And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands, and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hand: wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me? (Judges 12:3)
The men of Ephraim were more guilty, if possible, than were the Ammonites. It is difficult to tell whether Jephthah’s answer was given in a conciliatory spirit. At any rate the Ephraimites did not seem to be satisfied with his reasoning, for civil war ensued.