Illustration created for this project.
Ibzan
One of the minor judges, from Bethlehem, who judged Israel for seven years. What is recorded of him is his household: thirty sons and thirty daughters, with wives brought in from outside the clan for the sons and the daughters married out — a note about alliances and standing rather than deeds.
What we know — and how we know it
Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 2
Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 2
Origin & birthplace
ScholarlyBecause Judges pairs Ibzan with Elon the Zebulunite and Zebulun's territory contained its own Bethlehem (Joshua 19:15), many scholars argue Ibzan's 'Bethlehem' is the northern town in Zebulun rather than Bethlehem of Judah.
Geographic argument from Joshua 19:15 (Bethlehem in Zebulun); mainstream commentary on Judges 12.
Family & lineage
ScholarlyA long-standing rabbinic tradition preserved in the Babylonian Talmud identifies Ibzan, the judge from Bethlehem, with Boaz of the book of Ruth; this is a later interpretive tradition rather than an independent historical attestation.
Babylonian Talmud, Bava Batra 91a (identifying Ibzan with Boaz).
Tribe & people
BibleOf the tribe of Judah.
Judges 12:8
Where in scripture
JudgesAfter him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
Judges 12:8 — Judges Israel
Ibzan died, and was buried at Bethlehem.
Judges 12:10
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.
Places in their life
Photo: Neil Ward — CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)