- The children:
- Some think this refers to a defeat of the Ephraimites mentioned in "And the sonsª of Ephraim;ª Shuthelah,ª and Beredª his son,ª and Tahathª his son,ª and Eladahª his son,ª and Tahathª his son,ª ... And Ephraimª their fatherª mournedª° manyª days,ª and his brethrenª cameª° to comfortª° him." {1Ch 7:20-22}; but it probably refers to the conduct and defeat of the ten tribes of which Ephraim was the head. Nothing is recorded in the history of Israel concerning the cowardice of the Ephraimites, as distinct from that of the other tribes. Some therefore think, "that the children of Ephraim" is put by a figure of speech for the nation in general. "Then ye answeredª° and saidª° unto¹ me, We have sinnedª° against the LORD,ª we¹ will go upª° and fight,ª° according to all¹ that¹ the LORDª our Godª commandedª° us. And when ye had girded²° on¹ every manª¹ his weaponsª of war,ª ye were readyª° to go upª° into the hill.ª ... And the Amorites,ª which dweltª° in that¹ mountain,ª came outª° againstª° you, and chasedª° you, as¹ beesª do,ª° and destroyedª° you in Seir,ª [even] unto¹ Hormah.ª" {Deu 1:41-44} + "And the childrenª of Josephª said,ª° The hillª is not¹ enoughª° for us: and all¹ the Canaanitesª that dwellª° in the landª of the valleyª have chariotsª of iron,ª [both they] who¹ [are] of Bethsheanª and her towns,ª and [they] who¹ [are] of the valleyª of Jezreel.ª ... But¹ the mountainª shall be¹ thine; for¹ it¹ [is] a wood,ª and thou shalt cut it down:ª° and the outgoingsª of it shall be¹ thine: for¹ thou shalt drive outª°¹ the Canaanites,ª though¹ they have ironª chariots,ª [and] though¹ they¹ [be] strong.ª" {Jsh 17:16-18} + "And the Philistinesª fought,ª° and Israelª was smitten,ª° and they fledª° every manª into his tent:ª and there was¹ a veryª greatª slaughter;ª for there fellª° of Israelª¹ thirtyª thousandª footmen.ª" {1Sm 4:10} + "Now the Philistinesª foughtª° against Israel:ª and the men²¹ of Israelª fledª° from beforeª¹ the Philistines,ª and fell downª° slainª in mountª Gilboa.ª" {1Sm 31:1}
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