Judges 12:8-10

Judges 12:8-10

[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. 

What does Judges 12:8-10 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Ibzan, whose name comes from a root meaning "swift," was notable for his30 sons and30 daughters, a sign of prestige and wealth in the ancient Near East (cf. Judges 8:30). He contrasts with Jephthah who had only one daughter. Whereas Jephthah slew his daughter, Ibzan obtained husbands for his30 daughters. Apparently Ibzan was a polygamist, and Jephthah was not. His "marriages probably cemented clan alliances and extended the scope of his political influence." [1] Ibzan lived in Bethlehem of Zebulun. The writer identified the other Bethlehem (in Judah) as "Bethlehem of Judah" elsewhere in the text of Judges.