because they came: Or rather, "when כי [Strong's H3588], (kee) they came down to take away their cattle;" for it does not appear that the sons of Ephraim were the aggressors, but the men of Gath, who appear to have been born in Egypt. This is the only place in the Sacred Writings where this piece of history is mentioned, and the transaction seems to have happened before the Israelites came out of Egypt; for it appears from the following verse, that Ephraim was alive when these children of his were slain. Reciprocal: Num 26:35 - Becher Eze 25:15 - to destroy Joh 11:19 - to comfort