CHAPTER XII _The Ephraimites are incensed against Jephthah, because he did_ _not call them to war against the Ammonites; and threaten his_ _destruction_, 1. _He vindicates himself_, 2, 3; _and arms the Gileadites against the men of Ephraim; they fight_ _against them, and kill_ forty-two thousa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 12:3. _I PUT MY LIFE IN MY HANDS_] I exposed myself to the greatest difficulties and dangers. But whence did this form of speech arise? Probably from a man's laying hold of his sword, spear, or bow. "This is the defender of my life; on this, and my proper use of it, my life depends." W... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 12:4. _AND FOUGHT WITH EPHRAIM_] Some commentators suppose that there were _two_ battles in which the Ephraimites were defeated: the first mentioned in the above clause; and the second occasioned by the taunting language mentioned in the conclusion of the verse, _Ye_ _Gileadites are fug... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 12:6. _SAY NOW SHIBBOLETH; AND HE SAID SIBBOLETH_] The original differs only in the first letter ס _samech_, instead of ש _sheen; _אמר נא שבלת ויאמר סבלת emar na Shibboleth, vaiyomer Sibboleth. The difference between ש _seen_, without a point, which when pointed is pronounced _sheen_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Judges 12:8. _AND AFTER HIM IBZAN_] It appears that during the administration of _Jephthah_, six years - _Ibzan_, seven years - _Elon_, ten years - and _Abdon_, eight years, (in the whole thirty-one years,) the Israelites had peace in all their borders; and we shall find by the following chapt... [ Continue Reading ]