Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 12:8
And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
8. Ibzan ] His tribe or family is not mentioned. His city was probably not the Beth-lehem in Judah, because the Bk of Judges is not concerned with Judah; but the Beth-lehem in Zebulun (Jos 19:15), now Bt-lam, 7 m. N.W. of Nazareth.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
8 15. The three last Minor Judges
See introduction to ch. 10
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Ibzan of Bethlehem – Some have fancied him the same as Boaz Rth 2:1 of Bethlehem-Judah. Others, from the juxtaposition of Elon the Zebulonite Jdg 12:11, understand Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulon Jos 19:15.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. And after him Ibzan] It appears that during the administration of Jephthah, six years – Ibzan, seven years – Elon, ten years – and Abdon, eight years, (in the whole thirty-one years,) the Israelites had peace in all their borders; and we shall find by the following chapter that in this time of rest they corrupted themselves, and were afterwards delivered into the power of the Philistines.
1. WE find that Ibzan had a numerous family, sixty children; and Abdon had forty sons and thirty grandsons; and that they lived splendidly, which is here expressed by their riding on seventy young asses; what we would express by they all kept their carriages; for the riding on fine asses in those days was not less dignified than riding in coaches in ours.
2. It does not appear that any thing particular took place in the civil state of the Israelites during the time of these latter judges; nothing is said concerning their administration, whether it was good or bad; nor is any thing mentioned of the state of religion. It is likely that they enjoyed peace without, and their judges were capable of preventing discord and sedition within. Yet, doubtless, God was at work among them, though there were none to record the operations either of his hand or his Spirit; but the people who feared him no doubt bore testimony to the word of his grace.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of Beth-lehem; either that in Judah, of which Mat 2:6; or that in Zebulun, Jos 19:15.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. There were two Bethlehems, one in the tribe of Zebulun, Jos 19:15 of which some think this man was; and another in the tribe of Judah, the city of Jesse and David, and of the Messiah; and Josephus says x, Ibzan was of the tribe of Judah, of the city of Bethlehem; and because Boaz was of the same place, and lived in the times of the judges, the Jewish Rabbins y are of opinion that he is the same with Ibzan; so Jarchi and Ben Gersom.
x Antiqu. l. 5. c. 7. sect. 13. y T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 91. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Of these three judges no particular deeds are related, just as in the case of Tola and Jair (see the remarks on Jdg 10:1). But it certainly follows from the expression (Jdg 12:8, Jdg 12:11, Jdg 12:13) that they were one after another successors of Jephthah, and therefore that their office of judge also extended simply over the tribes on the east of the Jordan, and perhaps the northern tribes on this side.
Jdg 12:8-10 Ibzan sprang from Bethlehem,-hardly, however, the town of that name in the tribe of Judah, as Josephus affirms (Ant. v. 7, 13), for that is generally distinguished either as Bethlehem “of Judah” (Jdg 17:7, Jdg 17:9; Rth 1:2; 1Sa 17:12), or Bethlehem Ephratah (Mic 5:1), but probably Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun (Jos 9:15). He had thirty sons and thirty daughters, the latter of whom he sent away (out of his house), i.e., gave them in marriage, and brought home thirty women in their places from abroad as wives for his sons. He judged Israel seven years, and was buried in Bethlehem.
Jdg 12:11-12 His successor was Elon the Zebulunite, who died after filling the office of judge for ten years, and was buried at Aijalon, in the land of Zebulun. This Aijalon has probably been preserved in the ruins of Jaln, about four hours’ journey to the east of Akka, and half an hour to the S.S.W. of Mejdel Kerun (see V. de Velde, Mem. p. 283).
Jdg 12:13-15 He was followed by the judge Abdon, the son of Hillel of Pirathon. This place, where Abdon died and was buried after holding the office of judge for eight years, was in the land of Ephraim, on the mountains of the Amalekites (Jdg 12:15). It is mentioned in 2Sa 23:30 and 1Ch 11:31 as the home of Benaiah the hero; it is the same as (read ) in 1 Macc. 9:50, and Joseph. Ant. xiii. 1, 3, and has been preserved in the village of Ferta, about two hours and a half to the S.S.W. of Nabulus (see Rob. Bibl. Res. p. 134, and V. de Velde, Mem. p. 340). On the riding of his sons and daughters upon asses, see at Jdg 10:4.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Jephthah’s Successors. | B. C. 1112. |
8 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. 9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. 10 Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem. 11 And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years. 12 And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun. 13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel. 14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. 15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.
