SCRIPTURE: JUDGES 12
JEPHTHAH AND EPHRAIM (vs. 1-7)
The men of Ephraim blamed Jephthah for not engaging them to fight against the Ammonites. But Jephthah said the had called them but they would not help. So, he took his life in his hand and crossed over to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gave him the victory. Then, Jephthah called the men of Gilead to fight against Ephraim. When they captured a survivor of Ephraim who wanted to cross over the Jordan, they told him to say “SHIBBOLETH”. If their pronunciation was incorrect, they would seize and kill him. As a result, 40 thousand Ephraimites were killed. Jephthah led Israel 6 years. He died and was buried in Gilead.
IBZAN, ELON AND ABDON (vs. 8-15)
- IBZAN – He had 30 sons and 30 daughters who married their wives and husbands from outside his clan. He led 7 years and was buried in Bethlehem.
- ELON – He led Israel for 10 years and was buried in the land of Zebulun.
- ABDON – he had 40 sons and 30 grandsons. He ruled Israel for 8 years and was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim in the hill country of the Amalekites.
THOUGHTS:
Israel had won a great battle but instead of joy, there was bitterness and quarreling. The tribe of Ephraim was angry and jealous because they were not involved. But Jephthah said he had invited them. The men of Ephraim enraged Jephthah who called out his troops to kill 42 thousand Ephraimites. Insults and jealousy are not a right response when we fell left out. But seeking revenge for an insult is wrong and very costly.
The word “Shibboleth” means “a test for determining if you belong”. If you do not conform exactly to what a group demands, you will be rejected. Some Christians who follow this practice cause church divisions.