Judges 12:12

And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) Was buried in Aijalon.—There is a play of words between אלון (Elon) and איילון (Ayalon), which is precisely the same word, though with different vowelpoints. It means not “a terebinth,” but “gazelle.” Ajalon is not Yalo, which is in the tribe of Dan (Joshua 10:12; 1Samuel 14:31); and it is at least doubtful whether it should not be read Elon, as in the LXX. (Ailon, both for the judge and his burial-place), in which case we must suppose that the place was named from him. It is not mentioned elsewhere.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

12:8-15 We have here a short account of three more of the judges of Israel. The happiest life of individuals, and the happiest state of society, is that which affords the fewest remarkable events. To live in credit and quiet, to be peacefully useful to those around us, to possess a clear conscience; but, above all, and without which nothing can avail, to enjoy communion with God our Saviour while we live, and to die at peace with God and man, form the substance of all that a wise man can desire.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A Zebulonite - The tribe of Zebulon had shown its bravery, patriotism, and prowess in the time of Barak Judges 4:10; Judges 5:18.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

7. Jephthah died—After a government of six years, this mighty man of valor died; and however difficult it may be for us to understand some passages in his history, he has been ranked by apostolic authority among the worthies of the ancient church. He was followed by a succession of minor judges, of whom the only memorials preserved relate to the number of their families and their state [Jud 12:8-15].

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Elon the Zebulonite died,.... At the end of his ten years of government:

and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun; which is added to distinguish it from another Aijalon in the tribe of Dan Jdg 1:35.

Geneva Study Bible

And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was buried in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

12. Elon … Aijalon] Nothing here but a name and a burying-place. Both probably should be pronounced alike, as in the LXX, for the consonants are practically identical; and the form should be Elon, this being the name of one of the ‘sons,’ i.e. families, of Zebulun, Genesis 46:14, Numbers 26:26. The home of the clan was called by the name of the clan; and there the grave was shewn. See on Jdg 10:2. In these notices of the Minor Judges have we traditions of individuals or of clans? Partly, perhaps, of the one and partly of the other. The names are clan-names; the ‘sons’ and ‘daughters’ (Jdg 10:4, Jdg 12:9; Jdg 12:14) may represent clan developments and alliances; on the other hand the judgeship and the burying-place seem to preserve the memory of an individual.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - In Aijalon. Not Aijalon in the tribe of Dan, mentioned Joshua 10:12; Joshua 19:42, but another city, only spoken of here, whose name is probably preserved in the ruins of Jalun, four hours east of Akka. It is remarkable that the two names Elon and Aijalon are identical in Hebrew as far as the consonants are concerned. It looks as if Aijalon, which is not mentioned among the Zebulonite cities in Joshua 19:10-16, was named from Elon, its possessor. Judges 12:12

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

His successor was Elon the Zebulunite, who died after filling the office of judge for ten years, and was buried at Aijalon, in the land of Zebulun. This Aijalon has probably been preserved in the ruins of Jaln, about four hours' journey to the east of Akka, and half an hour to the S.S.W. of Mejdel Kerun (see V. de Velde, Mem. p. 283).