SEV Biblia, Chapter 12:4
Y juntando Jefté a todos los varones de Galaad, peleó contra Efraín; y los de Galaad hirieron a Efraín, porque habían dicho: Vosotros sois fugitivos de Efraín, vosotros sois galaaditas entre Efraín y Manasés.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Judges 12:4
Verse 4. And fought with Ephraim] Some commentators suppose that there were two battles in which the Ephraimites were defeated: the first mentioned in the above clause; and the second occasioned by the taunting language mentioned in the conclusion of the verse, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim. Where the point of this reproach lies, or what is the reason of it, cannot be easily ascertained.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim , etc.] The Ephraimites not being pacified with the account Jephthah gave of the war between him and the children of Ammon, but continuing in their tumultuous outrage; he, being a man of spirit and courage, got as many of the Gileadites together as he could, and gave them battle: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim ; had the advantage of them, worsted them, killed many of them, and put the rest to flight: because they said, ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites ; what provoked them to fall upon them with the greater fury, and use them the more severely when, they had the better of them, was their reproachful language to them, insulting the Gileadites, who perhaps were chiefly, if not all, of the half tribe of Manasseh beyond Jordan, of which Jephthah was, that they were the scum of the house of Joseph, that they had run away from their brethren, and dwelt in a corner of the land by themselves; and were of no account at all among Ephraim and Manasseh, and disclaimed by them both, and not esteemed by either. The Targum is, “the fugitives of Ephraim said, what are ye Gileadites accounted of among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites?” on which Kimchi remarks, that those Ephraimites that came in this tumultuous manner, and insulted Jephthah, were a most abject company of men, the refuse of the tribe of Ephraim, shepherds who through necessity were obliged to come over Jordan with their flocks and herds for pasture: but the words may be rendered, “for they said, fugitives of Ephraim are ye, even the Gileadites, who were, or being between the Ephraimites and the Manassites”; that is, the Gileadites called the Ephraimites so, when they fled before them, and when they got at the fords of Jordan, which lay between Ephraim and the half tribe of Manasseh on the other side Jordan; and they are in the next verse expressly so called.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-7 - The Ephraimites had the same quarrel with Jephthah as with Gideon Pride was at the bottom of the quarrel; only by that comes contention It is ill to fasten names of reproach upon persons or countries, as in common, especially upon those under outward disadvantages. It ofte occasions quarrels that prove of ill consequence, as it did here. N contentions are so bitter as those between brethren or rivals for honour. What need we have to watch and pray against evil tempers! Ma the Lord incline all his people to follow after things which make for peace!
Original Hebrew
ויקבץ 6908 יפתח 3316 את 853 כל 3605 אנשׁי 376 גלעד 1568 וילחם 3898 את 854 אפרים 669 ויכו 5221 אנשׁי 376 גלעד 1568 את 853 אפרים 669 כי 3588 אמרו 559 פליטי 6412 אפרים 669 אתם 859 גלעד 1568 בתוך 8432 אפרים 669 בתוך 8432 מנשׁה׃ 4519
