West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-11-27
SHBBlEIH.
Judges 1916. Then said they unto him
say now '.Shibbolsth;" and he said
''Sibboiefh.''


say now "Shibbolsth;" and he said
''SibboIeth.''
Two great tribes are before us this
morning. the tribe OF EphraIm and the
tribe OF Manassch. the latter represented
BY the Cileadites whom Jepthah lead.
These two great tribes also represented
the two sides Of the Jordsn-she east and
the west side. On the east side OF the
Jordan from North to South In order were
the Amorites OF Bsshan whom Or had
ruled. then those that had been ruled BY
Shon. then the Ammonites. then the
Moabites. When Moses conquered this
region IL was given TO the half tribe OF
Manasseh 10 the tribe OF Cad and TO the
name OF single mountain. but OF range
OF mountains and the name Gileadite was
. general name for any OF these dwellings
east of the Jordan. On the west side Of
the Jordan the rest Of the twelve tribes
dwelt grouped north and south Of Ephraim.
Ephraim lying almost opposite 10 Mount
Cilead. from which one might cross the
Jordan by the ford made so famous by this
word ShibboIeth. In the days Jepthah.
Az the time spoken OF In the text.
Ephraim had attended to the chief place
among the tribes OF Israel. David had not
yet been born and his tribe. the great tribe
| Of Judah had not yet captured Mount Zion.
Jerusalem was held by the Iebus,tcs. Il
took centuries to capture Jerusalem. Il
was SO strong. Judah had IS yet done
little Of that glorious history which made
| Il. faciie princeps. easily. In all Israel. At
the time OF our text Ephraim stood far in
advance OF Judah.
This chief influence OF Ephralm IL not
far to seek TO show It's source. what
David the Son OF Jesse did for judah that
Joshua the Son OF Nun did for Epbraim.
Joshua was the greatest OF the Ephramitcs
and had no successor. II 10 no doubt one
OF his marvellous personality and pre-
eminence that Ephriam rose so high. You
all recognize that In Ephraim thus being
first. we have an illustration OF the truth.
the last shall be first Ephraim originally
was not child OF Israel a. all u. e. jacob.
but acknowledgements father
was Joseph and his mother was On Egyptian.
the daughter Of an Egyptian priest. More
over he was not even her eldest son. but
the younger. II was by that famous cross.
Ing Of the hands OF the grandfather Jacob
as he blessed the two Egyptian-born boys
that the right hand falling on Ephriam's
head set him before his elder brother.
But that II not all. Jacob. the grandfather.
adopted the two lads and Instead OF the
tribe OF Joseph. Israel gave two tribes to
| Joseph-Ephraim and Manasseh. Nor was
| ,hie ali Nat 1rlv routd Entr ,,r, 10 - ~
| Joseph to whomlacob and all the children
OF Israel bowed. the greatest In the land
OF Egypt but now they glory also in Joshua
the greatest In the land Of Canaan. Nor
Is this all. Ephraim Is at this time pos
sessed OF the tabernacle. for It was then
at Shiloh city of Ephraim and there II
remained many years. So Ephraim stood
| first.
| Across the Jordan Is the land OF GiIesd.
there dweIt a hardy and rude people aud
among them none more hardy nor more
rude than Jepihsh. In those lswiess days
| Jepthah was born. the son of strange
woman and an outcast from his fathers
house. Rude and rough he lived aud rude
and rough men gather ed band about him.
In these hard conditions Jepthsh grew up.
| developing many noble traits amid much
that was coarse aud cruel Especially did
| Jepthah resent the cruel and full
treatment he received for the sin and
shame of his parents and when the Gilead-
ties begged him TO save them from their
| opprcssors the Ammonites he refused
unless they wiped out the stain OF his
birth from his name. Jepthah is greatly
blamed for his rash and hasty oath. IN
connection with this matter. to sacrifice
that which FIRST he met OF his fathers
house. II was his own daughter. Her he
sacrificed according to his oath. some think
by actually killing her; others think by
Withholding her from marriage all her
| days as vestaI virgin. sacred to Jehovah
alone This was that Jepthah--rash and
yet truthful rude and yet just. fierce and
yet honorable. A diamond In the rough.
and very ough !, was His trouble with
Ephraim is like his other troubles. Much
| that Is cxcosable. nay perhaps praise.
worthy with much that we. living 10 sentler
days. utterly condemn
The Ephraimitcs had grown proud and
ovcrbearing They needed taking down
4
thoroughly. Gideon. like Jepthab, had also
provoked their envy and malice. but
Gideon. unlike Jepthah. knew how to
mollify Il. Gideon was a polished states
man. Gideon did not use his sword until
he had exhausted all patience and all
| policy. Gideon reasoned and then fought.
but Jepthah fought first and reasoned after.
wards. Gideon spent much time az the
plans and policy and only fought OF
necessity. When therefore the Ephraimites
herccly accused and provoked Gideon.
saying; You did not call us TO the war
with the Midisnites." Gideon with the
greatest good nature replied: What have
done now in comparison with you Is
not the cleaning OF the grapes Of Ephraim
better than the vintage OF Abi.erer1" Are
not you Ephraimtes better than we OF
Manasseh7" SO the Ephrsinites swallowed
the compliment like a sweet morsel and
went away 10 high feather. Now when
they try the same procedure with Jepthah.
they find that they have very different
man to deal with. Jepthah was another
son Of Manasseh but OF a different home
Gilead was not Ab.efer. When the
Ephraimltes therefore 6erceiy accused
Iepthah and said why did you not call
us to 60 with you against Ephraim" II
was simply the old story OF THE dog in the
manger. that would not eat the oats. nor
let the horse eat them" Gideon knew
this as well q. Jep,bab but Gideon did not
let folks know all he thought about them
and Jepthah did. Jepthah told them plainly
that they we're not as anxious 10 90 up to
= battle as TO 90 up 10 victory. Il did
not call upon you. replied Jephthah. "and
ye did not believe me- then put my own
lie In my hands and the Lord delivered
me" The truth was too bitter for the
haugbtiest Of the twelve tribes and they