Judges 12

1 The men of Efrayim were gathered together, and crossed Tzafon; and they said to Yiftach, 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 on you with fire.

2 Yiftach 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.

3 When I saw that you didn't save me, I put my life in my hand, and passed over against the children of `Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: why then are you come up to me this day, to fight against me?

4 Then Yiftach gathered together all the men of Gil`ad, and fought with Efrayim; and the men of Gil`ad struck Efrayim, because they said, You are fugitives of Efrayim, you Gil`adi, in the midst of Efrayim, [and] in the midst of Menashsheh.

5 The Gil`adi took the fords of the Yarden against the Efrayim. It was so, that when [any of] the fugitives of Efrayim said, Let me go over, the men of Gil`ad said to him, Are you an Efratite? If he said, No;

6 then said they to him, Say now Shibbolet; and he said Sibboleth; for he couldn't manage to pronounce it right: then they laid hold on him, and killed him at the fords of the Yarden. There fell at that time of Efrayim forty-two thousand.

7 Yiftach judged Yisra'el six years. Then died Yiftach the Gil`adite, and was buried in [one of] the cities of Gil`ad.

8 After him 'Ivtzan of Beit-Lechem judged Yisra'el.

9 He had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. He judged Yisra'el seven years.

10 'Ivtzan died, and was buried at Beit-Lechem.

11 After him Elon the Zevulonite judged Yisra'el; and he judged Yisra'el ten years.

12 Elon the Zevulonite died, and was buried in Ayalon in the land of Zevulun.

13 After him `Avdon the son of Hillel the Pir`atonite judged Yisra'el.

14 He had forty sons and thirty sons' sons, who rode on seventy donkey colts: and he judged Yisra'el eight years.

15 `Avdon the son of Hillel the Pir`atonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Efrayim, in the hill-country of the `Amaleki.

Judges 12 Commentary

Chapter 12

Ephraimites quarrel with Jephthah. (1-7) Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon judge Israel. (8-15)

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!

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.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 12

This chapter relates a quarrel between Jephthah and the Ephraimites, which was fatal to the latter, Jud 12:1-6, the time of Jephthah judging Israel, his death and burial, Jud 12:7 and it briefly makes mention of three more judges of Israel, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, Jud 11:8-15.