Judges 12

1 ecce autem in Ephraim orta seditio est nam transeuntes contra aquilonem dixerunt ad Iepthae quare vadens ad pugnam contra filios Ammon vocare nos noluisti ut pergeremus tecum igitur incendimus domum tuam

2 quibus ille respondit disceptatio erat mihi et populo meo contra filios Ammon vehemens vocavique vos ut mihi praeberetis auxilium et facere noluistis

3 quod cernens posui in manibus meis animam meam transivique ad filios Ammon et tradidit eos Dominus in manus meas quid commerui ut adversum me consurgatis in proelium

4 vocatis itaque ad se cunctis viris Galaad pugnabat contra Ephraim percusseruntque viri Galaad Ephraim quia dixerat fugitivus est Galaad de Ephraim et habitat in medio Ephraim et Manasse

5 occupaveruntque Galaaditae vada Iordanis per quae Ephraim reversurus erat cumque venisset ad ea de Ephraim numero fugiens atque dixisset obsecro ut me transire permittas dicebant ei Galaaditae numquid Ephrateus es quo dicente non sum

6 interrogabant eum dic ergo sebboleth quod interpretatur spica qui respondebat tebboleth eadem littera spicam exprimere non valens statimque adprehensum iugulabant in ipso Iordanis transitu et ceciderunt in illo tempore de Ephraim quadraginta duo milia

7 iudicavitque Iepthae Galaadites Israhel sex annis et mortuus est ac sepultus in civitate sua Galaad

8 post hunc iudicavit Israhel Abessan de Bethleem

9 qui habuit triginta filios et totidem filias quas emittens foras maritis dedit et eiusdem numeri filiis suis accepit uxores introducens in domum suam qui septem annis iudicavit Israhel

10 mortuusque est ac sepultus in Bethleem

11 cui successit Ahialon Zabulonites et iudicavit Israhelem decem annis

12 mortuusque est ac sepultus in Zabulon

13 post hunc iudicavit in Israhel Abdon filius Hellel Farathonites

14 qui habuit quadraginta filios et triginta ex eis nepotes ascendentes super septuaginta pullos asinarum et iudicavit in Israhel octo annis

15 mortuusque est ac sepultus in Farathon terrae Ephraim in monte Amalech

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.