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Judges 12:9
ESV He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters he gave in marriage outside his clan, and thirty daughters he brought in from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.
NIV He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He gave his daughters away in marriage to those outside his clan, and for his sons he brought in thirty young women as wives from outside his clan. Ibzan led Israel seven years.
NASB He had thirty sons, and thirty daughters whom he gave in marriage outside the family, and he brought in thirty daughters from outside for his sons. And he judged Israel for seven years.
CSB and had thirty sons. He gave his thirty daughters in marriage to men outside the tribe and brought back thirty wives for his sons from outside the tribe. Ibzan judged Israel seven years,
NLT He had thirty sons and thirty daughters. He sent his daughters to marry men outside his clan, and he brought in thirty young women from outside his clan to marry his sons. Ibzan judged Israel for seven years.
KJV And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daughters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.

What does Judges 12:9 mean?

While little is known about Ibzan, he stands in stark contrast to Jephthah in at least one way. Jephthah had one single child, a daughter, lost to him because of his rash vow to the Lord (Judges 11:30–31, 34–35). In comparison, Ibzan has thirty sons and thirty daughters.

Ibzan also seems deeply committed to building alliances between his clan and others. This might include those inside and outside his own tribe. By strategically marrying each of his children to the children of other clans, Ibzan likely solidified and expanded his own political power. In addition, he would have increased the interconnectedness between the Israelites, giving them stronger unity against the outside nations around them.

Ibzan's term as judge over Israel lasted seven years, until his death (Judges 12:10).
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