Judges 12:1-15

Life Without Law

Judges

Philip Smith

Chapter 12

v1 The men from Ephraim’s *tribe called out their army. And they went over the river to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, ‘You went to fight against the army from Ammon. But you did not call us to go with you. So, we intend to burn down your house while you are inside it.’ v2 Jephthah replied, ‘My people and I had a great struggle with the army from Ammon. I asked you to help, but you did not come. v3 I saw that you did not intend to help. I risked my life and I fought against them. God gave me success. But you have come today to fight against me.’

v4 He called the men from Gilead. And he fought against the men from Ephraim’s *tribe. The men from Gilead defeated them. The men from Ephraim’s *tribe had said that the people in Gilead were people that had run away. They had said that Gilead’s people had run away earlier from the areas where Ephraim’s *tribe and Manasseh’s *tribe lived. v5 The men from Gilead *captured the places where the men from Ephraim’s *tribe could cross the Jordan river. These men wanted to cross over to the area where their *tribe lived. Often someone from Ephraim’s *tribe asked the men from Gilead to let him cross over. The men from Gilead asked, ‘Are you from Ephraim’s *tribe?’ If he said ‘No’, v6 then they said, ‘Say “Shibboleth”.’ He could not pronounce the word correctly, so he said ‘Sibboleth’. Then they seized him and they killed him. They did this at the places where people crossed the Jordan river. They killed 42 000 people from Ephraim’s *tribe at that time. v7 Jephthah led *Israel’s people for 6 years. Then Jephthah from Gilead died. They buried him in a town in Gilead.

Here in chapter 12, the men from Ephraim’s *tribe complained. They complained because Jephthah had not asked them to fight. They were the most important *tribe in the area. But Jephthah had not asked them to help. So they thought that he had insulted them. Earlier, in Judges 8:1, they had also complained similarly to Gideon. Gideon had tried to make them less angry then. But now, Jephthah’s attitude was firm. The people in Gilead had probably asked for help before. Jephthah thought that he should not invite Ephraim’s *tribe to a battle about Gilead. In any case, God had won the *victory. Ephraim’s *tribe actually wanted to control the whole area. The argument got worse. The people from Ephraim’s *tribe said that the people in Gilead had left them. Jephthah defeated the men from Ephraim’s *tribe. He stopped their escape at the places where they would cross the river. He tested them to hear whether they pronounced a certain word ‘Shibboleth’ or ‘Sibboleth’. This showed whether the person was from Gilead or Ephraim’s *tribe. The word means a ‘stream that is in flood’.

Jephthah ruled for 6 years. He had killed very many people from Ephraim’s *tribe. As a result, that *tribe was now much smaller. It was never the biggest *tribe again. The *Hebrew word ‘thousand’ can also mean a family group rather than an actual number. So maybe Jephthah and his men killed 42 families rather than 42 000 people. Nobody is quite sure about this. *Israel’s people were becoming foolish. And as a result, the 12 *tribes were not helping each other so much any more. Jephthah did what he had said. He was like the man in Psalms 15:4. He ‘did what he had promised, even when it hurt’. Jephthah still needed to learn a lot about God. But he was loyal to what he knew.

v8 After him, Ibzan from Bethlehem led *Israel’s people. v9 He had 30 sons and 30 daughters. He married his daughters to people who did not belong to his family. His sons married 30 young women who did not belong to his family. Ibzan led *Israel’s people for 7 years. v10 Then Ibzan died and they buried him in Bethlehem.

Ibzan had 60 children. This fact showed his wealth. And it showed the rank that he had in the nation. This town called Bethlehem was probably in the area where Zebulun’s *tribe lived. It was probably not the one in the area where Judah’s *tribe was.

v11 After him, there was Elon from Zebulun’s *tribe. He led *Israel’s people for 10 years. v12 Then Elon died. They buried him in Aijalon. This was in the area where Zebulun’s *tribe lived.

Elon was also from Zebulun’s *tribe. The writer tells us how long he ruled. He also tells us where they buried him.

v13 After Elon ruled, Hillel’s son, Abdon from Pirathon led *Israel’s people. v14 He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons. They rode on 70 *mules. He led *Israel’s people for 8 years. v15 Then Hillel’s son Abdon died. They buried him at Pirathon. This was in the area where Ephraim’s *tribe lived. It was in the hills where Amalek’s people were.

Abdon had 40 sons and 30 grandsons. Each one had a *mule. Amalek’s people usually lived in the *Negev, where the country was flat. Here it seems that they had gained some land in the hilly country.

tribe ~ a large group of people that are all relatives of each other.
capture ~ take someone as a prisoner; take control of a place in war; or take an object in war.
Israel ~ the nation that consisted of Jacob’s descendants; the country where they lived; another name for Jacob.

descendants ~ members of your family that are born and live after you.
victory ~ success in war.
Hebrew ~ the Hebrew people were Abraham’s descendants; and they spoke a language called Hebrew.

descendants ~ members of your family that are born and live after you.
mule ~ a horse with short legs that carries loads.
Negev ~ the dry southern area in Israel. (The name means ‘dry country’ in the Hebrew language.) The area contained wells. And it had routes that people used for trade.

Hebrew ~ the Hebrew people were Abraham’s descendants; and they spoke a language called Hebrew.
descendants ~ members of your family that are born and live after you.