We have here a short account of the short reigns of three more of the judges of Israel, the first of whom governed but seven years, the second ten, and the third eight. For the transgression of a land, many are the princes thereof, many in a short time, successively (Prov. xxviii. 2), good men being removed in the beginning of their usefulness and by the time that they have applied themselves to their business.
I. Ibzan of Bethlehem, most probably Bethlehem of Judah, David’s city, not that in Zebulun, which is only mentioned once, Josh. xix. 15. He ruled but seven years, but by the number of his children, and his disposing of them all in marriage himself, it appears that he lived long; and probably the great increase of his family, and the numerous alliances he made, added to his personal merits, made him the more fit to be either chosen by the people as Jephthah was, or called of God immediately, as Gideon was, to be Israel’s judge, to keep up and carry on the work of God among them. That which is remarkable concerning him is, 1. That he had many children, sixty in all, a quiver full of these arrows. Thus was Bethlehem of old famous for increase, the very city where he was to be born whose spiritual seed should be as the stars of heaven. 2. That he had an equal number of each sex, thirty sons and thirty daughters, a thing which does not often happen in the same family, yet, in the great family of mankind, he that at first made two, male and female, by his wise providence preserves a succession of both in some sort of equality as far as is requisite to the keeping up of the generations of men upon earth. 3. That he took care to marry them all. His daughters he sent abroad, et maritis dedit, so the vulgar Latin adds–he provided husbands for them; and, as it were in exchange, and both ways, strengthening his interest, he took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. The Jews say, Every father owes three things to his son: to teach him to read the law, give him a trade, and get him a wife. What a difference was there between Ibzan’s family and that of his immediate predecessor Jephthah! Ibzan has sixty children and all married, Jephthah but one, a daughter, that dies or lives unmarried. Some are increased, others are diminished: both are the Lord’s doing.
II. Elon of Zebulun, in the north of Canaan, was next raised up to preside in public affairs, to administer justice, and to reform abuses. Ten years he continued a blessing to Israel, and then died, Jdg 11:11; Jdg 11:12. Dr. Lightfoot computes that in the beginning of his time the forty years’ oppression by the Philistines began (spoken of ch. xiii. 1), and about that time Samson was born. Probably, his residence being in the north, the Philistines who bordered upon the southern parts of Canaan took the opportunity of making incursions upon them.
III. Abdon, of the tribe of Ephraim, succeeded, and in him that illustrious tribe begins to recover its reputation, having not afforded any person of note since Joshua; for Abimelech the Shechemite was rather a scandal to it. This Abdon was famous for the multitude of his offspring (v. 14): he had forty sons and thirty grandsons, all of whom he lived to see grown up, and they rode on seventy ass-colts either as judges and officers or as gentlemen and persons of distinction. It was a satisfaction to him thus to see his children’s children, but it is feared he did not see peace upon Israel, for by this time the Philistines had begun to break in upon them. Concerning this, and the rest of these judges that have ever so short an account given of them, yet notice is taken where they were buried (Jdg 11:7; Jdg 11:10; Jdg 11:12; Jdg 11:15), perhaps because the inscriptions upon their monuments (for such were anciently used, 2 Kings xxiii. 17) would serve for the confirmation and enlargement of their story, and might be consulted by such as desired further information concerning them. Peter, having occasion to speak of David, says, His sepulchre is with us unto this day, Acts ii. 29. Or it is intended for the honour of the places where they laid their bones, but may be improved for the lessening of our esteem of all worldly glory, of which death and the grave will stain the pride. These judges, that were as gods to Israel, died like men, and all their honour was laid in the dust.
It is very strange that in the history of all these judges, some of whose actions are very particularly related, there is not so much as once mention made of the high priest, or any other priest or Levite, appearing either for counsel or action in any public affair, from Phinehas (Judg. xx. 28) to Eli, which may well be computed 250 years; only the names of the high priests at that time are preserved, 1Ch 6:4-7; Ezr 7:35. How can this strange obscurity of that priesthood for so long a time, now in the beginning of its days, agree with that mighty splendour with which it was introduced and the figure which the institution of it makes in the law of Moses? Surely it intimates that the institution was chiefly intended to be typical, and that the great benefits that seemed to be promised by it were to be chiefly looked for in its antitype, the everlasting priesthood of our Lord Jesus, in comparison of the superior glory of which that priesthood had no glory, 2 Cor. iii. 10.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
Three Minor Judges, vs. 8-15
One might wonder why the Lord inspired a record of these minor judges whose claim to fame seems to be so slight. They do not seem to have led Israel in great campaigns like so many others against enemies. Nor is any outstanding feat of any kind recorded for them. It may be that this is a mark of greater service by them than are the deeds of those who led military exploits. May it not be that the faith and leadership of these relatively unknown men was such that Israel kept closer to the Lord and was not dominated by an enemy. If so, and such certainly appears likely, they may be the “major” judges rather than those about whom much more is recorded, (Act 15:18).
