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Judges 12
1The men of Ephraim were gathered together, and passed northward; and they said to Jephthah, "Why did you pass over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didn't call us to go with you? We will burn your house around you with fire!"
2Jephthah said to them, "I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, you didn't save me out of their hand.
3When I saw that you didn't save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and Yahweh delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?"
4Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, "You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim, [and] in the midst of Manasseh."
5The Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. It was so, that when [any of] the fugitives of Ephraim said, Let me go over, the men of Gilead said to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No;"
6then they said to him, "Now say 'Shibboleth;'" and he said "Sibboleth;" for he couldn't manage to pronounce it right: then they laid hold of him, and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time, forty-two thousand of Ephraim fell.
7Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in [one of] the cities of Gilead.
8After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
9He had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. He judged Israel seven years.
10Ibzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem.
11After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.
12Elon the Zebulunite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
13After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.
14He had forty sons and thirty sons' sons, who rode on seventy donkey colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
15Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
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Abdon: A Judge of Israel, in the Time of the Judges Judges 12:13–15
After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. / He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years. / Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Ajalon: A City of Zebulun Judges 12:12
Then Elon the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
Ammonites: Defeated by the Israelites Judges 12:1–3
Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!” / But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands. / When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”
Anger: Grievous Words Stir Up Judges 12:4
Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.”
Bethlehem: A Town of Zebulun, Six Miles West of Nazareth: Israel Judged At Judges 12:10
Then Ibzan died, and he was buried in Bethlehem.
Citizens: Wicked: Ephraimites Judges 12:1–4
Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!” / But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands. / When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”
Elon: A Hebrew Judge Judges 12:11, 12
After Ibzan, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel ten years. / Then Elon the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
Ephraim: A Tribe of Israel: Defeated by Him Judges 12:4–6
Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.” / The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,” / they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed.
Ephraim: A Tribe of Israel: Their Jealousy of Jephthah Judges 12:1
Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”
Extraordinary Judges: Names of Abdon Judges 12:13
After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel.
Extraordinary Judges: Names of Elon Judges 12:11
After Ibzan, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel ten years.
Extraordinary Judges: Names of Ibzan Judges 12:8
After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
Hillel: Father of Abdon Judges 12:13, 15
After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. / Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Ibzan: A Bethlehemite, and a Judge (Hero) of Israel Judges 12:8–10
After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. / He had thirty sons, as well as thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage to men outside his clan; and for his sons he brought back thirty wives from elsewhere. Ibzan judged Israel seven years. / Then Ibzan died, and he was buried in Bethlehem.
Israel: Under the Judges: Led by Abdon for Eight Years Judges 12:13–15
After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. / He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years. / Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Israel: Under the Judges: Led by Elon for Ten Years Judges 12:11, 12
After Ibzan, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel ten years. / Then Elon the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
Israel: Under the Judges: Led by Ibzan for Seven Years Judges 12:8–10
After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. / He had thirty sons, as well as thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage to men outside his clan; and for his sons he brought back thirty wives from elsewhere. Ibzan judged Israel seven years. / Then Ibzan died, and he was buried in Bethlehem.
Israel: Under the Judges: The Ephraimites Go to War Against Other Tribes Judges 12:1–7
Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!” / But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands. / When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”
Jealousy of Jephthah Judges 12:1
Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”
Jephthah: Falsely Accused by the Ephraimites Judges 12:1
Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”
Jephthah: Leads Israel for Six Years, Dies, and is Buried in Gilead Judges 12:7
Jephthah judged Israel six years, and when he died, he was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
Jephthah: Leads the Army of the Gileadites Against the Ephraimites Judges 12:4
Jephthah then gathered all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim, living in the territories of Ephraim and Manasseh.”
Jordan: Fords of Judges 12:5, 6
The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim would say, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would ask him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,” / they told him, “Please say Shibboleth.” If he said, “Sibboleth,” because he could not pronounce it correctly, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. So at that time 42,000 Ephraimites were killed.
Judge: Abdon Judges 12:13, 14
After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. / He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years.
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Judges 12:1-7 Verses 1-7
The Ephraimites had the same quarrel with Jephthah as with Gideon. Pride was at the bottom of the quarrel; only by that comes contention. It is ill to fasten names of reproach upon persons or countries, as is common, especially upon those under outward disadvantages. It often occasions quarrels that prove of ill consequence, as it did here. No contentions are so bitter as those between brethren or rivals for honour. What need we have to watch and pray against evil tempers! May the Lord incline all his people to follow after things which make for peace!
Judges 12:8-15 Verses 8-15
We have here a short account of three more of the judges of Israel. The happiest life of individuals, and the happiest state of society, is that which affords the fewest remarkable events. To live in credit and quiet, to be peacefully useful to those around us, to possess a clear conscience; but, above all, and without which nothing can avail, to enjoy communion with God our Saviour while we live, and to die at peace with God and man, form the substance of all that a wise man can desire.