Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.

 Judges 12:1-7

The Ephraimite forces were called out, and they crossed over to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, “Why did you go to fight the Ammonites without calling us to go with you? We’re going to burn down your house over your head.”

 Jephthah answered, “I and my people were engaged in a great struggle with the Ammonites, and although I called, you didn’t save me out of their hands. When I saw that you wouldn’t help, I took my life in my hands and crossed over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave me the victory over them. Now why have you come up today to fight me?

Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, “You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh.”

The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim, they seized him and killed him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.

Why?

This is a war among Israelites, Ephraimite didn't respect their brother Gileadites, they did not help their people to defeat Ammonites. And said bad words to them.

Ephraimites were killed forty-two thousand men, it is a huge fall to Ephraimites. 

When people of Israelite away from the Lord, there were much chaos and trouble.

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假消息，謠言當我們心中有成見時，很容易造成誤解！

以法蓮不但沒有幫忙還反咬一口。以前大家一致對外，但是以法蓮接觸按兵不動，這次怕受責難，因此先指控別人的錯誤，事情沒有做好，都是別人的問題。

耶弗他打勝仗，要做王。以法蓮自認為大，因此找出兵的藉口，想要消耶弗他的氣勢。耶弗他以服事來得到權柄。以法蓮以為知道真相的人不多，想反咬一口，控告別人來掩飾自己的錯誤。如果大家知道實情，這樣的指控是不會成立的。如果今天我們聽到一些謠言，我們是否跟著搖旗哪喊，還是查明事實。我們要小心。

神的靈降在耶弗他身上，要他服事人。不是用神的恩典坐大自己，想統治別人。神阻擋驕傲的人，如以法蓮人，想做王最後還死了42000人。求幫助我們更謙卑下來！

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How?

God is my way and my shepherd, obey God's command and follow His decree. Nothing can compare with the Lord in the world.

You have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised

 Judges 11;29-40

And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord: “If you give the Ammonites into my hands, whatever comes out of the door of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites will be the Lord’s, and I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering.”

Then Jephthah went over to fight the Ammonites, and the Lord gave them into his hands. He devastated twenty towns from Aroer to the vicinity of Minnith, as far as Abel Keramim. Thus Israel subdued Ammon.

When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, who should come out to meet him but his daughter, dancing to the sound of timbrels! She was an only child. Except for her he had neither son nor daughter.

“My father,” she replied, “you have given your word to the Lord. Do to me just as you promised, now that the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the Ammonites.

From this comes the Israelite tradition that each year the young women of Israel go out for four days to commemorate the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

Jephthah's vow is an indication of how little the Israelites understood God at this time. Human sacrifice might please the heathen gods, but never the God of Israel. Abraham had learnt this long before, and God's law forbade ti. Yet, though ignorant and mistaken, the vow was made in good faith; Jephthah would forfeit 'whatever' (person or animal) came out of the house first. And he kept his word, though it cost him his only child, and his daughter her life.

But how can a moral God associate himself with actions like this - with people like Jephthah, Samson and the rest? We certainly cannot discount the fact that the 'heroes' of judges are people of their age - an age which the Bible plainly shows was one of religious decline, falling far short of the standards set out in God's law. God acts through men and women, by definition imperfect. These people are not ser up as models: their failures, weaknesses and immorality are simply recorded, not glorified, condoned or glossed over. Only their faith and courage are commended. Only their faith and himself or turn a deaf ear to a cry for help, even in an age os seemly hopeless decadence. He acts, despite the lack of 'suitable' people. And because he acts, a 'dark age' like that of the Judges may be followed by a time of the real spiritual advance.

Why?

Made a vow before the Lord has to obey it. Actually do not make a vow God blesses Jephthah to subdue Ammonites either. Make a vow just shows the brave and faith before men. 

In that environment maybe is a good example before the people. And Jephthah obeys the word of the Lord.

Jephthah has a good daughter who knows what is right should follow the word of the Lord.

