Judges 12:4

Jephthah summoned all of the men of Gilead and fought against the Ephraimites. The men of Gilead killed them because the Ephraimites taunted them, saying, “You Gileadites are nothing more than escapees living among Ephraim and Manasseh.”

Free Bible Version

In The King James Version

Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites.

In Context

3When I realized that you weren't going to help, I took my life in my hands and went to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord made me victorious over them. So why have you come here today to attack me?”

5The Gileadites took control of the fords over the Jordan River that led to Ephraim's territory, and when an Ephraimite escapee from the battle would come and ask, “Let me cross over,” the Gileadites would question him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he answered, “No,”

Read all of Judges 12

Cross References

Numbers 32:39The descendants of Machir, son of Manasseh, attacked Gilead and captured it. They drove out the Amorites who were living there.

Judges 11:10“The Lord will be a witness between us,” they replied. “We'll do whatever you say.”

Nehemiah 4:4I prayed, “Lord, please listen to us, because we are being treated with contempt. Rain down their insults on their own heads! Let them be taken away like plunder, prisoners in a foreign land!

Proverbs 12:13The wicked trap themselves by their own sinful words, but good people escape trouble.

Matthew Henry on Judges 12:2-8

Displeasure of the Ephraimites; Punishment of the Ephraimites. ( b. c. 1143.) 1 And the men of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thine house upon thee with fire. 2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands. 3 And when I saw that ye… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study Judges 12:4