Judges 12

Jephthah's Conflict with Ephraim

1 Then a the men of Ephraim 1 gathered together, crossed over toward Zaphon, and said to Jephthah, "Why did you cross over to fight against the people of Ammon, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you with fire!" 2 And Jephthah said to them, "My people and I were in a great struggle with the people of Ammon; and when I called you, you did not deliver me out of their hands. 3 "So when I saw that you would not deliver me, I b took my life in my hands and crossed over against the people of Ammon; and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?" 4 Now Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, "You Gileadites c are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites and among the Manassites." 5 The Gileadites seized the d fords of the Jordan before the Ephraimites arrived. And when any Ephraimite who escaped said, "Let me cross over," the men of Gilead would say to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No," 6 then they would say to him, "Then say, e 'Shibboleth'!" 2 And he would say, "Sibboleth," for he could not 3 pronounce it right. Then they would take him and kill him at the fords of the Jordan. There fell at that time forty-two thousand Ephraimites.

7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in among the cities of Gilead.

Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon

8 After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. 9 He had thirty sons. And he gave away thirty daughters in marriage, and brought in thirty daughters from elsewhere for his sons. He judged Israel seven years. 10 Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.

11 After him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel. He judged Israel ten years. 12 And Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.

13 After him, Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. 14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who f rode on seventy young donkeys. He judged Israel eight years. 15 Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, g in the mountains of the Amalekites.

  1. Cross References
    Judges 8:1
    Now the men of Ephraim said to him, "Why have you done this to us by not calling us when you went to fight with the Midianites?" And they reprimanded him sharply.
  2. Cross References
    1 Samuel 19:5
    "For he took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?"
    1 Samuel 28:21
    And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was severely troubled, and said to him, "Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my hands and heeded the words which you spoke to me.
    Job 13:14
    Why do I take my flesh in my teeth, And put my life in my hands?
  3. Cross References
    1 Samuel 25:10
    Then Nabal answered David's servants, and said, "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants nowadays who break away each one from his master.
  4. Cross References
    Joshua 22:11
    Now the children of Israel heard someone say, "Behold, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan - on the children of Israel's side.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 69:2
    I sink in deep mire, Where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me.
    Psalms 69:15
    Let not the floodwater overflow me, Nor let the deep swallow me up; And let not the pit shut its mouth on me.
  6. Cross References
    Judges 5:10
    Speak, you who ride on white donkeys, Who sit in judges' attire, And who walk along the road.
    Judges 10:4
    Now he had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys; they also had thirty towns, which are called "Havoth Jair" to this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
  7. Cross References
    Judges 3:13
    Then he gathered to himself the people of Ammon and Amalek, went and defeated Israel, and took possession of the City of Palms.
    Judges 3:27
    And it happened, when he arrived, that he blew the trumpet in the mountains of Ephraim, and the children of Israel went down with him from the mountains; and he led them.
    Judges 5:14
    From Ephraim were those whose roots were in Amalek. After you, Benjamin, with your peoples, From Machir rulers came down, And from Zebulun those who bear the recruiter's staff.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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