XII. 1- 6. Civil War between Gilead and Ephraim. The Ephraimites hankered after the primacy among the tribes. Their amour propre was easily offended, their anger quickly enflamed. Instead of praising God for Jephthah's great victory, they were furious because he won it without their aid. They insulted him as they once insulted Gideon, and perhaps expected an equally meek and flattering answer. But Jephthah was a man of a different mould and temper. Hurling a few scathing words at heroes who were brave when the war was over, he presumed, judging from their insolence, that they now wished to fight with him, and he was ready. The result deeply stirs the reader's imagination. Led by a general like Jephthah, Gilead was more than a match for Ephraim, and the western tribe was not only put to flight, but found the fords of Jordan guarded to bar their passage. Every man who wished to cross was subjected to a singular test. His life hung on the pronunciation of a sibilant. He was asked to say Shibboleth (ear of corn), and if he said Sibboleth, he was slain there and then. His speech betrayed him. So in the Sicilian vespers, March 31, 1282, the French were made to betray themselves by the pronunciation of ceci e ciceri; those who pronounced c as in French (sesi e siseri) were hewn down on the spot. (Moore).
Judges 12:4. The words because they said, Ye are fugitives of Mount Ephraim make no sense in their present position, and probably should stand after Jordan in Judges 12:6. The huge numbers are doubtless the work of R.
Judges 12:7. The Heb. text in the cities of Gilead, is evidently wrong; the LXX has in his city of Gilead.