Commento su Giudici 12:23

And crossed northward. They crossed the Yardein and travelled north in trans-Yardein to Gilod.

Since the contemptibles of Ephraim had said, "What are you ,Gilod?" The lowliest in Ephraim would mock Gilod, saying, "Of what significance are you, Gilod, among Ephraim and among Menasheh?" This is Targum Yonasan's interpretation.

The Gilodites captured the Yardein crossings. They posted sentries at the crossing areas.

Say Shiboles please. May I cross this river flow?¹Shiboles” is translated as “flow”.

Shibboleth (שִׁבֹּלֶת) – Just as they would test them with this word, so too they would test them with ever word that has a שׁ (shin) in it, and the Ephrathites would read it as שׂ (sin), and the text chose one of the words. And some say that he chose the word "שבולת" (shibboleth) because there was a flowing stream (shibboleth nahar) in the place where the Ephraimites were crossing, who would stutter on the letter שׁ (shin). Maybe the climate of their land was a factor! This is like the people of France, who do not understand how to read שׁ (shin) and read it like a weak תֿ (thaw).

They were not proficient in proper pronunciation. They were speech deficient.

Ivtzan. Boaz.²The husband of Rus, ancestor of King David. (Bava Basra, 91:a)