacrifice, but in this case to the slaughter of humans (animals: Lev. 1:5, Num. 19:3 cf. humans: 1 Kings 18:40, Isa. 57:5). 26) The word portrays a particularly bloody affair where 42,000 Ephraimites were killed at the fords of the Jordan! 27) In v. 7 Jephthah s judgeship comes to a close. 28) The author notes that Jephthah judged (jp;v', shaphat) Israel for six years and died. 29) After his death he was buried in an unnamed city in Gilead (e.g. Mizpah). 3

4 Judges 12:8-15 Now Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel after him. 9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage outside the family, and he brought in thirty daughters from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. 10 Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem. 11 Now Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel after him; and he judged Israel ten years. 12 Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. 13 Now Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel after him. 14 And he had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys; and he judged Israel eight years. 15 Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. Analysis of vv. 8-15: 1) Vv record the judgeships of three so-called minor judges. 2) As Tola and Jair before them, very few personal details are revealed and no particular deeds are mentioned (Judges 10:1-5). 3) The scarcity of information has led many interpreters to classify them as minor judges. 4) However it is unwarranted to assume that because of this classification they played an insignificant role as Judges of Israel. 5) It must be remembered that the primary role of the Judges was to deliver Israel from various oppressors (cf. Judges 21:16, 18, 3:9, 15, etc.). 6) Following Jephthah s death, Ibzan judged Israel. 7) The author refers to him as Ibzan of Bethlehem. 8) Evidently Bethlehem was his base of operations but which Bethlehem? 9) There were two cites recorded with this name, one in the territory of Judah and the other to the north in Zebulun (Josh. 19:15). 10) In the book of Judges when the southern city is in view the author refers to it as Bethlehem in Judah (Judges 17:7-9, 19:1-2, 18). 11) Therefore Bethlehem in our passage likely the city in Zebulun. 12) He had sixty children, thirty sons and thirty daughters, who we may presume based on the sheer numbers, were born to him through multiple wives and/or concubines. 13) His large family also reveals that he was a man of substantial means. 14) Regarding his children, Ibzan gave his thirty daughters in marriage outside the family and brought in thirty daughters (i.e. brides) from outside for his sons. 15) The Hebrew literally reads, He sent thirty daughters to the outside and brought in thirty daughters for his sons from the outside. 16) From the context it is difficult to determine the meaning of the outside (#Wx+h, hachutz). 17) Other passages suggest that it would refer to outside the immediate family or clan among the Jews (cf. Deut 25:5). 4

5 18) However given the corruption of the nation, the outside may also refer to their pagan neighbors (e.g. the Canaanites, Judges 3:5-6). 19) After judging Israel for seven years, Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem. 20) He was followed by the judge, Elon the Zebulunite. 21) The author gives few details, noting that Elon was of the tribe of Zebulun and judged Israel for ten years. Also, following his death, he was buried in Aijalon in the territory of Zebulun. 22) The next judge on the scene was Abdon an Ephraimite, who was based in the city of Pirathon, southwest of Shechem. 23) He is called the son of Hillel the Pirathonite of whom nothing is known. 24) Abdon like various judges before him had a rather large family consisting of forty sons and thirty grandsons. 25) His sons and grandsons all rode on donkeys which indicated that he was prosperous (cf. Judges 5:10, 10:4). 26) Following his eight year judgeship, Abdon died and was buried in Pirathon in Ephraim. 27) The land of Ephraim is otherwise known as the hill country of the Amalekites, the former inhabitants of the area (cf. Judges 5:14). End: Chapter 12. 5