Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Judges Chapter 12
Overview
Jdg 12:1, The Ephraimites, quarrelling with Jephthah, and discerned by Shibboleth, are slain by the Gileadites; Jdg 12:7, Jephthah dies; Jdg 12:8, Ibzan, who had thirty sons, and thirty daughters; Jdg 12:11, and Elon; Jdg 12:13, and Abdon, who had forty sons, and thirty nephews, judge Israel.
gathered: Heb. were called
Wherefore: Jdg 8:1; Sa2 19:41-43; Psa 109:4; Ecc 4:4; Joh 10:32
we will burn: Jdg 14:15, Jdg 15:6; Pro 27:3, Pro 27:4; Jam 3:16, Jam 4:1, Jam 4:2
I and my: Judg. 11:12-33
put: Jdg 9:17; Sa1 19:5, Sa1 28:21; Job 13:14; Psa 119:109; Rom 16:4; Rev 12:11
wherefore: Jdg 11:27; Ch2 13:12
and the men: Jdg 11:10; Num 32:39, Num 32:40; Deu 3:12-17
fugitives: Sa1 25:10; Neh 4:4; Psa 78:9; Pro 12:13, Pro 15:1
Jdg 3:28, Jdg 7:24; Jos 2:7, Jos 22:11
Shibboleth: which signifieth a stream, or flood, Psa 69:2, Psa 69:15; Isa 27:12 *Heb: Shibboleth also means an ear of corn (Job 24:24), and sibboleth signifies a burden (Exo 6:6); and a heavy burden they were obliged to bear who could not pronounce this test letter. It is well known that several nations cannot pronounce certain letters. The sound of th cannot be pronounced by the Persians, no more than by some of our Continental neighbours; though it is a common sound among the Arabians. To this day, many of the German Jews cannot articulate ת th, for which they substitute ss; thus for baith, a house, they say baiss.
there fell: Pro 17:14, Pro 18:19; Ecc 10:12; Mat 12:25; Gal 5:15
forty: Arbaim ooshenayim aleph, "forty and two thousand." Here the ו, and, may mean simple addition; and this number may denote 2,040 and not 42,000. At the last census of the Israelites (Num 26:37) the whole tribe of Ephraim only amounted to 32,500, compared with which this last number appears far too great.
Ibzan: am 2823, bc 1181, An, Ex, Is, 310, "He seems to have been only a civil judge to do justice in North-east Israel."
Bethlehem: Gen 15:19; Sa1 16:1; Mic 5:2; Mat 2:1
am 2830, bc 1174, An, Ex, Is, 317, "A civil judge in North-east Israel." Jdg 12:11
Aijalon: Jos 19:42; Ch1 6:69, Ch1 8:13
am 2840, bc 1164, An, Ex, Is, 327, "A civil judge also in North-east Israel." Jdg 12:13
nephews: Heb. sons' sons
am 2848, bc 1156, An, Ex, Is, 335
Pirathonite: Sa2 23:30
in the mount: Jdg 3:13, Jdg 3:27, Jdg 5:14; Gen 14:7; Exo 17:8; Sa1 15:7