Ibzan of Bethlehem - Some have fancied him the same as Boaz Ruth 2:1 of Bethlehem-Judah. Others, from the juxtaposition of Elon the Zebulonite Judges 12:11, understand Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulon Joshua 19:15. read more
A Zebulonite - The tribe of Zebulon had shown its bravery, patriotism, and prowess in the time of Barak Judges 4:10; Judges 5:18. read more
A Pirathonite - He was, therefore, an Ephraimite 1 Chronicles 27:14. Its name still lingers in “Feratah,” 6 miles west of Shechem. The 25 years, apparently consecutive, occupied by the judgeship of Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, seem to have been very uneventful and prosperous, since the only record of them, preserved in the annals of their country, relates to the flourishing families and peaceful magnificence of two of the number. read more
Judges 12:9. Took in thirty daughters That is, took them home for wives to his sons. What a difference between his and his predecessor’s family! Ibzan had sixty children, and all married; Jephthah but one, and she dies unmarried. Some are increased, others diminished; all is the Lord’s doing. read more
Jephthah and five other judges (10:1-12:15)Little is known of the political or military activities of the judges Tola and Jair. They both exercised power for lengthy periods, and Jair’s family certainly enjoyed considerable power and prestige among the East Jordan tribes (10:1-5).Again the Israelites turned away from Yahweh and worshipped false gods, and again they were punished. The Ammonites conquered the eastern tribes, crossed Jordan, and seized large portions of Israelite territory in... read more
judged. First, deliverance; then rule. buried in one of the cities. City unnamed. Memory not honoured, though mentioned in Hebrews 11:32 ; yet the last name in that list. read more
THE DEATH AND BURIAL OF JEPHTHAH"And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.""In one of the cities of Gilead" (Judges 12:7). It seems quite unlikely that a man of Jephthah's stature would have been buried in some unknown place, and therefore, we are inclined to accept as very probably true the rendition of this phrase as it stands in the LXX, the Syriac, the Arabic and Vulgate versions of the Bible, "He was buried in his... read more
IX. IBZAN"And after him, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel. And he had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. And Ibzan died, and was buried in Bethlehem.""After him" (Judges 12:8). This means "after Jephthah," the preceding judge, as is the similar meaning in Judges 12:11,13."Ibzan" (Judges 12:8). "This name means swift (horse?)."[14]"Ibzan of Bethlehem" (Judges 12:8). Keil denied that this... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 12:8
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. We find that Ibzan had a numerous family, sixty children; and Abdon had forty sons and thirty... read more