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JUDGES

CHAPTER 12

1 And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire.

Back in chapter 8, Ephraim complained because they were not included in the fight against the Midianites. Now they complain again, quite bitterly, to Jephthah. The tribe of Ephraim was very powerful and wanted to be included in everything.
Actually, the Gileadites (descendents of Manasseh) had land that almost reached down to border the Ephraimites. Perhaps that's why they really felt "left out" concerning the fight - because they were so close to the land of the Gileadites.
Contention comes when pride overcomes (Proverbs 3:10). The Ephraimites should have been coming to congratulate Jephthah and to thank him for defeating an enemy of Israel! But their pride causes them to offer the burning of his house!

2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands.

Probably, during the questioning of chapter 10:18, the Gileadites had asked for help from other tribes. And Jephthah indicates that this was indeed the case. Therefore, the Gileadites really should be angry with the Ephraimites, because they wouldn't help in the time of need.
So it is, that people of pride will bring contention when they don't get the recognition they want - and at the same time will not extend help to others when they need it.
In Jesus' story about the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite "..passed by on the other side..."

3 And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the LORD delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me?

Jephthah had trusted God, and offered his life in service. God had given him the victory. All should REJOICE. There should be no contention when Satan and his forces are given defeat at the hands of any of our brothers and sisters in Christ. There should be REJOICING!

4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites. 5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay; 6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand.

Jephthah led his small army against the lager forces of the proud Ephraimites and beat them severely. His army set up outposts on the Jordan to stop the escapees from being able to return home.
It was easy to distinguish and Ephraimite. He could not pronounce SHIBBOLETH, which means "twigs," "brooks," or "offshoots."
Pride cost the Ephraimites 42,000 fighting men!
Acting in pride is always costly!

7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. 8 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. 9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. 10 Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.

Jephthah died, and had judged Israel only 6 years. Did he die young because of his mourning for the rash vow concerning his daughter? Did he die young because of the pressures of the ministry? Did he die young because of the weight of contention and war against his own national brothers?
We do not know because we are not told. Perhaps part, or all, of the above caused a grieving spirit which God relieved through an early death.
Ibzan was the next judge of Israel. He was from Bethlehem. Nothing is said of any great battles he fought. But something IS said of his character. He took care to see that all his daughters and sons were married.

11 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. 12 And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.

Not much is said about Elon except that he was of the tribe of Zebulun. Just the very fact that he is mentioned at all, means that he was a special person.
Notice that the judges come from different tribes. God has talented and gifted people all over the place!

13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel. 14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. 15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.

Finally Ephraim has another judge, the first one since Joshua that was not of evil intent (Abimelech had been from Ephraim too - Chapter 9).
One note here: Abdon had 40 sons and 30 grandsons (the word "nephews" is actually better translated grandsons).
Evidently he lived to see them all rise to places of stature which was a blessing from God.

"Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers."(Proverbs 17:6)