Judges 12:6

Shibboleth … Sibboleth An interesting proof of the difference in dialect between the eastern and western tribes. By confusion of sounds shibbôleth(שׁבלת) would become sibbôleth(שׂבלת), and then sibbôleth(סבלת the form here); though liable to confusion in pronunciation, the letters shin(ש) and sâmekh(ס) are etymologically quite distinct. The word means -ear of grain" (Genesis 41:5 ff., Isaiah 17:5 etc., Assyr. šubultu) or -flood," -stream" (Isaiah 27:12; Psalms 69:2; Psalms 69:15), in the latter sense only in late writings; in this early narrative it would probably have been understood to mean -ear 1 [46]." A modern parallel is to be found in Doughty, Arabia Desertai. p. 155: "A battalion of Ibrahîm Pasha's troops had been closed in and disarmed by the redoubtable Druses in the Léja. The Druses coming on to cut them in pieces, a certain Damascene soldier among them cried out, -Aha! neighbours, grant protection at least to the Shwâm (Syrians), which are children of the same soil as you." It was answered, They would spare them if they could discern them. -Let me alone for that," said the Damascene; and if they caused the soldiers to pass one by one he would discern them. It was granted, and he challenged them thus, - Ragal, O man, say Gamel!" Every Syrian answered Jemel; and in this manner he saved his countrymen and the Damascenes."

[46] The -ear of wheat" was an ancient symbol of Ishtar, the goddess of heaven; and in later astronomy the Aramaic shebeltawas the name of the Virgo Spicifera in the Zodiac: possibly, therefore, popular religious associations may have had something to do with the choice of the test word, as well as its tell-tale sibilant, See Winckler, Gesch. Isr.ii. 277 f.; KAT.3, 428; A. Jeremias, Das A.T. im Lichte des Alt. Or.2, 109.

could not frame A doubtful rendering. For yâkîn(impf.) read yâkôl(perf.) was not able; so Syr., cf. Vulgate non valens.

forty and two thousand Obviously an exaggeration. Cf. Judges 8:10 n.