Judges 12: Group Study Handout

How to use: read Judges 12 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

The men of Ephraim confronted Jephthah, questioning why he fought the Ammonites without calling them (vv. 1-3). Jephthah replied that he had called for help but received none.

Key verse

“The Gileadites took the fords of the Jordan against the Ephraimites. When the fugitives of Ephraim said, “Let me go over,” the men of Gilead said to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No”;”
Judges 12:5 (WEB)

Outline

Judges 12:1–3 Ephraim's Confrontation with Jephthah
Judges 12:4–6 Conflict Between Gilead and Ephraim
Judges 12:7 Jephthah's Leadership and Death
Judges 12:8–10 Ibzan's Leadership
Judges 12:11–12 Elon's Leadership
Judges 12:13–15 Abdon's Leadership and Legacy

Discussion questions

In v5, why do the Gileadites ask if someone is an Ephraimite?
What happens in v6 when a fugitive cannot pronounce 'Shibboleth'?
In v2, why does Jephthah express frustration about the Ephraimites' inaction?
Jephthah's statement in v3 about putting his 'life in my hand' raises questions about what exactly?
When has conflict within a group affected your sense of unity, as seen in v1?

Go deeper

Passages that echo Judges 12: Judges 3, Judges 5, Judges 8.

Before next time: read Judges 13.