JU12-7: The REAL REASON Why A Ruler Took Many Wives

“After him Ibtzan of Beit-Lechem judged Israel.  He had thirty sons, and he had thirty daughters whom he sent abroad; he brought thirty women from abroad in to marry his sons. He judged Israel for seven years. Then Ibtzan died and was buried at Beit-Lechem.”-Judges 12:8-10

The Judge who came after Jephthah is Ibzan.

However, there are only 3 verses dedicated to him in all the Scriptures.

One thing we do know about him is he hailed from a town called Beit-Lechem or Bethlehem (House of Bread).

I’m sure you’ve heard of that town before.

But guess what, there were actually many towns called Bethlehem in the land of Canaan.

So this isn’t necessarily the same place where Yeshua was born.

In fact, this is probably NOT the same area as Yeshua’s birthplace.

The Bethlehem where Yeshua came from was situated in the southern region of Canaan in the territory of Judah.

However, if Ibzan succeeded Jephthah’s rule, there are really only 3 realistic possibilities in terms of the territory he would have controlled.

He would have ruled over the central northern part of Canaan, the east bank of the Jordan River or both.

Onward.

We’re told Ibzan had 30 sons and 30 daughters.

Not only did this mean he was quite a wealthy man, but it’s quite a contrast to Jephthah who had only ONE child, his daughter whose life he unfortunately ended because of his vow.

I wanna stop here for a second, because I think a lot of English Bible translations get verses 12:9-10 wrong…especially the Complete Jewish Bible.

The Complete Jewish Bible says…

“He had thirty sons,
and he had thirty daughters
whom he sent abroad;
he brought thirty women
from abroad in to marry his sons.”
-Judges 12:9-10

Oh my gosh is that an awful translation!!!

Let’s fix this right now.

You see where it says “he had thirty daughters” and then the next verse it says “he brought thirty women”?

It seems like we’re talking about a total of 60 women here, right?

Well, we’re not.

It was the same 30 daughters and they were all of gentile stock.

This makes a lot more sense and it also fits in perfectly with Israel’s falling away from the Torah during this dark era.

Even saying “Israel fell away from the Torah” is putting things lightly.

Because it goes explicitly against Torah instructions for an Israelite to marry a gentile.

But again, this all goes to show how the Hebrews were more interested in following the worldly customs of the day than in obeying God.

Let all who have ears to hear, SHEMA!

Why would Ibzan be interested in having his sons marry foreign wives?

There was only one reason: To create peace treaties with the surrounding heathen kingdoms.

That’s the way it’s been for centuries.

Intermarriage has always been the means for establishing alliances between nations since time immemorial.

King Solomon was famous for doing this with his many wives.

But again, Israel wasn’t supposed to do that.

Israel was to separate themselves from the GOYIM (the gentiles) and rely on God alone to keep them safe and secure.

Let’s close.