4. The judgeships of Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon 12:8-15

These three men were quite clearly successors of Jephthah (vv. 8, 11, 13). Probably Ibzan followed Jephthah (v. 8), and then Elon and Abdon succeeded Ibzan (vv. 11, 13). The writer noted no special deeds of theirs either because they performed none or because he chose not to feature them in his narrative.

 Ibzan's judgeship 12:8-10

Ibzan, whose name comes from a root meaning "swift,"was notable for his 30 sons and 30 daughters, a sign of prestige and wealth in the ancient Near East (cf. 8:30). He contrasts with Jephthah who had only one daughter. Apparently Ibzan was a polygamist, and Jephthah was not. His "marriages probably cemented clan alliances and extended the scope of his political influence."²³⁷Ibzan lived in Bethlehem of Zebulun. The writer always identified Bethlehem of Judah as Bethlehem of Judah elsewhere in the text of Judges.

 Elon's judgeship 12:11-12

Elon, meaning "oak, terebinth,"also lived in Zebulun though archaeologists have not yet discovered his town, Aijalon.

 Abdon's judgeship 12:13-15

Abdon (lit. service or servant) lived in the hill country of Ephraim. Pirathon was west and a little south of Shechem. He too had many sons and daughters who rode on donkeys reflecting Abdon's prestige and the peace that prevailed when he judged (cf. 10:4).

The fact that several of the judges fathered large families points to their living like the eastern potentates of their day. This is further evidence that Canaanite culture was influencing the Israelites adversely. The judges' lives evidence mixed success and failure.