Judges 12Living Bible (TLB)
12 Then the tribe of Ephraim mobilized its army at Zaphon and sent this message to Jephthah: “Why didn’t you call for us to help you fight against Ammon? We are going to burn down your house, with you in it!”
2 “I summoned you, but you refused to come!” Jephthah retorted. “You failed to help us in our time of need, 3 so I risked my life and went to battle without you, and the Lord helped me to conquer the enemy. Is that anything for you to fight us about?”
4 Then Jephthah, furious at the taunt of Ephraim that the men of Gilead were mere outcasts[a] and the scum of the earth, mobilized his army and attacked the army of Ephraim. 5 He captured the fords of the Jordan behind the army of Ephraim, and whenever a fugitive from Ephraim tried to cross the river, the Gilead guards challenged him.
“Are you a member of the tribe of Ephraim?” they asked. If the man replied that he was not, 6 then they demanded, “Say ‘Shibboleth.’” But if he couldn’t pronounce the H and said, “Sibboleth” instead of “Shibboleth,” he was dragged away and killed. So forty-two thousand people of Ephraim died there at that time.
7 Jephthah was Israel’s judge for six years. At his death he was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.
8 The next judge was Ibzan, who lived in Bethlehem. 9-10 He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He married his daughters to men outside his clan and brought in thirty girls to marry his sons. He judged Israel for seven years before he died, and was buried at Bethlehem.
11-12 The next judge was Elon from Zebulun. He judged Israel for ten years and was buried at Aijalon in Zebulun.
13 Next was Abdon (son of Hillel) from Pirathon. 14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. He was Israel’s judge for eight years. 15 Then he died and was buried in Pirathon, in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
As we are approaching our Sight & Sound trip, to watch Musical Samson, I thought it might be a good idea to walk through the story of judges. If you are interested, we still have seats left for this trip. Please contact Mark (mark@rcumc.org) for more information.
What does the passage say?
Vs. 12:1-6 Gilead is a family in the tribe Mannasseh – whose forefather was Joseph. Joseph bore Mannasseh and Ephraim. Ephraim carried a promise (from the patriarch Jacob) to be greater than Mannasseh. In Judges 8 and 12 Ephraim demonstrates a strong sense of entitlement – to share in their brother Manasseh’s glory.
Jephthah, was renown as a great warrior. In Judges 11 he was recruited by the Gileadites (of the tribe of Mannasseh east of the Jordan River) after once being banished by them, to help defeat the Ammonites. God used Jephthah to bring a “mighty triumph.” Ephraim takes offense in being excluded from the glory now enjoyed by their brothers in Mannasseh – who they consider outcasts. Jephathah reminds them that they were asked to join forces and refused the invitation. The culmination of this deep rivalry brings about the death of 42,000 men from Ephraim.
Vs 12: 7-13 Chapter 12 covers 31 years after the defeat of the Ammonites east of the Jordan. There is no mention of strife or failing away from God’s favor. The judges Ibzan, Elon and Abdon are shown to be heads of large families, suggesting a time of prosperity, perhaps. Ibzan of Judah, models “inclusiveness” in the whole family of Israel by promoting intermarriage for his children among other tribes.
This chapter begins with Ephraim striving for notoriety and finally achieving it through the judge Abdon who paraded about with his 70 sons and grandsons on donkeys.
What does the passage say to me and to you?
Sibling rivalry stirs competition which can build strength, ability, success, and unfortunately, humility and discord. So often, what builds one up, tears the other down. The Old Testament gives vivid examples of the hurt and estrangement caused by parents promoting rivalry by “playing favorites.” A common enemy tears down the walls of bitterness – “you mess with my brother, you deal with me.” I can remember as a mother intentionally becoming that enemy to build camaraderie between the 4 siblings.
A need for recognition, and self-worth drives our rivalries. Jesus taught us to recognize when this need is an underlying barrier to our closest relationships. He said: “ So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Matthew 5: 23-24.
Let us pray
Lord Jesus, keep Your words in front of us today. Help us to remember how rivalries destroy. Fill us with that great love YOU have for our brothers and sisters –our families and our extended families. May it be our desire to please You first and to build up others. May all our actions reflect our devotion to You, our Savior and Lord. AMEN
*Contributed by Stephanie Dickenson
What are your thoughts?
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