Judges 12:8

8 Ibzan of Bethlehem, that had thirty sons, and so many daughters, deemed Israel after Jephthah; (And Ibzan of Bethlehem, who had thirty sons, and as many daughters, judged, or ruled, Israel after Jephthah;)

Judges 12:8 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 12:8

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 ^F24, 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 ^F25 are of opinion that he is the same with Ibzan; so Jarchi and Ben Gersom.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 7. sect. 13.
F25 T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 91. 1.

Judges 12:8 In-Context

6 they asked him, Say thou therefore Shibboleth, which is interpreted, an ear of corn. Which answered, Sibboleth, and he might not bring forth (the word for) an ear of corn by the same letter. And anon they took and strangled him in that passing (over) of (the) Jordan; and two and forty thousand men of Ephraim felled down in that time. (they said to him, Then say thou Shibboleth, which is translated, an ear of corn. And he answered, Sibboleth, and he could not bring forth the word for an ear of corn. And at once they took and strangled him at that crossing of the Jordan River; and forty-two thousand men of Ephraim were killed at that time.)

7 And so Jephthah, a man of Gilead, deemed Israel six years; and (then) he died, and was buried in his city (of) Gilead.

8 Ibzan of Bethlehem, that had thirty sons, and so many daughters, deemed Israel after Jephthah; (And Ibzan of Bethlehem, who had thirty sons, and as many daughters, judged, or ruled, Israel after Jephthah;)

9 which daughters he sent out, and gave them to husbands, and he took wives to his sons of the same number, and he brought them into his house; and Ibzan deemed Israel seven years; (which daughters he sent away, and gave them to husbands, and he found the same number of wives for his sons, and he brought them into his household, or his family; and Ibzan judged Israel for seven years;)

10 and (then) he died, and was buried in Bethlehem.