Reasons for the Syro-Ephraimite War

Roger Tomes’s compelling article entitled “The Reason for the Syro-Ephraimite War” presents his counter argument to the usual explanation concerning the reasons for the Syro-Ephraimite War. Although many modern scholars assert the position that the war was connected to the international politics of the period, Tomes argues that this is merely a possibility and that, in his view, the war was actually fought over local causes. The argument which Tomes is attempting to discredit …

…case of the Syro-Ephraimite War, each side can present a compelling argument promoting its position, but it’s all just a best guess scenario. Without further evidence, both sides are only arguing probabilities, not facts. In that sense, I do believe that Tomes has accomplished one of his goals which was to discount the account that international politics was the reason for the Syro-Ephraimite War was considered a fact of the history of ancient Isreal.