Judges 12:5-15

5 And the Galaadites secured the fords of the Jordan, by which Ephraim was to return. And when any one of the number of Ephraim came thither in the flight, and said: I beseech you let me pass: the Galaadites said to him: Art thou not an Ephraimite? If he said: I am not:
6 They asked him: Say then, Scibboleth, which is interpreted, An ear of corn. But he answered, Sibboleth, not being able to express an ear of corn by the same letter. Then presently they took him and killed him in the very passage of the Jordan. And there fell at that time of Ephraim, two and forty thousand.
7 And Jephte, the Galaadite, judged Israel six years: and he died, and was buried in his city of Galaad.
8 After him Abesan of Bethlehem judged Israel:
9 He had thirty sons, and as many daughters, whom he sent abroad, and gave to husbands, and took wives for his sons, of the same number, bringing them into his house. And he judged Israel seven years:
10 And he died, and was buried in Bethlehem.
11 To him succeeded Ahialon, a Zabulonite: and he judged Israel ten years:
12 And he died, and was buried in Zabulon.
13 After him, Abdon, the son of Illel, a Pharathonite, judged Israel:
14 And he had forty sons, and of them thirty grandsons, mounted upon seventy ass colts, and he judged Israel eight years:
15 And he died, and was buried in Pharathon, in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of Amalech.

Judges 12:5-15 Meaning and Commentary

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.

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