Was it a civil war?
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Question
Hello Rabbi, In the Book of Judges, it is mentioned that the tribe of Ephraim complained against Jephthah the Gileadite and wanted to burn his house. Jephthah and the Gileadites killed forty-two thousand from the tribe of Ephraim. Was this a civil war? Are there any commentaries regarding whether there was a justification for killing on such a scale?
Answer
Hello and happy holiday
Jephthah's justification for killing the people of Ephraim was the fact that they came to kill him.
Additionally, in Radak's commentary, it is mentioned that their killing was due to their sins.
Nevertheless, it is stated in Midrash Tanchuma that Jephthah was held accountable for their killing, and because of this act, it was decreed that his daughter would die.
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