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.
Ver. 1. Gathered themselves together.] Heb., Were called; sc., by Jephthah, as Judges 12:2, but came too late. Post bellum auxilium, so some understand it. Others, that these Ephraimites desirous of vain glory, provoking their brethren and envying them, as Galatians 5:26, tumultuarily met to pick a quarrel and make war upon Jephthah and his Gileadites, whom they insolently revile and threaten. "Wrath is cruel, and anger is outrageous; but who can stand before envy?" Pro 27:4 The venom of all vices is found in that sharpfanged malignity.
And went northward.] Toward Mizpeh of Gilead; called the wood of Ephraim, 2Sa 18:6 from the slaughter of these Ephraimites there, as it is likely, and afterwards Iturea, and Trachoniti, that is, Rough and Rocky.
Wherefore passedst thou over to fight?] See Judges 8:1, where they quarrelled in like sort with Gideon, who pacified them with good words; but here they showed themselves implacable, as being ripe for ruin.
We will burn thy house upon thee with fire.] Here was to good Jephthah aliud ex alio malum, a succession of sorrows. He was newly returned from his expedition against the Ammonites, was brought very low, or greatly bowed downward by his only daughter's unhappy coming forth to meet him. Qui liberis caret, pro mortuo habetur. And now he is necessitated to fight with them, who should with all thankfulness have congratulated his victory. Crosses seldom come single. Catenata piorum crux. Of Queen Elizabeth it is reported, that she provided for war when she was at most perfect peace with all men: so should we do.