What happensPermalink
Ephraim again complains they were not invited to the war. Jephthah counters that they did not come when called, and civil war erupts. Jephthah defeats Ephraim, in part by holding the fords over the Jordan and killing the Ephraimites that try to flee. After Jephthah come Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon to judge Israel.
Why it mattersPermalink
Ephraim has made this complaint before, but Gideon was able to pacify them. This time, Jephthah cannot or does not, and the resulting civil war is devastating to Ephraim. This war is the origin of the English term “shibboleth,” meaning a password or identifier.
Key versePermalink
The men of Ephraim were called to arms, and they crossed to Zaphon and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the Ammonites and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house over you with fire.”