Focused Passage

Judges 12:1-3

Jephthah's Aftermath: Tribal Bloodshed and Minor Judges

After Jephthah's victory over Ammon, Ephraim's grievance erupts into civil war, Gilead slaughters Ephraimites at the Jordan fords through the shibboleth test, and the chapter closes with brief minor-judge notices that show continuity without covenant renewal.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Then the men of Ephraim assembled and crossed the Jordan to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why have you crossed over to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We will burn your house down with you inside!”

2But Jephthah replied, “My people and I had a serious conflict with the Ammonites, and when I called, you did not save me out of their hands.

3When I saw that you would not save me, I risked my life and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the LORD delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Cross-references

Judges 8:1Classic cross-references 2 Samuel 19:41Classic cross-references James 3:16Classic cross-references John 10:32Classic cross-references James 4:1Classic cross-references

Original words

Then the menאִ֣ישׁH376Noun - masculine singular constructof Ephraimאֶפְרַ֔יִםH669Noun - proper - masculine singularassembledוַיִּצָּעֵק֙H6817Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularand crossed [the Jordan]וַֽיַּעֲבֹ֖רH5674Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularto Zaphonצָפ֑וֹנָהH6828Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singularThey saidוַיֹּאמְר֨וּH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralto Jephthahלְיִפְתָּ֜חH3316Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularWhyמַדּ֣וּעַ׀H4069Interrogativehave you crossed overעָבַ֣רְתָּ׀H5674Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularto fightלְהִלָּחֵ֣םH3898Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructthe Ammonitesבִּבְנֵי־H1121Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .עַמּ֗וֹןH5983Noun - proper - masculine singular-וְלָ֙נוּ֙Conjunctive waw | Preposition | first person common pluralwithoutלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particlecalling usקָרָ֙אתָ֙H7121Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singularto goלָלֶ֣כֶתH1980Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructwith youעִמָּ֔ךְH5973Preposition | second person feminine singularWe will burn your houseבֵּיתְךָ֕H1004Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine singulardownנִשְׂרֹ֥ףH8313Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural. . .עָלֶ֖יךָH5921Preposition | second person masculine singularwith you insideבָּאֵֽשׁ׃H784Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular

Verse 2

Original words

But Jephthahיִפְתָּח֙H3316Noun - proper - masculine singularrepliedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular-אֲלֵיהֶ֔םH413Preposition | third person masculine plural-אִ֣ישׁH376Noun - masculine singular constructMy peopleוְעַמִּ֥יH5971Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularand Iאֲנִ֛יH589Pronoun - first person common singularhadהָיִ֛יתִיH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singulara seriousמְאֹ֑דH3966Adverbconflictרִ֗יבH7379Noun - masculine singularwith the Ammonitesוּבְנֵֽי־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .עַמּ֖וֹןH5983Noun - proper - masculine singularand when I calledוָאֶזְעַ֣קH2199Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular-אֶתְכֶ֔םH853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralyou did notוְלֹֽא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlesaveהוֹשַׁעְתֶּ֥םH3467Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine pluralmeאוֹתִ֖יH853Direct object marker | first person common singularout of their handsמִיָּדָֽם׃H3027Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine plural

Verse 3

Cross-references

1 Samuel 19:5Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 28:21Classic cross-references Job 13:14Classic cross-references Psalms 119:109Classic cross-references Proverbs 15:1Classic cross-references

Original words

When I sawוָֽאֶרְאֶ֞הH7200Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singularthatכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionyou would notאֵינְךָ֣H369Adverb | second person masculine singularsave meמוֹשִׁ֗יעH3467Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singularI riskedוָאָשִׂ֨ימָהH7760Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singular. . .בְכַפִּי֙H3709Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularmy lifeנַפְשִׁ֤יH5315Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularand crossed overוָֽאֶעְבְּרָה֙H5674Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular | third person feminine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe Ammonitesבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .עַמּ֔וֹןH5983Noun - proper - masculine singularand the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singulardelivered themוַיִּתְּנֵ֥םH5414Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine pluralinto my handבְּיָדִ֑יH3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singularWhy thenוְלָמָ֞הH4100Conjunctive waw | Interrogativehave you comeעֲלִיתֶ֥םH5927Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural. . .אֵלַ֛יH413Preposition | first person common singulartodayהַיּ֥וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .הַזֶּ֖הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularto fightלְהִלָּ֥חֶםH3898Preposition-l | Verb - Nifal - Infinitive constructagainst meבִּֽי׃Preposition | first person common singular

Read full chapter context All Judges chapters

<- Judges 11 Judges 12 Judges 13 ->