Judges 12:8

_AND AFTER HIM IBZAN OF BETHLEHEM JUDGED ISRAEL_ _ AND AFTER HIM IBZAN OF BETHLEHEM JUDGED ISRAEL._ After him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel. Since Beth-lehem is not followed by the distinguishing term Ephratah or Judah, it is most probable that the northern Beth-lehem is meant-namely, that in the territory of Zebulun (Joshua 19:15). Josephus ('Antiquities,' b. 5:, ch. 7:, sec. 13) says that, except being the head of a very numerous family, 'he did nothing in the seven years of his administration that was worth recording, or deserved a memorial. So he died an old man, and was buried in his own country.'...

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....

Verse 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. 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

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....

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 AFTER HIM IBZAN OF BETHLEHEM JUDGED ISRAEL. There were two Bethlehems, one in the tribe of Zebulun, Joshua 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....

IBZAN He seems to have been only a civil judge in northeast Israel....

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....

_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 (Joshua 19:15), now Bçt-laḥm, 7 m. N.W. of Nazareth....