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耶弗他許願卻執意守約。是顧大局的人，從來不埋怨，至始至終對神忠心。

也許耶弗他以許願來加強神的應許。許願不是如此。許願是為了感恩。提前感恩，不是拉著神的手。

神是禁止把人獻為燔祭，不可能神允許此事。他女兒去山上，與同伴二個月為她不能嫁而哀哭。兩種說法都有根據。

堅持要還願這件事看到什麼?看到他忠於守約，還願！向神開口許願，不能挽回。從耶弗他身上及他女兒身上看到他們的忠心。

當我們看到耶弗他所許的願，其實是多餘的，我們要反省，我們不能有觀念，神不給我們不行，我們懂得感恩嗎？

律法無人知曉時。犯下多大的錯誤，基甸、耶弗他都是，我們今天同樣也受到環境的影響。我們服事神不是為了得賞賜，而是為了感恩!當我們替耶弗他找理由可以不還願，我們是否自己也是找理由?因為我們困擾的問題神已經解決了。耶弗他絕對是我們的榜樣。

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How?

Be careful to make a vow before the Lord!

Let the Lord, the Judge, decide the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites

 Judges 11:12-28

Then Jephthah sent messengers to the Ammonite king with the question: “What do you have against me that you have attacked my country?”

Now since the Lord, the God of Israel, has driven the Amorites out before his people Israel, what right have you to take it over?  Will you not take what your god Chemosh gives you? Likewise, whatever the Lord our God has given us, we will possess. Are you any better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever quarrel with Israel or fight with them?  For three hundred years Israel occupied Heshbon, Aroer, the surrounding settlements and all the towns along the Arnon. Why didn’t you retake them during that time?  I have not wronged you, but you are doing me wrong by waging war against me. Let the Lord, the Judge, decide the dispute this day between the Israelites and the Ammonites.”

The king of Ammon, however, paid no attention to the message Jephthah sent him.

Moab in fact had the better claim to the land, as part of it had been theirs until Shihon dispossessed them.

Why?

Ammonites have not reason to attack Israel. Their reason is based on their own idea and ambition.

It is the Lord who helped Isrealte get the land on the east side of Jordan.

Jephthah said are you any better than Balak son of Zippor? Most of us thought we are better than someone else. Respect each life in the world.

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耶弗他與亞捫人談判在爭戰前。摩押人比亞捫人更有理由來爭取土地所有權。以色列人取自西實本人，亞摩利人。亞捫人根本沒有擁有他們的所有權。講這些根本沒有用，國際間沒有在講道理，和侵略者講道理是緣木求魚。做惡的人，不願承認自己是惡人，做惡時總是有一套理由。不願意悔改，人不願反省自己，繼續堅持己見。以前有富劫富濟貧，自己認為該做的是好的，照自己的想法做，想要某一地，就說，那本來就是我的。這些都是神的。

亞捫人也不可能放棄自己的占領地。

我們以為在認識主以前，別神也保護我們，其實神在我們認識神以前已經在保護我們了。

我們都是驕傲，自以為行神的旨意，不是憑自己聰明，一套理論來行事。求神讓我們能夠謙卑。

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How?

Respect everyone in the world and love them as we can. For God is love.

The Lord is our witness; we will certainly do as you say

 Judges 11:1-11

Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior. Gilead’s wife also bore him sons, and when they were grown up, they drove Jephthah away. “You are not going to get any inheritance in our family,” they said, “because you are the son of another woman.” So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where a gang of scoundrels gathered around him and followed him.

“Come,” they said, “be our commander, so we can fight the Ammonites.”

Jephthah said to them, “Didn’t you hate me and drive me from my father’s house? Why do you come to me now, when you’re in trouble?”

Jephthah answered, “Suppose you take me back to fight the Ammonites and the Lord gives them to me—will I really be your head?”

The elders of Gilead replied, “The Lord is our witness; we will certainly do as you say.” So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and commander over them. And he repeated all his words before the Lord in Mizpah.

Again Ammon, the new champion is the brigand-chief, Jephthah.

Why?

Jephthah has not done anything wrong, but for his family, he was driven from his family. How can we bear this misfortune?

Jephthah may complain and reject but he turns to the Lord and believed the Lord is their witness.

People always forgot the grace of the Lord, and when under emergency they turn to the Lord and asked help from the Lord.

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大能的勇士+妓女的兒子，因為兄弟分家產，把他趕出去。

如果耶弗他是不好的人，不會有人跟隨他。雖然際遇不好，神已經預備他成為領袖被神使用。神必有他的用意。無論任何我遇到的事，都是神為我預備的，為將來的使命。只要我們在神裏面。

耶弗他知道他們只是利用神，懷疑今天是否也是利用耶弗他?