All these judges were from the northern tribes. The Bethlehem from which Ibzan hailed was in the tribe of Zebulun. He was a prominent man and judged seven years. His prosperity is evident from the size of his family, which consisted of thirty sons and thirty daughters, and from the fact he was able to secure girls from other tribes as brides for his sons.
Elon was also from the tribe of Zebulun. He judged ten years and was buried at Aijalon, famous as the place over which Joshua asked that the moon be made to stand while he finished the battle against the Canaanites (Jos 10:12). This city was not in Zebulun, but near the border of Dan and Ephraim. It is not known why he was buried there.
Abdon was from the city of Pirathon, in the tribe of Ephraim, not far from the city of Shechem westward. His forty sons and thirty nephews (or grandsons, as the Hebrew should have been translated) were a band of seventy young men who must have been prominently known as they rode about the country together on their ass colts. Abdon was a very prominent man of his tribe, and was the son of a prominent man, Hillel. He judged for eight years. The twenty-five years of combined judgeship by these three men were evidently years of peace and prosperity for Israel.
The chief lesson of this chapter is well summed up in the words of Pro 16:18, which reads, “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.” Nowhere in the Bible, probably, is this truth more wholly illustrated than here. We see again, also, that the Lord uses men in many ways which may not be spectacular, but they fulfill the responsibility He has given them nevertheless, as in the cases of lbzan, Elon, and Abdon.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon Judged Israel Jdg. 12:8-15
8 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel,
9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.
10 Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.
11 And after him Elon, a Zebulunite, judged Israel; and he judged Israel ten years.
12 And Elon the Zebulunite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.
13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.
14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.
6.
Who was Ibzan? Jdg. 12:8
Ibzan was the ninth judge of Israel. He is identified as having been from Bethlehem, and Josephus says in his Antiquities of the Jews that he was of the tribe of Judah and from the city of Bethlehem (V, vii, 13). It is not certain that this judge was from the tribe of Judah since no definite note is made to this effect. As a matter of fact, it seems he was probably from the tribe of Zebulun in the North. Elon, who is mentioned as the next judge, was a man of the North. A town by the name of Bethlehem is found in Zebulun in the North. The Bethlehem in Judea is identified in some of the later chapters of Judges. In these later references the southern town of Bethlehem is called Bethlehem-judah (Jdg. 19:1-2).
7.
What state of affairs was indicated? Jdg. 12:9
Prosperity was apparent. Ibzan did nothing worthy of particular notice as far as any act of deliverance for Israel is concerned. He was blessed with thirty sons and thirty daughters, and he lived to arrange marriages for his children. Specific mention is made of his sending abroad to find wives for his sons. Josephus said he also arranged for the marriages of his daughters (Ibid.).
8.
Who was Elon? Jdg. 12:11
Elon is positively identified as being a member of the tribe of Zebulun. Like Ibzan, he did nothing worthy of mention, and no memorial was perpetuated in his name. His judgeship was ten years in length, and he was buried in Aijalon.
9.
Where was Aijalon? Jdg. 12:12
Aijalon is located by the Scriptures within the borders of the land given to the tribe of Zebulun. Another place by the name of Aijalon was in the territory allotted to the tribe of Dan (Jos. 19:42). Later this location was designated a Levitical city (Jos. 21:24) and was occupied by the descendants of Kohath (1Ch. 6:69). Here Joshua prayed for the moon to stand over the valley (Jos. 10:12). The town in the territory assigned to the tribe of Zebulun is unknown. The only mention of it is made here in reference to the judgeship of Elon.
10.
