[:en]Again Ephraim blamed Jephthah for not inviting them to fight against the Ammonites. They said: “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head” (v. 1). Jephthah was not as patient and tactful as Gideon. He called his men to fight against Ephraim and killed 42,000 of them (v. 6).
“Shibboleth” means “a test for determining if you belong”. The Gileadites used this test to determine whom to kill. Anyone who wanted to cross over the Jordan had to say “Shibboleth”. If he could not pronounce the word correctly, they seized and killed him.
*Some Christians also make minor matters to test spirituality and fellowship which results in the division of the church*[:]