Judges 12:8-15
8 Now Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel after him.
9 He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage outside the family, and he brought in thirty daughters from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel for seven years.
10 Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.
11 Now Elon the Zebulunite judged Israel after him; he judged Israel for ten years.
12 Then Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried at Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.
13 Now Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel after him.
14 He had forty sons and thirty grandsons who rode on seventy donkeys; and he judged Israel for eight years.
15 Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried at Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Ibzan, Elon, Abdon
The three judges
In Judges 10:1-5, we learned about Tola (the sixth judge) and Jair (the seventh judge). Although there are only brief descriptions about these two judges, we confirmed that the emphasis was on the “time of peace and prosperity.” This stands in contrast to the time of war and distress during the period of “Shamgar and Jael” (Jud. 5:6-10). Let’s read today’s passage also from the perspective of “time of peace and prosperity.” (1) Ibzan is the ninth judge. His birthplace, Bethlehem, is thought to be Bethlehem in the tribe of Zebulun, not the Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah. He practiced polygamy and had 30 sons and 30 daughters. This is a stark contrast to Jephthah who had only one daughter. He sought to secure peace through political marriage, by marrying his sons and daughters to those from outside his clan. His time as a judge lasted for seven years. (2) Elon was the tenth judge. He was a Zebulunite and served as a judge for 10 years. No further information is provided about him. (3) Abdon was the eleventh judge. He was an Ephraimite and served as a judge for 8 years. He had 40 sons and 30 grandsons. Abdon seems to have witnessed the adulthood of his grandchildren, as it’s mentioned later that they “rode on seventy donkeys.” Donkeys were a means of transportation for nobles during that time. This reflects the blessings of a peaceful era.
Blessed life
The 25 years during which these three judges ruled over Israel were a time of peace and prosperity. What is a blessed life like? One notable aspect of a blessed life is the scarcity of significant events. Within the order established by the Lord, when people maintain their consciences and aspire to live for the good of one another, a blessed society and individual life are realized. Above all, walking with God daily and departing this world with the peace of God is the hallmark of a blessed life. What does a blessed life mean to you?
Today's prayer
Heavenly Father God, may I find joy in You and walk with You today. I pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.