1. Judges 12:6 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

How does the number 42,000 compare to earlier numbers given in the book?

Judges 12:6 (ESV)

6 they said to him, “Then say Shibboleth,” and he said, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right. Then they seized him and slaughtered him at the fords of the Jordan. At that time 42,000 of the Ephraimites fell.

Ehud and Ephraim slaughtered “at that time about 10,000 of the Moabites” (Judges 3:29). Jephthah “at that time” slaughters 42,000 Ephraimites. Jephthah does more damage to a fellow Israelite tribe than his predecessor did to an enemy. It is a an entirely avoidable and totally unnecessary bloodbath.