Chapter 12
Ephraim Insulted by Jephthah’s Actions
12:1 The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.”
The men of Ephraim crossed the Jordan River into the tribe of Gad’s territory (most often referred to in the book of Judges as Gilead) prepared for war. They meet Jephthah in Zaphon (location unknown, believed to be north of Succoth) and query him why he didn’t call them to assist in the battle. The tribe of Ephraim apparently saw themselves as Israel’s first line of defense, perhaps even thinking they were Israel’s saviors. But instead of saving, they had become chronic complainers. When Joshua divided and allocated tribal territories they didn’t like what they were given (see Joshua 17:14-16). Then later they were offended by Gideon for not calling them into his campaign earlier than he did (see Judges 8:1), and now because Jephthah didn’t ask for their help, they threaten to burn him in his home.
12:2 And Jephthah said to them, “I and my people had a great dispute with the Ammonites, and when I called you, you did not save me from their hand. 3 And when I saw that you would not save me, I took my life in my hand and crossed over against the Ammonites, and the LORD gave them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?”
Jephthah noted the urgency of the situation, that the Ammonites had created a major dispute that required immediate action. He states that he did in fact ask them for help, although that request is not recorded in the text. And seeing that no help was coming, he took his life in his hand and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and YHWH gave him the victory. He then asks, “So why have they come now to fight him?”
12:4 Then Jephthah gathered 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 Manasseh.”
The Ephraimites taunt Jephthah and the Gileadites by saying that they were nothing more than cowards running away from Ephraim, an insult so vile that it invoked war. The two most fierce tribal groups of Israel were perhaps the two most prideful, an insult of this nature apparently required a response.
12:5 And the Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. And when any of the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” When he said, “No,” 6 they said to him, “Then say Shibboleth,” and he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell.
While the battle was in progress on the east side of the Jordan River, some of the Gileadites captured the fords (locations where one could cross over the river) and would not allow any Ephraimite to return home (on the west side). They devised a test which involved the proper pronunciation of the word “Shibboleth” (Hebrew šib·bō’·lěṯ, has several meanings including heads of grain, a torrential flow of water, or a bunch of branches, the root primarily refers to water) apparently the people from the tribe of Ephraim had difficulty in pronouncing the “sh” sound and would say instead “Sibboleth.” In that conflict 42,000 Ephraim warriors died.
12:7 Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in his city in Gilead.
Jephthah judged for six years before he died and was buried in the cities of Gilead (the Hebrew word that is translated here as ‘city’ is plural). There are some unusual ancient Jewish interpretations regarding Jephthah’s death trying to explain how someone could be buried in multiple cities.
Ibzan
12:8 After him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. 9 He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. 10 Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.
After Jephthah a man named Ibzan from Bethlehem became judge. We are told that he had thirty sons and thirty daughters who intermarried with other clans and tribes, perhaps for political reasons. He judged for seven years and was buried in Bethlehem. Some believe that Ibzan is the same as Boaz from the book of Ruth, although there is no support for that claim.
Elon
12:11 After him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel, and he judged Israel ten years. 12 Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
Very little is offered about Elon except he was from the tribe of Zebulun and that he judged Israel for ten years and was buried in Aijalon.
Abdon
12:13 After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. 14 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.
The next judge was Abdon who was the son of Hillel from Pirathon in the land of Ephraim. He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who, like Jair’s sons rode donkeys (see Judges 10:3-5). He judged for eight years and was buried in Pirathon.