Judges 12 9

Judges 12:9 kjv

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.

Judges 12:9 nkjv

He had thirty sons. And he gave away thirty daughters in marriage, and brought in thirty daughters from elsewhere for his sons. He judged Israel seven years.

Judges 12:9 niv

He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years.

Judges 12:9 esv

He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

Judges 12:9 nlt

He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He sent his daughters to marry men outside his clan, and he brought in thirty young women from outside his clan to marry his sons. Ibzan judged Israel for seven years.

Judges 12 verses

Judges 12 9 Meaning

Judges 12:9 describes Ibzan of Bethlehem, one of the judges of Israel. The verse highlights his remarkable domestic prosperity and the extent of his family's influence through strategic marriage alliances. He had thirty sons, and for each, he arranged marriages, bringing in thirty daughters-in-law. Similarly, his thirty daughters were given in marriage to men outside his immediate clan or region, suggesting a widespread network of kinship ties. The verse concludes by stating that he "judged Israel seven years," defining his entire period of leadership by these domestic arrangements rather than military achievements, contrasting him with more prominent "deliverer" judges. This period likely represents a time of internal peace and social stability within Israel, where a judge's role might have centered on maintaining social order and fostering inter-clan relationships rather than leading wars against foreign oppressors.

Judges 12 9 Context

Judges 12:9 introduces Ibzan, one of the so-called "minor judges" in the book of Judges. He follows Jephthah, whose story (Judges 10:6-12:7) is marked by significant military conflict against the Ammonites and internal strife with the Ephraimites. After Jephthah's controversial vow and tragic death, Ibzan's period of judging serves as a brief interlude. Like Tola and Jair (Judges 10:1-5) before him, and Abdon (Judges 12:13-15) who follows, Ibzan is not described as a military deliverer but primarily in terms of his large family and the duration of his tenure. This context suggests a period of relative peace and domestic concern, perhaps hinting at Israel's continuing internal focus between major periods of foreign oppression. The emphasis on his marital arrangements likely reflects the importance of inter-clan and inter-tribal relationships during this period for maintaining social stability and political influence in the fragmented society of early Israel. This verse stands as a stark contrast to the previous military exploits and violent conflicts, painting a picture of stability centered on lineage and social networking.

Judges 12 9 Word analysis

• He had thirty sons,: The number "thirty" (שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים, shĕlōšîm) is significant. It denotes a large number, symbolizing prosperity and a flourishing lineage. In ancient societies, a large number of male heirs contributed to a family's power, wealth, and influence, providing labor, military strength, and perpetuating the family name and inheritance. This highlights Ibzan's affluence and perhaps his standing among the tribes.
• and he gave his thirty daughters: This is not just a descriptive detail but an action: "he gave" (וַיְשַׁלַּ֞ח, vayishlaḥ, 'he sent out'). The verb implies an active role in arranging these marriages.
• in marriage outside his clan,: The Hebrew phrase for "outside his clan" is usually translated from expressions like מִחוּץ לָכֶלֶף (mikhuts lakheleph) or לַחוּץ (lakhuts). Here it points to Ibzan sending his daughters "outside" his household, probably into other tribal territories or clans within Israel. This practice of inter-clan or inter-tribal marriage was a crucial political and social tool. It forged alliances, extended influence, ensured peace, and provided a means of social security in a period marked by disunity (Judges 21:25). It would increase his sphere of influence without warfare, ensuring mutual support.
• and brought in thirty daughters-in-law for his sons. This action ("brought in," וַיָּבֵ֥א, vayyave) implies that wives were procured for his thirty sons from external clans as well. This reciprocal arrangement reinforces the idea of extensive strategic alliances, making Ibzan a central figure in a widespread network of kinship, possibly bringing different Israelite families or even minor chieftains under his sway or at least within his orbit of influence. It was an essential way of integrating other families into one's own sphere of control or ensuring harmonious relationships.
• And he judged Israel seven years. The brevity of this concluding statement (and for the duration of other minor judges) indicates a different kind of "judging" than the military deliverance stories of Othniel, Ehud, or Gideon. His judicial role likely focused on arbitration, administration, and maintaining internal social order during a period that, from this verse's perspective, appears peaceful. The "seven years" duration is concise, characteristic of the summaries for the "minor judges," and stands in contrast to the more detailed narratives and often longer periods of the major deliverers. The text connects his domestic life and social network directly to his tenure as judge, implying that his judging was tied to these elements of societal leadership.

Judges 12 9 Bonus section

The term "minor judges" is an interpretive designation by scholars, not a biblical one. These judges (Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Abdon) share commonalities: brief mention, often defined by their family size (sons, daughters, donkeys), and the absence of narratives describing military deliverance from oppression. Their role may have been more administrative, arbitrating disputes, or maintaining internal peace, regional governance, and tribal integrity during relatively stable times. This contrasts with the "major judges" (Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, Samson), whose stories feature prominent military exploits and "deliverance" of Israel from foreign subjugation. Ibzan's extensive family, in particular, speaks to an ancient Israelite ideal of blessedness and fertility, where numerous offspring signify divine favor and contribute to a family's societal standing and endurance within the Promised Land (Deut 28:1-6). His influence, therefore, was less about coercive power and more about persuasive diplomacy and enduring lineage.

Judges 12 9 Commentary

Ibzan's brief mention in Judges provides a distinct glimpse into the role of some judges in early Israel. Unlike the major deliverers, his leadership is not characterized by military prowess against external foes or divine deliverance. Instead, the focus is entirely on his prolific family and the extensive marital connections he established. This highlights an aspect of leadership centered on social stability, influence, and the maintenance of inter-tribal or inter-clan relations through alliances. In a fragmented society prone to internal conflict (as seen throughout Judges), a judge who could effectively create a web of peaceful relationships through marriage, uniting diverse family lines, was indeed fulfilling a crucial role in maintaining "justice" and order, even if not through warfare. This portrayal implies a period of internal flourishing and domestic prosperity for his family, which likely reflected on the broader region he "judged." His tenure shows that judging in Israel could also mean successful administration and social integration, rather than just heroic combat, revealing the diverse ways leaders operated within the judgeship framework.