It can always be interesting to look at figures briefly mentioned in the Bible who are then described in much more detail in extrabiblical sources. How much do we believe sources outside the Bible when they tell vivid stories about men like Ibzan, a little-known judge of Israel?
While the Bible says little about him, the Talmud has a theory about his identity. Was Ibzan the same person as Boaz? Or was he someone else entirely?
What Does the Bible Say about Ibzan?
The Talmud, ancient histories, and other documents outside of Scripture contain some truth. They often confirm and add interesting details to the stories.
However, these extrabiblical texts also have strange moments. They often seem to contradict Scripture, giving alternative timelines and details. We treat those elements as legendary material, fun but not authoritative.
So, before getting to various theories about Ibzan, we must consult what Scripture actually says about him.
Ibzan appears in Judges 12 and is mentioned as one of Israel’s judges. Judges were the precursors to kings. They often had prophetic abilities, saved Israel from their current enemies (often working as warriors as well), and acted as mediators between the people and God.
We only get a few details about the judge named Ibzan. We know he came from Bethlehem. The Bible doesn’t specify his tribe but says he hailed from the same birthplace as Jesus.
It also tells us that he had many children: 60 in all. Perhaps he had multiple wives or just a very fertile one. However, he got a large family, and once he had it, he looked for ways to marry them off well. He ultimately married these children to people outside his clan, strengthening the nation of Israel through these many unions.
He leads Israel only for seven years. The Bible doesn’t say why he only lasted a while—perhaps due to old age or God selecting another judge.
That’s all we learn about Ibzan. When he dies, they bury him in Bethlehem. Then, the next judge, Elon, steps onto the scene, and we get more judges until King Saul eventually appears.
So, what do extrabiblical resources say about Ibzan, and can we trust its information?
What Does the Talmud and Josephus Tell Us about Ibzan?
Ibzan is one of those minor characters who may have a wilder backstory—depending on how much stake we put into the Talmud and Josephus’ writings.
One of the books collected as Josephus’ Histories details Ibzan. Josephus was a Jewish historian who lived long after the events of the judges (most of his books were written between 75 and 99 AD). He documented the history of the Jewish people while living in a Roman-occupied world.
The Talmud is a collection of commentaries by various rabbis, providing their thoughts on various biblical accounts. The commentaries were written several centuries after Josephus’ work (200-500 AD).
Looking at these two documents, here’s what we are told about Ibzan.
- Ibzan went by another name, Boaz. Many Jewish scholars believed that the same Boaz who wedded Ruth in the Book of Ruth also served as a judge of Israel. He was known to be a pious man, which does align with Scripture’s description of him. Scripture neither confirms nor denies this idea. It merely mentions that he was related to Naomi and serves as a kinsman-redeemer for the widowed Ruth.
- Ibzan stepped in during a period of famine and loss. Israel really needed a wise judge, especially during an intense famine. The famine was so bad that Naomi and her husband Elimelech fled to Moab with their sons during this period. It’s unclear whether Ibzan stepped in to help right after or during the famine, but Israel would’ve been recovering when Ruth stepped onto the scene.
- Ibzan may have lost all his children at once. Manoah, the father of the judge Samson, makes a cameo in Josephus’ work. Apparently, Ibzan looks down on Manoah for not having any children at that time. So, Ibzan doesn’t invite Manoah to his children’s wedding parties. In an honor-based culture, a slight like that would be shocking. Because of this, Ibzan ends up losing all of his children. The Bible never says whether or not these two events happened. We know Boaz doesn’t seem to have many heirs (no named ones anyway) when Ruth steps onto the scene. Perhaps he had lost his family earlier on in life.
- Ibzan would’ve been very old when he met Ruth. The detail does align with what we know in Scripture. According to rabbinical literature, Boaz would’ve been 80 and Ruth about 40 when they met. This could match the chronology we see in the Bible since Ruth’s husband died after 10 years of marriage. However, Ruth would’ve been rather old by ancient societal standards to get married for the first time at 30. Most ancient cultures married women off in their teenage years (as early as 13). If Ibzan truly had all his children taken away from him, then Ruth would’ve had his last chance to have an heir. According to rabbinical literature, he had to fight hard for the union with Ruth since many people pointed out that he couldn’t get married to a Moabite woman. He explains how the rule doesn’t hold up to this situation and fulfills his duties as a kinsman-redeemer.
- Ibzan may have died after his wedding night. According to Jewish literature, after Ruth and Boaz (or Ibzan) consummated, he died the next day. Nine months later, Ruth gives birth to Obed, and through Obed, we later get King David and eventually Jesus. Scripture doesn’t mention Boaz dying, much less in this dramatic way. It does make an interesting irony: Ibzan doesn’t live long enough to raise his son, but he gets to contribute to the line of David and the Messiah.
Looking at the information above, it’s hard to corroborate what’s true and what was fashioned during the post-exilic period. Many stories emerged after the Israelites returned to Israel following the Babylonian captivity. Certainly, we can see some similar traits between Boaz and Ibzan: they live in similar periods, and both seem to be known for their honor and godliness. However, that’s not enough to say if they were the same person.
What Can We Learn from Ibzan in the Bible?
Granting that there’s a lot we don’t know for sure about Ibzan, we can learn a few things from the Bible’s details.
- He was a righteous judge. The many judges who appeared after Ibzan varied in quality. Especially after Samson, it’s rare to see good judges ruling over Israel. Their morality seems to depreciate as time goes on. As leaders come and go, we should appreciate the ones who stand for goodness, especially in complicated times.
- He tried to be a good father. Sixty kids is a lot, and we have no idea how many wives it took to get there. But, particularly in a culture that prioritized family legacies, producing children to carry on names and estates was considered highly important. It may have been especially important at a time when Israel had become divided. Marriages were a way to unite families and clans. So, Ibzan had many children and married them to outside clans, which was strategic and the right thing to do in his culture. Whether he lost all these children due to some arrogance is hard to say another matter. But we know that he had good intentions with the unions.
- He served God as best he could. He may have been Boaz or not. Perhaps, in the end, it doesn’t matter much whether they were the same man. What does matter is that the Bible affirms they were godly men who ruled wisely and worked to bring the Israelites closer—to each other and to God.
Photo Credit: public domain print by Jan Snellinck via Wikimedia Commons
Hope Bolinger is an acquisitions editor at End Game Press, book editor for hire, and the author of almost 30 books. More than 1500 of her works have been featured in various publications. Check out her books at hopebolinger.com for clean books in most genres, great for adults and kids. Check out her editing profile at Reedsy.com to find out about hiring her for your next book project.
This article is part of our People of Christianity catalog that features the stories, meaning, and significance of well-known people from the Bible and history. Here are some of the most popular articles for knowing important figures in Christianity:
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