Judges 12:14 WEB

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Judges 12:1-15

CHAPTER 12 The strife--Jephthah’s Death--The Other Judges 1. The strife and the slaying of the Ephraimites (Judges 12:1-6 ) 2. Jephthah’s death (Judges 12:7 ) 3. Ibzan, Elon and Abdon (Judges 12:8-15 ) The strife of Ephraim and their question reminds us of what happens under the judgeship of Gideon. There the soft answer turned away wrath. How different it is here. Jephthah in self exaltation shows a far different spirit. Notice the “I” in his answer. “I was at great strife”--”I and my... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Judges 12:1-15

Judges 12:0 1. And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together [literally, were called together; the same phrase in chap. Jdg 7:23-24 ], and went northward [in order to cross the Jordan fords. Mizpeh in Gilead lay to the north-east of the tribe of Ephraim], and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us ["the tribe of Ephraim throughout the book of Judges is represented in a most unenviable light." Compare the similar... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Judges 12:8-15

I include the whole of these verses, and of the reign of three judges, comprising a period of twenty-five years, within the compass of one view, not only for the sake of brevity, but because the Holy Ghost hath been pleased to have nothing more recorded of those men but that they lived, and reigned, and provided for themselves and families, and then died and were buried. Alas! is there nothing to be remarked of them, in their zeal for God? Do their histories furnish no monuments of having... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Judges 12:14

Forty sons. At this we need not be surprised, in a country where polygamy prevailed. Priam had 50 sons, and the Turks have often as many. --- Colts. This was as great a distinction as to keep one's coach among us, chap. x. 4. (Calmet) --- This judge succeeded Ahialon, in the year of the world 2872, in the year before Christ 1182, the year after Troy was taken, having endured a ten years' siege, by the treachery of Antenor, and of 'c6neas, Dictys, &c. Dares says the Greeks lost 886,000, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - Judges 12:8-15

8-15 We have here a short account of three more of the judges of Israel. The happiest life of individuals, and the happiest state of society, is that which affords the fewest remarkable events. To live in credit and quiet, to be peacefully useful to those around us, to possess a clear conscience; but, above all, and without which nothing can avail, to enjoy communion with God our Saviour while we live, and to die at peace with God and man, form the substance of all that a wise man can desire. read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Judges 12:8-15

The Judgeships of Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon v. 8. And after him (Jephthah) Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. This Bethlehem was that in the tribe of Zebulun, and Ibzan's jurisdiction seems to have extended over the northern tribes only. v. 9. And he had thirty sons and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, saw them well provided for in marriage, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years, living in princely and happy state in the midst of the... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Judges 12:8-15

EIGHTH SECTIONthree judges of uneventful lives in peaceful times: ibzan of bethlehem, elon the zebulonite, and abdon the pirathonite__________________Ibzan of Bethlehem, Elon the Zebulonite, and Abdon the PirathoniteJudges 12:8-158And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel. 9And he had thirty sons [,] and thirty daughters whom [omit: whom] he sent abroad [sent out, i. e. gave in marriage], and took in [brought home] thirty daughters from abroad for his sons: and he judged Israel seven... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - Judges 12:1-15

at the Fords of Ephraim Judges 12:1-15 In this second war, Jephthah showed the same conciliatory spirit as he had showed to Ammon. He parleyed sensibly and courteously before he went into the conflict. A great many Christians are less Christian than this. They ignore Christ’s strict injunction, Matthew 18:15 . Ephraim had acted in the same manner to Gideon, Judges 8:1 . In each case that tribe wanted to retain its primacy without the sacrifice which leadership involves; and it was angry when... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - Judges 12:1-15

The men of Ephraim took the same action in the case of Jephthah as they had done in the case of Gideon. After his victory they complained that they had not been called to help. It would seem as though they had become more arrogant as the result of Gideon's conciliatory method with them, for this time they came with the deliberate purpose of war. In Jephthah they found a man of another mold. He did not attempt to conciliate but visited them with the most severe punishment. Two things combined... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 12:14

Judges 12:14 a ‘And he had forty sons, and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy ass colts.’ He had an abundant family, described in this way to bring to the number seventy, divine perfection intensified. Compare Gideon (Judges 8:30). The fact that they rode on ass colts demonstrates that they exercised authority. Judges 12:14 b ‘And he judged Israel eight years.’ He clearly began to judge while quite old to have so many grandsons. These judges may have been partly contemporary. He too had the... read more