Judges 12:8-15. In this passage we have three more judges of Israel raised up by God: one came from the tribe of Judah, another from Zebulon, and the third from Ephraim. Its doesn’t appear that these judges delivered Israel from any great threat. Rather, they lived in a time of relative peace. Here again, as with Jair, there is no recorded deliverance or special act of faith. Yet these ones were raised up by God, and we see they had a preserving effect on Israel. In spite of this, Israel eventually slipped back into sin, and Jehovah delivered them into the hand of the Philistines.

 

 

 

vv.8-10 Judgeship of Ibzan. The first of this series of judges is Ibzan, of the tribe of Judah, from Bethlehem. One sees in him a contrast with Jephthah. This judge leads peacefully, while the former judge was characterized by rashness. Ibzan’s name means ‘purity’, a contrast to Jephthah’s brutal treatment of Ephraim. He had thirty sons showed his care for them by finding wives for them, while Jephthah had one daughter, and in foolish haste offered her as a sacrifice while yet a virgin. One multiplied life, the other took life. Perhaps the peace that Izban enjoyed was a result of purity; “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable” (James 3:17). He judged Israel seven years, and was buried in Bethlehem, the little town where David, and eventually David’s Son, would be born.

 

 

vv.11-12 Judgeship of Elon. The second judge in the series is Elon, whose name means “strength”. We know almost nothing about him, and yet I believe there is a moral lesson in the meaning of his name. Strength according to the world is measured by numbers, muscle, and fear instilled in others. Strength according to God is founded on purity. Elon judged Israel for ten years, and was buried in Zebulon.

 

 

vv.13-15 Judgeship of Abdon. The third in this series is Adbon, which means “service”, who was the son of Hillel the Pirathonite, meaning “praise.” Abdon may represent service that results from a heart overflowing in praise. The order is important: worship comes before service, just as Mary had chosen that good part, which could not be taken away. Yet, when the soul is overflowing with adoration and praise, the hands and feet follow in energetic service for Christ. There is a striking similarity to Jair, in that Abdon had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy ass colts. Jair had thirty sons who likewise rode on ass colts. It speaks of wealth and prestige, yet it was not horses his sons and grandsons rode, but mules (Deut. 17:6), which denotes restraint. Abdon judged Israel eight years, died, and was buried in Ephraim.