Judges 12:14

8-15 We have here a short account of three more of the judges of Israel. The happiest life of individuals, and the happiest state of society, is that which affords the fewest remarkable events. To live in credit and quiet, to be peacefully useful to those around us, to possess a clear conscience; but, above all, and without which nothing can avail, to enjoy communion with God our Saviour while we live, and to die at peace with God and man, form the substance of all that a wise man can desire....

EXPOSITION JUDGES 12:8 IBZAN OF BETHLEHEM. It is uncertain whether Bethlehem of Judah is meant, or Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebu-lun, mentioned in Joshua 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 village—a "very miserable one"—called _Beit Lahm_, six miles west of Nazareth. Judges 12:

AND HE HAD FORTY SONS, AND THIRTY NEPHEWS,.... Or sons' sons, that is, grandsons; so that he lived not only to see his sons married, but his grandchildren grown up to men's estate; since it follows, THAT RODE ON SEVENTY ASS COLTS; who were either employed by him to ride about on these animals, which in those times were honourable; see Judges 5:10 to administer justice throughout the nation in their circuits; or rather, not following any trade, or being concerned in husbandry, or feeding cattle, but being men of estates, rode about like gentlemen: AND HE JUDGED ISRAEL EIGHT YEARS; in his time it is said b the city of Troy was destroyed; so Eusebius c, who calls this judge Labdon, though he elsewhere d places it in the times of Eli; Judges 12:9. b Juch

CHAPTER 12 THE STRIFE--JEPHTHAH'S DEATH--THE OTHER JUDGES _ 1. The strife and the slaying of the Ephraimites (Judges 12:1)_ 2. Jephthah's death (Judges 12:7) 3. Ibzan, Elon and Abdon (Judges 12:8) The strife of Ephraim and their question reminds us of what happens under the judgeship of Gideon. There the soft answer turned away wrath. How different it is here. Jephthah in self exaltation shows a far different spirit. Notice the “I” in his answer. “I was at great strife”--”I and my people”--”I called you”--”I saw”--”I put my life in my hand.” A great strife follows. The Gileadites take the fords of Jordan and those who said “Sibboleth” were slain. Horrible record! Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were

THE THREE MINOR JUDGES. Ibzan's home was probably Bethlehem in Zebulun (Joshua 19:15), 7 m. from Nazareth, still called Beit-lahm. For Aijalon we should probably read Elon (so the LXX). Pirathon is perhaps Far-' ata, near Nâ blû s....

NEPHEWS. grandsons....

_The three last Minor Judges_ See introduction to ch. 10...

_Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon Judged Israel Judges 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?...

THE EPHRAIMITES QUARREL WITH JEPHTHAH. HIS DEATH 1-6. Jephthah and Ephraim. Once more the members of the leading tribe find themselves left out of the victory, and complain: cp. Judges 8:1; Jephthah deals with them differently from Gideon....

LIFE WITHOUT LAW JUDGES _PHILIP SMITH_ CHAPTER 12 V1 The men from Ephraim’s *tribe called out their army. And they went over the river to Zaphon. They said to Jephthah, ‘You went to fight against the army from Ammon. But you did not call us to go with you. So, we intend to burn down your house while you are inside it.’ V2 Jephthah replied, ‘My people and I had a great struggle with the army from Ammon. I asked you to help, but you did not come. V3 I saw that you did not intend to help. I risked my life and I fought against them. God gave me success. But you have come today to fight against me.’ V4 He called the men from Gilead. And he fought against the men from Ephraim’s *tribe. The men