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George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - Judges 12:13

Illel. Josephus reads "the son or servant of Helon," whom some have confounded with Ahialon, though contrary to the Hebrew. (Calmet) --- The author supposes that Abdon reigned in peace. But it seems that he and the two others preceding him in the government of the people, were forced to purchase rest by paying tribute. (Salien, in the year before Christ 1193.) 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 12:1-7

1-7 The Ephraimites had the same quarrel with Jephthah as with Gideon. Pride was at the bottom of the quarrel; only by that comes contention. It is ill to fasten names of reproach upon persons or countries, as is common, especially upon those under outward disadvantages. It often occasions quarrels that prove of ill consequence, as it did here. No contentions are so bitter as those between brethren or rivals for honour. What need we have to watch and pray against evil tempers! May the Lord... 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 12:1-7

The Defeat of the Ephraimites v. 1. And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together and went northward, or, marched Zaphon, a town in the tribe of Gad, on the eastern side of the Jordan Valley, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, to attack them in battle, and didst not call us to go with thee? It was not zeal for fighting the Lord's battles which prompted this outburst, but a presumptuous jealousy, because the Ephraimites had not... 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 12:1-7

Ephraim’s proud and envious conduct towards JephthahJudges 12:1-71And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward [proceeded to Zaphon], and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over [Why didst thou pass on—proceed—] to fight against the children [sons] of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire. 2And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife [in a severe conflict] with the children [sons] of... 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

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