Who was Abdon? Jdg. 12:13
Abdon is described as being the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite. Pirathon is located within the land assigned to the tribe of Ephraim. Josephus says he was ordained the supreme governor after Helon (Antiquities of the Jews, VII, v, 15). Public affairs were peaceable in his days as well as in the days of his predecessors. As a result of the security which he found, no glorious action of deliverance is attributed to him. All his people seemed to be skillful in riding horses, and his forty sons and thirty nephews are mentioned as having each possessed an ass colt on which he might ride. His judgeship was eight years in length.
11.
Where was Pirathon? Jdg. 12:15
Many claims for identification with Pirathon are made for different places in Palestine. One of Davids chief captains, Benaiah, was from this place (2Sa. 23:30, 1Ch. 11:31; 1Ch. 27:14). W. Ewing in his article on Pirathon in the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia concludes that the place should be identified with Ferata, a place about six miles south and west of Shechem. Others conclude that it may have been a site in Benjamin since Abdon was from Benjamin and his family is known as a Benjamite (1Ch. 8:23; 1Ch. 8:30; 1Ch. 9:36). A place known as Pharathon was fortified by Baccahides (1Ma. 9:50).
12.
Where was the mount of the Amalekites? Jdg. 12:15
The Amalekites were nomadic peoples. They were the first to attack Israel when Israel was making her way out of Egypt (Exodus 17). At that time God foretold their ultimate destruction. They were the people whom Saul, Israels first king, was told to destroy (1 Samuel 15). At the time of the judges they were living among the Israelites and had evidently settled in a place long enough for the locale to be called the mount of the Amalekites.
Fuente: College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
(8) Ibzan.Nothing more is known of Ibzan than is detailed in these three verses. The notion that Ibhtsam () is the same as Boaz () has nothing to support it.
Of Beth-lehem.Usually assumed, as by Josephus (Antt. v. 7, 13), to be Bethlehem in Judah. There are, however, two reasons against the identification: (1) That Bethlehem is even in this book distinguished as Bethlehem Judah (Jdg. 17:7; Jdg. 17:9; Rth. 1:2; 1Sa. 17:12), or Bethlehem Ephratah (Mic. 5:1); (2) Judah seems at this epoch to have stood entirely aloof from the general life of the nation. There was a Bethlehem in Zebulon (Jos. 19:15), and as the next judge was a Zebulonite (Jdg. 12:11), and that tribe had been recently powerful and prominent (Jdg. 4:10; Jdg. 5:18), it may be the town here intended.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
IBZAN, ELON, AND ABDON, Jdg 12:8-15.
8. Ibzan of Beth-lehem Nothing is said by which we can certainly know whether the Beth-lehem of Judah or that of Zebulun (Jos 19:15) is meant. From the absence of the addition Judah, (compare Jdg 17:7,) and the fact that the next judge was also a Zebulonite, most commentators suppose that the Beth-lehem of Zebulun is meant. The notion that Ibzan was identical with Boaz, the second husband of Ruth and father of Obed, has nothing but a distant resemblance in the names to support it, and has very much against it.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.’
There were two Bethlehems, one in the tribe of Zebulun, (Jos 9:15) and another in the tribe of Judah. We do not know which one it was although, as Bethlehem in Judah is called ‘Bethlehem-judah’ elsewhere (Jdg 17:7-9; Jdg 19:1-2; Jdg 19:18), it was probably in Zebulun.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The Judgeships of Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon
v. 8. And after him v. 9. And he had thirty sons and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, v. 10. Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.
v. 11. And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, v. 12. And Elon, the Zebulonite. died, v. 13. And after him Abdon, the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, v. 14. And he had forty sons and thirty nephews v. 15. And Abdon, the son of Hillel, the Pirathonite, died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
EXPOSITION
Jdg 12:8
Ibzan of Bethlehem. It is uncertain whether Bethlehem of Judah is meant, or Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebu-lun, mentioned in Jos 19:15. Josephus says that Ibzan was of the tribe of Judah, and of the city of Bethlehem, and some have supposed a connection between the names of Boaz and Ibzan. ‘ But as Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah is generally called Bethlehem of Judah, or Bethlehem-Ephratah, and as Elon and Abdon were judges in North-East Israel, it is perhaps more probable that Bethlehem of Zebulun is meant. Dr. Robinson has identified it with a villagea “very miserable one”called Beit Lahm, six miles west of Nazareth.
Jdg 12:9
He had thirty sons, etc. From no record of Ibzan’s judgeship being preserved, except this domestic incident, we may infer, as in the ease of Jair, that no important events took place in his time.
