Judges Chapter 12
Once again, we find that people from the tribe of Ephraim are upset because they did not get the credit or glory for the victory that Jephthah and his men had over the Ammonites. We saw this same kind of attitude back in chapter 8 when they were not called to fight alongside Gideon.
In this instance we learn that Jephthah did call them to assist but they did not respond. These people were so full of themselves in their search for notoriety, that they threatened God’s man. Jephthah did not appreciate being threatened like that, and what ensued was a civil war. This war was between the men from the tribe of Ephraim and the men from the town of Gilead (a town on the eastern side of the Jordan). Surely this is not what God wanted between the brothers of Israel, but the degradation of the people is clearly seen. Sin has that kind of effect on people; it produces hatred and envy even amongst fellow citizens and brothers.
Let's Reflect
1. What did Jephthah say that he did when he realized that the people of the tribe of Ephraim were not going to come to his aide when he called?
2. To whom did Jephthah attribute the victory?
3. What threat had the people of Ephraim made against Jephthah in their wild rage?
4. A ford in a river is a part of the river where the water is shallow enough to cross. Jephthah and his men had men stationed at those fords and when an Ephraimite tried to escape and cross over to the east side, they lied when asked if they were an Ephraimite. What lie did they tell? They weren’t quite the warriors that they pretended to be.
5. Another test was given if it was suspected that the escapee was actually from Ephraim. They were given a word to say which with the dialect the Ephraimites had, they could not pronounce it properly. What was the word? The word meant “flowing stream.”
6. How many Ephraimites died in this senseless civil war?
7. Jephthah judged Israel for six years after that from the town of Gilead and then the Bible talks about other judges whom God raised up. How many were judges in Israel after Jephthah (at least in this chapter)?
