12:4-7The men of the tribe of Ephraim caused Jephthah trouble just as they had Gideon (8:1-3). Jephthah captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan, the boundary of Ephraim, and was able to defeat his countrymen as they crossed the river. He used a pronunciation test. Shibboleth is the word for “stream.” The Ephraimites pronounced “sh” as “s,” so Jephthah’s army could easily identify them.
Life Application Study BibleJudgesChapter 12
Judges 12
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 380, 381
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12Judges 12
Ephraim Fights with Jephthah
112 Then the people of Ephraim mobilized an army and crossed over the Jordan River to Zaphon. They sent this message to Jephthah: “Why didn't you call for us to help you fight against the Ammonites? We are going to burn down your house with you in it!” 2Jephthah replied, “I summoned you at the beginning of the dispute, but you refused to come! You failed to help us in our struggle against Ammon. 3So when I realized you weren't coming, I risked my life and went to battle without you, and the LORD gave me victory over the Ammonites. So why have you now come to fight me?” 4The people of Ephraim responded, “You men of Gilead are nothing more than fugitives from Ephraim and Manasseh.” So Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and attacked the men of Ephraim and defeated them. 5Jephthah captured the shallow crossings of the Jordan River, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim tried to go back across, the men of Gilead would challenge him. “Are you a member of the tribe of Ephraim?” they would ask. If the man said, “No, I'm not,” Sthey would tell him to say 6Shibboleth. 9If he was from Ephraim, he would say 11Sibboleth,” because people from Ephraim cannot pronounce the word correctly. Then they would take him and kill him at the shallow crossings of the Jordan. In all, 42,000 Ephraimites were killed at that time. lbzan Becomes Israel’s Judge 8After Jephthah died, Ibzan from Bethlehem judged Israel. 9He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He sent his daughters to marry men outside his clan, and he brought in thirty young women from outside his clan to marry his sons. Ibzan judged Israel for seven years. 10When he died, he was buried at Bethlehem.
Elon Becomes Israel’s Judge
"After Ibzan died, Elon from the tribe of Zebulun judged Israel for ten years. 12When he died, he was buried at Aijaton in Zebulun.
Abdon Becomes Israel’s Judge
1313After Elon died, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. 14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He judged Israel for eight years. 8When he died, he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites. 6. Sixth period: Samson
Life Application Notes 2 notes
12:8-15There is little else known about these three judges or their importance. The large number of children and donkeys are an indication of the wealth of these men.