July 22, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Judges? Here’s today’s reading:
Judges 12 (NIV)
Jephthah and Ephraim
1 The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.”
2 Jephthah answered, “I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands...........Continue Reading
You gotta love Ephraim here! They avoided the battle that seemed too hard at the time but then when the victory is accomplished they want in! Like when no one wants to volunteer to help with something and then once it is up and running you get all the “I would have been happy to help” people giving their two cents.
As frustrating as Judges is to read it really does depict all too common human behavior!
If there are any good reasons to lose 42,000 people, jealousy is certainly not one of them. I’d say that was a bad move.
Judges 10-12
Judges 12
Pride certainly does come before the fall and the Ephraimites display a lot of it here. How foolish to be upset to not be included in a battle especially when Jephthah thought he had asked. It is good to see him show wisdom again by sharing his point of view and asking them an objective question that seeks to promote clarity. Such a good thing to do when things get heated. And I bet the people of Ephraim regretted the decision to fight the Gileadites after loosing 42,000 men. And it’s a neat little account about asking people to repeat a word and telling from their accent/pronunciation which side they were on.
It is also interesting to note the varied locations in Israel from which the judges came. It seems like each tribe or at least region had a shot at doing it…..and each were fairly successful while they lived. The people unfortunately never had the staying power to stick with God without a leader to guide them……
WTH. Jephthah just lead Israel into taking out twenty towns that the Lord gave into their hands. 11-33. And instead of everyone thanking and praising. Here comes whining and bickering. And jealousy. So much that 42000 were killed. Unbelievable. Take jealous and selfish out of this world and you are left with thanks and praise
Judges 11 & 12
Judges 12&13
7Jephthah led Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in a town in Gilead.
Just the thanks Jephthah gets for conquering Ammon!