Scripture's selective accounts - Ruminating in the Word of God

The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing,
majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of
him and what came to my mind and heart in Judges 12:8, 11, 13,

"After him [Jephthah], Ibzan of Bethlehem led Israel... After him,
Elon the Zebulunite led Israel ten years... After him, Abdon son of
Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel."

We have some accounts of what took place during the six years Jephthah
led Israel. Next in the book of Judges we read of Ibzan, Elon and
Abdon, who led Israel for seven years, ten years and eight years
respectively. Following what is said about these three, we read of the
exploits of Samson. The accounts of Jephthah span most of three
chapters and the accounts of Samson span four, Jephthah led Israel six
years and Samson twenty years. In between we have a period of twenty
five years when the three, Ibzan, Elon and Abdon led Israel in eight
short verses.

What is striking about the accounts of Ibzan, Elon and Abdon is what
is not there. We read nothing of their leadership, we read nothing of
their exploits as we do Jephthah and Samson, there is almost nothing
said. Why is that?

All we know of Ibzan was that he was from Bethlehem, he led Israel for
seven years, he had thirty sons and thirty daughters, all of whom he
married off, and he was buried in Bethlehem. That's it. Nothing about
the challenges the nation faced that required his leadership. Nothing
about God's activities in Israel at the time. No accounts that
distinguished Ibzan as a leader, what he might have accomplished, what
influence he might have had on the nation. There is even less given
about Elon. All we hear of him is that he was a Zebulunite, led Israel
for ten years and was buried in Aijalon when he died. We read Abdon
was the son of Hillel, from Pirathon, he led Israel eight years, had
forty sons and thirty grandsons, all of whom rode their own donkeys
and was buried at Pirathon when he died.

Why is so little given of these three? The book of Judges is an
historical account of the nation of Israel during the span of time
between Moses and Joshua to the establishment of monarchy starting
with Saul. Following the Pentateuch and Joshua's leadership in taking
Israel into the promised land, the book of Judges fills that period of
time up to Samuel, Saul, David and Solomon and the resulting dividing
of the nation following Solomon. It is an account of the depravity the
nation had sunk to following the passing of Moses, Joshua and those
who led Israel through their forty year wandering. In it we read of
the nation's abandonment of God to embrace the false gods and idols of
her neighbors. We read of a time when "everyone did as he saw fit" as
the nation declined into an abyss of murder, rape, homosexuality,
human sacrifice and the like.

We also read of God's involvement in the nation. We see his anger
expressed against his chosen people as they turned from him. We see
how God took action to get their attention and to draw them back to
him. We see how he relented and blessed the nation when they would cry
out to him. The book is a primer on God's righteousness, his justice,
his mercy and his interaction with sinful people. It is instructive on
how God draws people to himself, how he rights the nation as a ship he
will use to eventually bring about his plan of redemption for all
mankind.

As such, what we find in its accounts is that which is useful and
meaningful to what the book seeks to accomplish. It is not history for
history's sake, it is history to teach us about the sinful depravity
of man's heart and how God works with his rebellious people in a cycle
where we see rebellion, purposeful judgment, repentance, restoration
of the nation and subsequent rebellion with the cycle repeated, over
and over.

I can only speculate why we know none of the activities of Ibzan, Elon
and Abdon. Possibly nothing in their story furthers the message of the
book of Judges. Possibly as leaders of Israel at a time of depravity,
apostasy and sinful rebellion, their own wickedness precluded God's
desire to have anything of their exploits included in his Scriptures.
Then, again, I could be way off the mark here.

What I do know is that what I need is found in the pages of Judges.
God took effort, and using a human instrument, he had the book written
to provide the accounts we all need to be equipped in the way he wants
us to be. Everything isn't there. What we need is. I am reminded of
Paul's comment to Timothy, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is
useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in
righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for
every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17. There Paul says all of Scripture
is useful and he also says that the Scriptures are adequate to
"thoroughly" equip us. If Judges doesn't provide the accounts of these
men, apparently I don't need it.

Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share
what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to
hear from you!

Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com