4th Week of July Adult Sunday School Class Judges

Judges chapter 12

We start out the twelfth chapter with more trouble for Jephthah from the tribe of Ephraim. Notice this is very similar to what happened when Gideon went after the Midianites. Gideon was able to sooth over the tribe of Ephraim with cool words, but that wouldn't happen with Jephthah.

All out war between the two tribes breaks out and Gideon and his men fresh from victory quickly take the upper hand in the fighting.We find out something interesting here about the tribes. They had different accents living in different parts of Canaan. That itself isn't so odd, because we have the same things in our own country here, but the distance between some of these tribes isn't that great. It goes to show that without mass communication and transportation short distances and cause people to vastly different. The Epraimites couldn't pronounce Shibboleth correctly. We have the same thing with Irish not pronouncing their 'th's' in that, third, or things. Irish pronounce those words with a distinct 't' sound.

After Jephthah and the Gileadites take the pass at the river Jordan, they use this pronunciation difference to find out who is trying to pass themselves off as a different people. It is a sad story that the tribes would fight each other, but interesting to see the tactics used against one another. Seems man is never so clever as when he is trying to perform evil on his fellow man.

I think the victories over Ammon and now also Ephraim show that Jephthah was a great general. This shows again that where you come from isn't as important as having God on your side. Jephthah only judged a short six years and after him came Ibzan. After his seven year judgment, there was Elon who judged for 10, and then Abdon for eight years. I think it goes to show that we need to be thankful to God when we have good leaders and examples because you never know who long they will be with you. Sometimes good men and women die too young and you miss their light and example. Cherish up the gifts that God gives you, especially when it is a good leader.