Jdg 12:10
Then died, etc. Render, And Ibzan died.
Jdg 12:12
In Aijalon. Not Aijalon in the tribe of Dan, mentioned Jos 10:12; Jos 19:42, but another city, only spoken of here, whose name is probably preserved in the ruins of Jalun, four hours east of Akka. It is remarkable that the two names Elon and Aijalon are identical in Hebrew as far as the consonants are concerned. It looks as if Aijalon, which is not mentioned among the Zebulonite cities in Jos 19:10-16, was named from Elon, its possessor.
Jdg 12:13
A Pirathonite, i.e. an inhabitant of Pirathon in the tribe of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites (Jdg 12:15), afterwards famous as the birthplace of Benaiah, one of David’s mighty men (2Sa 23:30). The Pharathon which is mentioned in 1 Macc. 9:50, and by Josephus, following its authority, as fortified by Jonathan the brother of Judas may have been the same, though its collocation between Titans and Tekoah rather suggests a more southern position; and the Ferata found by Robinson between two and three hours from Samaria, south-south-west, on the way to Jerusalem, seems certainly to represent Pirathon.
Jdg 12:14
Nephews. Rather, grandsons. Hebrew, son‘s son. The number of his family, and their being all mounted on asses, are indications of his wealth and state (see above, Jdg 8:30; Jdg 10:4), and perhaps also of peaceful and prosperous times.
Jdg 12:15
The mount of the Amalekites. This name points to some incident of which the memory is lost, though, with the usual tenacity of names, the name which once recorded it survives. It may have been some ancient settlement of the Amalekites, who were a very wandering, wide-spread race, which gave the name; or it may have been some great defeat and slaughter which they suffered from the Israelites, whose land they invaded (Jdg 6:3, Jdg 6:33), just as the rock Oreb and the wine-press of Zeeb (Jdg 7:25) commemorated the victory over those princes.
HOMILETICS
Jdg 12:8-15
The calm after the storm.
Jephthah’s day of life had been a stormy one indeed. The strife with his own brethren; the strife with the children of Ammon; the strife between nature and superstition, and the throbbings of a distracted heart; the strife with the tribe of Ephraim, and the strife with a premature death under which he sunk, marked him as a “man of strife” (Jdg 12:2 in the Hebrew, and Jer 15:10) all his days, both him and “his people.” But now there came quiet, uneventful days both for Israel and his rulers. There is no mention of foreign foe or of domestic discord. Scenes of family life take the place of the martial muster and the bloody fight. There is nothing to record save how long the judges judged, when they died, and where they were buried. We infer, indeed, from the fact that there were judges the continual care of God for his people, and from the absence of invasion and servitude we infer that the people did not forsake God. But more than this we do not know, nor over how great a part of Israel these judgeships did extend. But the reflection cannot but arise that it is not good for a people to be in continual strife. Struggles for supremacy over enemies without, and conflict for the settlement of government at home, should have their term, and give way to enjoyment of prosperity and peace. The happiest times in a nation’s life are not always those that shine the brightest on the page of history. And so in the life of the individual. Though the surface of his life be not ruffled, nor its tenor varied by any startling changes, there may be a hidden work of God going on in the soul more momentous than the gain or loss of fortunes, or any vicissitudes of sickness and of health. Faith may be waxing stronger, and love may be burning brighter; patience may be perfecting her work, and the spirit of meekness may be steadily gaining ground over the spirit of wrath and intolerance; the knowledge of Jesus Christ may be filling the field of the soul’s vision, and the kingdom of heaven may be drawing nearer to the soul’s embrace, and yet the outward life may be monotonous and uneventful. Anyhow let us use the calm and untempestuous moments of our life to make undisturbed progress in the great business of our salvation; and in the assurance of God’s unwearied love let us pursue our own quiet round of meditation, and prayer, and praise. Great events and mighty deeds figure on the page of history, but the soul’s progress in holiness is worthy to be recorded by an angel’s pen.
Jdg 12:8-15
Cf. on Jdg 10:1-5.M.
