And the men of Ephraim said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus, that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Midianites? And they did chide with him sharply.
The men from the tribe of Ephraim said to Gideon, 'Why did you treat us this way? Why didn't you call us when you went to fight against the Midianites?' And they argued with him angrily.
The Ephraimites were upset with Gideon because he didn't invite them to join the initial battle against the Midianites, and they confronted him about it.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs after Gideon's famous victory over the Midianites with just 300 men. The tribe of Ephraim was one of the most powerful and prideful tribes in Israel, and they felt slighted by not being included in what became a glorious military victory. In ancient Israel, participating in successful battles brought honor, spoils of war, and tribal prestige.
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