耶弗他明顯是敬畏神的人，他把這事陳明在神面前。

我們也要問自己，我們是否在利用神?是否常存感恩的心。與神建立互信、互愛，彼此委身的關係。

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How?

The Lord is my witness, what I have done will be shown before the Lord, with all my heart and my mind. Praise the Holy Name of the Lord!

And God he could bear Israel’s misery no longer

 Judges 10:6-18

Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord.  He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and the Ammonites.

The Lord replied, “When the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, the Sidonians, the Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you and you cried to me for help, did I not save you from their hands? But you have forsaken me and served other gods, so I will no longer save you. Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen. Let them save you when you are in trouble!”

But the Israelites said to the Lord, “We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.” Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the Lord. And he could bear Israel’s misery no longer.

Southern Israel is now caught in a vice between the Philistines on the west and the Ammonites on the east. 

Why?

Men are weak and easily lost their memory of what God has done for them. Again the Israelite did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Even the Lord said to them God and cry out to the gods you have chosen, "Let them save you when you are in trouble.", but God could bear Israel's misery no longer. This is the mercy of the Lord to us.

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神這次沒有馬上拯救他們，責備訓他們一頓。神為他們擔憂！

1.神要和我們建立一種什麼關係? 建立在愛、互信、生命、長遠的關係，不是利益的關係。以色列人與神是利益的關係。當人沒有求於神就沒有關係了。把耶和華看成和其他神一樣。以色列人為何拜那麼多神，因為他們認為多拜對他們有好處。

現在是否走頭無路了才來求神?來求看看！他們只是想利用神而已。

神的心一直掛念人的情況！似乎以色列人願意傳上一切代價，求神救他們。歷史證明，以色列人還是沒有除掉外邦的神！只要以別神代替耶和華的都是外邦的神。如果沒有當前緊急的事，我們會除去外邦偶像嗎？

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How?

Remember the grace of the has done to us, persistent follow the word of the Lord, and honor the name of the Lord! Do everything and talk with the heart of the Lord, not from my position.

Tola and Jiar were Judges

 Judges 10:1-5

After the time of Abimelek, a man of Issachar named Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.  He led Israel twenty-three years; then he died, and was buried in Shamir.

He was followed by Jair of Gilead, who led Israel twenty-two years. He had thirty sons, who rode thirty donkeys. They controlled thirty towns in Gilead, which to this day are called Havvoth Jair. When Jair died, he was buried in Kamon.

These two were not military leaders. They judged Israel, respectively, for 23 and 22 uneventful years.

Why?

Two men from  Ephraim and Gilead became judges of Isreal. They were not described too much, we don't know how and why they were judges.

These two men until the end of their life these were nothing that could be recorded, it means their life nothing could remember. How about my life will be memorized.

How?

What I can give to this world when I leave this world?

God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek killed his brothers and made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness

 Judges 9:22-58

After Abimelek had governed Israel three years,  God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.  God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers. 

Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.

Scattered salt: Symbolically consigning the city to permanent desolation. It was in fact rebuilt 150 years later in the time of Jeroboam I.

Why?

God does not allow the violent and those who shed innocent people's blood to live in world peace. God is righteousness so three years later God stirred people in Chechem against Abimelek, and killed Abimelek by a woman.

Everyone proud of his power or ability will fall, only the man who humbles himself before the Lord will be lifted up.

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原來稱兄道弟的示劍人，現在以詭詐相待亞比米勒。結果兩敗俱傷。亞比米勒不善待支持他的人，亞比米勒靠殺人做王，也會被人殺，死的時候受屈辱。雙方已經給魔鬼留地步。讓惡鬼降在他們中間，亞比米勒和示劍人錯在先。

基甸看來不想做王但是成為宗教領袖比做王更遭。以私心來做王，給他兒子壞榜樣。我們要留給我們後代什麼樣的價值觀?有膽略平庸的人，不見得沒有野心，當他有機會的時候，可能就開始行惡。亞比米勒有膽量、才華、領袖魅力，可惜用在自己，滿足自己的私心。

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How?

Be humble and do the thing good to others, God is my shepherd and my Lord!