Judgeschapter 12
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A.Shibboleth at the fords of Jordanvv. 1-7
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!” 2 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. 3 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?” 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.” 5 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,” 6 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. 7 Jephthah judged Israel six years, and when he died, he was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
B.Ibzan, Elon, and Abdonvv. 8-15
8 After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. 9 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. 10 Then Ibzan died, and he was buried in Bethlehem. 11 After Ibzan, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel ten years. 12 Then Elon the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. 13 After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. 14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years. 15 Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Chapter summary
Ephraim arrives after the battle again, this time with threats to burn Jephthah's house over him.
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Chapter summary
Ephraim arrives after the battle again, this time with threats to burn Jephthah's house over him.
Read the rest, the context and the outline ▾Show less ▴
Ephraim arrives after the battle again, this time with threats to burn Jephthah's house over him. He answers that he called and they did not save, and Gilead fights Ephraim. The fords of Jordan become a checkpoint with a password no Ephraimite dialect could manage: say now Shibboleth, and he said Sibboleth, for he could not frame to pronounce it right, forty and two thousand fall. Three minor judges close the chapter, remembered mostly by their households: Ibzan of Bethlehem with thirty sons and thirty daughters married abroad, Elon the Zebulunite, and Abdon with forty sons and thirty grandsons riding on seventy ass colts.
Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.
Context
History · Samuel — Judges overview
- A. 1–7 Shibboleth at the fords of Jordan
- B. 8–15 Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon
Top cross-references8 chapters ▾
Judges 32 verses
- Judges 3:27On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader.
- Judges 3:28“Follow me,” he told them, “for the LORD has delivered your enemies the Moabites into your hand.” So they followed him down and seized the fords of the Jordan leading to Moab, and did not allow anyone to cross over.
- Read Judges 3 →
Judges 52 verses
- Judges 5:10You who ride white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and you who travel the road, ponder
- Judges 5:14Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun.
- Read Judges 5 →
Judges 101 verse
- Judges 10:4He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys. And they had thirty towns in the land of Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth-jair.
- Read Judges 10 →
Judges 81 verse
- Judges 8:1Then the men of Ephraim said to Gideon, “Why have you done this to us? Why did you fail to call us when you went to fight against Midian?” And they contended with him violently.
- Read Judges 8 →
4 more chapters this one speaks with
James 31 verse
- James 3:16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.
- Read James 3 →
John 101 verse
- John 10:32But Jesus responded, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone Me?”
- Read John 10 →
Judges 111 verse
- Judges 11:12Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites, saying, “What do you have against me that you have come to fight against my land?”
- Read Judges 11 →
Job 131 verse
- Job 13:14Why do I put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands?
- Read Job 13 →
Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.