Fuente: The Complete Pulpit Commentary
EIGHTH SECTION
three judges of uneventful lives in peaceful times: ibzan of bethlehem, elon the zebulonite, and abdon the pirathonite
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Ibzan of Bethlehem, Elon the Zebulonite, and Abdon the Pirathonite
Jdg 12:8-15
8And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel. 9And he had thirty sons [,] and thirty daughters whom [omit: whom] he sent abroad [sent out, i. e. gave in marriage], and took in [brought home] thirty daughters from abroad for his sons: and he judged Israel seven years. 10Then died Ibzan [And Ibzan died], and was buried at Bethlehem. 11And after him Elon, a [the] Zebulonite, judged Israel, and he judged Israel ten years. 12And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun. 13And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a [the] Pirathonite, judged Israel. 14And he had forty sons and thirty nephews [grandsons], that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years. 15And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites [Amalekite].
EXEGETICAL AND DOCTRINAL
The special value of the notices concerning these three Judges consists in the contrast which they offer to the fortunes of Jephthah. These three all have what Jephthah had not. They all have children in abundance, and are happy in them (Psa 127:3 ff.). Ibzan has thirty daughters, whom he gives in marriage, and thirty daughters-in-law. Abdon, likewise, has forty sons, and looks on thirty flourishing grandsons. The people is familiar with the places of their nativity, and knows where their sepulchres are. Indeed, some of these places, even with their old names, are not lost to this day. For even the native place of Ibzan, although it was not the celebrated Bethlehem, but another in Zebulun (Jos 19:15), has in our day been identified as Beit Lahm by Robinson (iii. 113). Keils remark that we are not to think here of the Bethlehem in Judah, must indeed be allowed, although the Jewish legend does think of it and identifies Ibzan with Boaz.3 But that this Bethlehem always appears with the addition in Judah (so also in Jdg 17:7), has its ground in the very fact that the other Bethlehem was not unknown. The definition in Judah could here be the less omitted because the next Judge also belonged to Zebulun.
Aijalon also, the place where Elon, the second mentioned Judge, is said to have died, and where he probably also resided, seems to be recognized in Jaln, a place of ruins (cf. Van de Velde, referred to by Keil). Pirathon,4 the birthplace of the third Judge, whose name Hillel is a highly celebrated one among the Jews of later times, was already recognized by Esthor ha-Parchi in the modern Ferata (), and has been rediscovered by Robinson and others (cf. Zunz, in Ashers Benj. of Tudela, ii. 426; Robinson, iii. 134). They all enjoy in fact every blessing of life of which Jephthah was destitute; we hear of their children, their fathers, and their graves; but of their deeds we hear nothing. They have judged, but not delivered. They enjoyed distinction, because they were rich; but they never rose from the condition of exiled and hated men to the dignity of princes, urged thereto by the humble entreaties of their countrymen. Of them, we know nothing but their wealth; of Jephthah, nothing but his renown. They had herds, but made no sacrifices. Their daughters were married; but the unmarried daughter of Jephthah survives them all as an example of the obedience and faith of every noble maiden heart. They had full houses, and widely known monuments; and Jephthah went from an empty house to an unknown grave: but his name, consecrated by the Apostles benediction, shines forevermore as that of a hero of faith. Such contrasts the narrator wishes to rescue from concealment. The heathen Achilles, according to the legend of the Greeks, chose immortal fame in preference to length of life and pleasure. What would we choose, if choice were given us between lbzan or Hillel and Jephthah? Or rather, let us Christians choose the Cross of Him who lives forever!
HOMILETICAL AND PRACTICAL
After Gideon and Abimelech, two peaceful Judges are named, concerning whose official life nothing is reported. A similar relation subsists between Jephthah and his successors. The comparison may serve for instruction. The result of Gideons deeds was glory and greatness; of Abimelechs tyranny, terrors and punishment. Both kinds of results were brought to view, for the instruction of the nations, in the career of Jephthah His victory was mighty against those without; his chastisement towards those within. The seed which he sowed in tears, sprang up in joy for others.
The three Judges have everything that Jephthah has not,children, paternal home, and commemoration of their death. But they have no heroic victory like his, and his only daughter is an example for all time. Jephthah judged only a short time, and died bowed down with grief and loneliness. But neither can prosperity avail to lengthen years. These peaceful Judges judged only seven, ten, and eight years, respectively. How different is Jephthahs life from theirs! But the kingdom of God does not move onward in tragedies alone, but also in meekness and quietude.
The teachings of God are calculated to serve truth, not to promote human glory. Worldly vanity strives for the immortality of time. It is a strange exhibition of human folly, when great deeds are performed for the sake of the monuments and statues with which they are rewarded. In the kingdom of God, other laws obtain. Jephthah is the great warrior hero; but neither the place of his birth nor that of his death is known. Monuments determine nothing in the history which God writes, but only Godlike deeds. The faithful who have died in God, are followed by their works.
