Judges Chapter 12 Zooms In to Other People Around — Critics or Detractors

Care Not What Others Think Of You – As Long As You Follow The Way Of Hashem

People around you will always have something to say against you. Thus, please G-d; not men.

“Ibzan”
“Elon the Zebulunite”
“Abdon Son of Hillel”

The men of Ephraim were mustered and crossed to the north. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to make war against the Children of Ammon, and did not call on us to go with you? We shall burn down your house in fire upon you!”
12:1
I saw that you were not helping, so I placed my life in my hand and I crossed over to the Children of Ammon — and Hashem delivered them into my hand. Now why have you come up to me this day to make war with me?”
12:3
Gilead occupied the crossings of the Jordan against Ephraim, so it was that when the “rabble of Ephraim” would say, “Let me cross,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephrathite?” and he would answer, “No,”
:5
Then they would say to him, “Now say, ‘Shibboleth.’” but he said, “Sibboleth” — for he could not enunciate properly. Then they would seize him and slaughter him by the crossings of the Jordan. During that time, forty-two thousand fell from Ephraim.
:6
Jephthah judged Israel for six years. Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in the cities of Gilead.
:7
After him, Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel.
:8
After him, Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; he judged Israel for then years.
:11
After him, Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.
:13
Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon, in the land of Ephraim, on the Amalekite mountain.
:15

1 And the man of Ephraim were gathered, and passed to the north; and they said to Jephthah, “Why did you pass to fight against the children of Ammon, and you did not call us to go with you? Your house we will burn upon you with fire.”
2 And Jephthah said to them, “I and my people were at great strife with the children of Ammon, and I called you, and you did not save me from their hand.
3 And I saw that you did not save me, and I took my life into my hands, and passed over to the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hand; so why have you come up to me this day, to fight against me?”
4 And Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim; and the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because the lowest of Ephraim said, “(Of what importance are) you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim (and) in the midst of Menasseh.”
5 And the Gileadites seized the fords of the Jordan that belonged to Ephraim; and it was that when any of the lowest of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” and the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” and he said, “No.”
6 And they said to him, “Say now ‘Shibboleth,’ ” and he said “Sibboleth,” and he was not prepared to pronounce it properly, and they grabbed him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan; and there fell at that time of Ephriam, forty-two thousand.
7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years; and Jephthah the Gileadite died, and was buried in the cities of Gilead.
8 And after him Ibzan of Beth-Lehem judged Israel.
9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in for his sons from abroad; and he judged Israel seven years.
10 And Ibzan died, and he was buried in Beth-lehem.
11 And after him Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.
12 And Elon the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Ayalon, in the land of Zebulun.
13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, the Pirathonite judged Israel.
14 And he had forty sons and thirty sons’ sons, that rode on seventy young donkeys; and he judged Israel eight years.
15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon, in the land of Ephraim, in the mountain of the Amalekites.