Jephthah Judged Six Years - Judges 12:7

In the book of Judges we learned how “Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, You Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites. And the Gileadites took the passages of Jordan before the Ephraimites: and it was so, that when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over; that the men of Gilead said unto him, Are you an Ephraimite? If he said, No. Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth: and he said Sibboleth: for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at the passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thousand”, and in chapter twelve and verse seven of Judges, we learn how, “Jephthah judged Israel six years” where we read,

And Jephthah judged Israel six years. 

Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

The verse reads, “And Jephthah judged Israel six years.” The writer began with the words, “and Jephthah” whose name means “he opens” and was “a son of Gilead and a concubine and the judge who defeated the Ammonites; after the victory because of a vow taken before the battle he sacrificed his daughter as a burnt offering” “judged Israel” or ”governed and ruled over Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “six years” which means “six annual sets of days”. The writer shared how “Jephthah” ruled over “Israel” for “six” annual sets of days. 

The verse goes on to say, “Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.” The writer continued with the words, “then died Jephthah” which means “at that time Jephthah whose name means ‘he opens’ breathed his last and became inanimate and without life” “the Gileadite” whose name means “rocky region’”, “and was buried” which means “and was entombed” “in one of the cities of Gilead” or “within a particular and single habitation, abode, dwelling place or town belonging to Gilead whose name means ‘rocky region”. The writer shared how “Jephthah” breathed his last and was entombed within a particular dwelling place in “Gilead”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how “Jephthah” from “Gilead” who was rejected by his half brothers ruled over “Israel” for “six” annual sets of days, and he was entombed within one of the dwelling places or villages within “Gilead”. God employed “Jephthah” within His Kingdom, and after his mission was complete, “Jephthah” breathed his last. While we are alive, God will use us in His Kingdom work, and this begins when we humble ourselves to receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days as our personal “Savior and Lord”. At the time we yield to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to help us know where He desires to use us in His Kingdom until He calls us home to be with Him in Heaven forever. (See Philippians 1:21)

Next time we learn how, “Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance.”