And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
Ver. 1. Why hast thou served us thus?] Nay, why have you served me thus? might Gideon for better cause have said: and how is it that you came no sooner to mine assistance in so common a cause? But none are so ready to except and exclaim, as the most faulty.
And they did chide with him sharply.] Heb., Strongly. They should rather have cried him up for his valour, and blessed God for his victory. But this is merces mundi, the world's wages: and these Ephraimitcs, pricked on by pride and envy thus to brawl and lay about them, had they not met with a man of a milder temper than themselves, had occasioned a far worse war than the former. If two fires meet, it must needs be a great combustion: it proved so in Jephtha's days, Jdg 12:1-6 and these proud Ephraimites met with their match.