Starke: It is better to bestow celebrity on ones native land, by virtuous actions, than to derive celebrity from ones native land.
Footnotes:
[3]The unhistorical character of the legend is the more evident, the more clear it is that chapter 12 treats only of northern heroes, whereas the narratives of southeastern aeroes and struggles begin at chapter 13, and continue ***own to Samuel and David.
[4]It lies on a Tell, which Jdg 12:15 calls the mountain of Amalek, perhaps from Joshua, the conqueror of Amalek, cf. Jdg 5:14.
Fuente: A Commentary on the Holy Scriptures, Critical, Doctrinal, and Homiletical by Lange
I include the whole of these verses, and of the reign of three judges, comprising a period of twenty-five years, within the compass of one view, not only for the sake of brevity, but because the Holy Ghost hath been pleased to have nothing more recorded of those men but that they lived, and reigned, and provided for themselves and families, and then died and were buried. Alas! is there nothing to be remarked of them, in their zeal for God? Do their histories furnish no monuments of having promoted the divine glory? Then have we nothing to record to their honour? Ibzan was born in Bethlehem. This may, as it ought to, to remind us of Jesus, being the memorable spot of Christ’s birth and incarnation. So far therefore, the history of this judge of Israel furnisheth out subject for meditation. But what a deplorable state was Israel, as a people, now reduced to, that in the history of all these judges comprising a period of so many years, we hear nothing of Israel’s altars, high priests, and offerings! What the prophet was commissioned to tell the church at another period, seems applicable also to this. Israel shall abide many days without sacrifice, and without ephod, and teraphim. But afterwards they shall return and seek the Lord their God, and David their king. Hos 3:4-5 . Precious promise then, and even before that period, though leading toward it, in the part of history we are now upon. For all the promises of God in Christ Jesus are yea, and amen. And our glorious David compriseth in himself all the promises of the Bible. The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head. Gen 3:15 compared with Gal 3:16 and Luk 1:72 ; 2Co 1:20 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jdg 12:8 And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
Ver. 8. Ibzan of Bethlehem. ] Hic dicitur fuisse Boaz, saith Vatablus. This some will have to be Boaz, the husband of Ruth, the Moabitess, and great-grandfather of King David. But this is a conjecture only.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Ibzan
He seems to have been only a civil judge in northeast Israel.
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Ibzan: am 2823, bc 1181, An, Ex, Is, 310, “He seems to have been only a civil judge to do justice in North-east Israel.”
Bethlehem: Gen 15:19, 1Sa 16:1, Mic 5:2, Mat 2:1
Reciprocal: Rth 1:1 – the judges Rth 2:1 – Boaz
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jdg 12:8-15. The Three Minor Judges.Ibzans home was probably Bethlehem in Zebulun (Jos 19:15), 7 m. from Nazareth, still called Beit-lahm. For Aijalon we should probably read Elon (so the LXX). Pirathon is perhaps Farata, near Nbls.
Fuente: Peake’s Commentary on the Bible
12:8 And after him {f} Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
(f) Some think that this was Boaz the husband of Ruth.
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes
4. The judgeships of Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon 12:8-15
These three men were quite clearly successors of Jephthah (Jdg 12:8; Jdg 12:11; Jdg 12:13). Probably Ibzan followed Jephthah (Jdg 12:8), and then Elon and Abdon succeeded Ibzan (Jdg 12:11; Jdg 12:13). The writer noted no special deeds of theirs, either because they performed none or because he chose not to feature them in his narrative.
Fuente: Expository Notes of Dr. Constable (Old and New Testaments)
Ibzan’s judgeship 12:8-10
Ibzan, whose name comes from a root meaning "swift," was notable for his 30 sons and 30 daughters, a sign of prestige and wealth in the ancient Near East (cf. Jdg 8:30). He contrasts with Jephthah who had only one daughter. Whereas Jephthah slew his daughter, Ibzan obtained husbands for his 30 daughters. Apparently Ibzan was a polygamist, and Jephthah was not. His "marriages probably cemented clan alliances and extended the scope of his political influence." [Note: Block, Judges . . ., p. 389.] Ibzan lived in Bethlehem of Zebulun. The writer identified the other Bethlehem (in Judah) as "Bethlehem of Judah" elsewhere in the text of Judges.