Other Minor Judges: Following Jephthah’s story is a second series of minor judges, this time three. Their stories are placed here intentionally to communicate something the author wants to underscore. While they admittedly do not make the best stories for preaching texts, nevertheless these too are inspired Scriptures that are profitable for our instruction (2 Tim. 3:16). Each one’s story stereotypically follows the established pattern for minor judges with little variation, mostly those that describe the judge’s economic status.

12:8–10 The first judge is Ibzan of Bethlehem. Lest we think that he was a forerunner of King David, we must realize that this Bethlehem was most likely located in the territory of Zebulun, though Ibzan was probably an Asherite. As in the case of the other minor ju…