JEPHTHAH’S WAR AGAINST EPHRAIM Instead of thanking Jephthah for his strife against the people of Ammon, and for fighting against them to the account of Israel as a whole, the men of Ephraim criticized him in an un-appropriate way, as it was always their custom, . But Jephthah did not attempt to gain them as Gideon did (8: 1-3), but opposed them, fought against them, and killed 42,000 of their men. 1- Jephthah fight against Ephraim 1 - 7 2- Ibsan of Bethlehem 8 - 10 3- Elon the Zebulunite 11 - 12 4- Abdon the son of Hillel 13 – 15 1- JEPHTHAH FIGHTS AGAINST EPHRAIM: Ephraim was known for its might men of valor, but also for bearing the spirit of pride. They always sought to be ahead in every situation. When Gideon conquered they rebuked him on account of that he did not seek their help; but he gained them by his spirit of humility (8: 1-3). Now, as Jephthah conquered, “The men of Ephraim gathered together, crossed over toward Zaphon, and said to Jephthah, ‘Why did you cross over to fight against the people of Ammon, and did https://coptic-treasures.com/ not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you with fire’” (1) They counted disregarding them an unforgivable guilt. And it did not stop at admonition, but even went further to threatening to burn his house down on him with fire. Instead of gaining them with the spirit of meekness and humility, as Gideon did, Jephthah revealed how they failed to do their role in the salvation from the hand of the Ammonites; and that when their brethren cried out to seek their support, they so despised them that they sought his help (Jephthah). Thus, Jephthah, exposing them, he proclaimed his own sacrifice for the sake of the people, saying: “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. So when I saw that you would not deliver me, I 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?” (2, 3) Here, again, he proclaimed that God delivered the enemies in his hand; as though to tell them that by fighting against him, they oppose God working in him (3). https://coptic-treasures.com/ “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 are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites and among the Manassites.” (4) Jephthah did not stop at revealing that the Ephramites are liars, proclaiming that they were called to fight and did not respond; accusing them of negligence and slothfulness, and of being opponents of God Himself, who granted conquest to him; But he gathered together all the men of Gilead and fought them; because of their insult against the people of Gilead, saying to them: “You Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephramites and among the Manassites”. In other words because they claimed that the Gileadites were a group of fugitives who escaped from being accused of committing crimes of robbery and murders; and, escaping from Ephraim they did not go to Manasseh, but stayed in Gilead –the land between the two tribes. The Gileadites seized the fords of the Jordan before the Ephraimites arrived” . “Then any Ephraimite who escaped said,’“Let me cross over’, the men of Gilead would say to him, ‘Are you an Ephraimite?’ If he said, ‘Yes’, they would kill him. And if he said ‘No’, then they would say to him, then say, ‘Shibboleth’ And he would say, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right. Then they would take him and kill him at the fords https://coptic-treasures.com/ of the Jordan. There fell at that time forty-two thousand Ephraimites” (5 - 6) While the Ephraimites would be blamed for their pride that crushed them to death, Jephthah lost that whole tribe, and caused Israel to lose tens of thousands of them, instead of gaining them with love and humility. “And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in among the cities of Gilead” (7) 2- Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon We do not know much about those three judges; probably on account of that they did not enter into afflictions, or had no specific attitudes, but had peaceful years with their people, and died in peace. …. Any way, all the judges mentioned in this book represent diverse samples and different kinds of believers; and were worthy of having their names mentioned in the book of life; although those who have passed through afflictions would be worthy of a greater reward, in case they walked by the spirit of living faith. Ibzan: ““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. https://coptic-treasures.com/ He judged Israel seven years. 10 Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem” (8 – 10). About that judge we know nothing more than his name, location (Bethlehem), most probably not Bethlehem of Judah, as believed by Josephus, but Bethlehem of Zebulun (Joshua 19: 1, 15). that he had 30 sons and 30 daughters, and made them marry spouses from elsewhere, probably to make the family of wider range; and that he ruled for 7 years, died, and buried in Bethlehem. Elon the Zebulunite: 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” (11). Elon; a Hebrew name, meaning (oak). Ruled for 10 years, died, and buried in Elon , a village in Zebulun, different than Elon of Dan (Joshua 19: 43)’ According to same, its name means (place of the deer). Abdon the son of Hillel: “ After him, Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel. 14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy young donkeys. He judged Israel eight years. https://coptic-treasures.com/ Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mountains of the Amalekites” (12) 3- ELON THE ZEBULUNITE: ‘Elon’, a Hebrew name meaning (oak), judged Israel for ten years, then died in ‘Elon’, a village in Zebulun ; different from ‘Elon’ of Dan (Joshua 19: 43); though believed by some to mean (place of the deers). 5- ABDON THE SON OF HILLEL: ‘Abdon’ means (abd or slave); and ‘Hillel’ means (exultation or praise) He was raised in ‘Feroton’ in Ephraim, meaning (height), seven miles and a half south-west of Shechem (Nables). He judged Israel for eight years; and had 40 sons and 30 grandsons, who rode 70 donkeys, a sign of riches and honor
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