Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 12:8

"And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel." — Judges 12:8 (ASV)

Ibzan. —Nothing more is known of Ibzan than is detailed in these three verses. The notion that Ibhtsam (אבצו) is the same as Boaz (בֹּ֫עַז) has nothing to support it.

Of Bethlehem. —It is usually assumed, as by Josephus (Antt. v. 7, § 13), to be Bethlehem in Judah.

There are, however, two reasons against this identification:

1. Bethlehem is even in this book distinguished as Bethlehem Judah (Judges 17:7, 9; Ruth 1:2; 1 Samuel 17:12), or Bethlehem Ephratah (Micah 5:1).

2. Judah seems at this epoch to have stood entirely aloof from the general life of the nation.

There was a Bethlehem in Zebulun (Joshua 19:15). Since the next judge was a Zebulonite (Judges 12:11), and that tribe had recently been powerful and prominent (Judges 4:10; Judges 5:18), it may be the town intended here.