Judges 12

Observations:

(1) 12:1 is almost identical with 8:1

8:1 The Ephraimites said to him, “Why have you done such a thing to us? You did not summon us when you went to fight the Midianites!” They argued vehemently with him.


12:1 The Ephraimites assembled and crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go and fight with the Ammonites without asking us to go with you? We will burn your house down right over you!”

Instead of answering the Ephramites with humility like Gideon, Jephthah argued with them and fought with them.

v.3b I risked my life and advanced against the Ammonites, and the LORD handed them over to me. Why have you come up to fight with me today?”

These ended up with the civil war costing 42,000 lives.
Just like the end of chapter 11, the victory of Jephthah did not bring peace and joy to the nation. His vow brought the death of his own daughter and the internal conflict. As Israel left God and worshipped the idols their relationship between the people had changed. Although they came back to cry to God every time they were invaded by the enemies they went back to worship idols afterwards. They picked up more and more from the pagans and lived like them. From the answers between Ephraimites and Jephthah, there was full of hatred and insult v.1,4.

Do we pick up hatred from the world? Do violent words and insults come from your mouth? Or even violent behavior? Do you pick them up from the TV shows or people around you?
I used to watch a TV show about working in the kitchens. The contestants worked very hard to win the favor from the head chef. However, the show was full of fowl languages! People threw tempers at each other a lot. One day, I decided that was enough. I did not want to be like them and if I continued to watch I would pick it up from them. Therefore, I stopped watching.

(2) Ibzan had 30 sons, 30 daughters and he arranged marriages for all of them to marry people from outside of his extended family v.9. The words, "arranged" and "from outsides" were repeated.
(BKC) Ibzan’s community status is evidenced by his large family of 30 sons and 30 daughters, and his political alliances are suggested by his seeking marriages both for his sons and daughters outside his clan.

(3) Abdon
12:14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys.

(BKC) the status symbol of nobility (cf. the judge Jair, whose 30 sons each rode a donkey; 10:4).

Summary: The Judges lived more and more like politicians and nobles. In other words, they lived like a king. The center of their lives is not God and they would not lead people towards God. Compare them with Moses, or Joshua, they do not fulfill the purpose of a leader.

Reflections: Do you lead your family towards God? Or you lead them like the world does? Do your children get to know God because of you? Or do they only know how to enjoy the worldly pleasure because of your lifestyle?

Audrey