This is a strange family
situation.
Israelites against Israelites.
Ephraim and Manasseh were the sons of Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob.
The men of Ephraim crossed the
Jordan to fight against Jephthah. Why didn't you get us to help you with the
Ammonites?
"You Giliadites are renegades from Ephraim and
Manasseh"
(12:4)
We are going to burn your home around you.
Jephthah
We were in a big struggle with the Ammonites.
I asked you, and you did not help!
I saved you!
Why do you want to fight against me?
They fought...and Jephthah's
army won.
Jephthah captured the fords
(crossing places) of the Jordan river.
The crossing password was Shibboleth.
Since the men of Ephraim could not pronounce
shibboleth correctly, they were caught when they tried to get back to
Ephraim.