<strong>BEDAN</strong> (bē'dan, Heb. <em>bedhān</em>, perhaps <em>son of judgment</em>)<br /><br />

A Hebrew judge who with Jerubbaal, Jephthan, and Samuel is mentioned as a deliverer of the nation (<bibleref ref="1Sam.12.11">1Sam.12.11</bibleref>). The <span class="auto-link">[[Book of Judges]]</span> does not mention him. It is thought that “Bedan” is a misreading for “Abdon” (<bibleref ref="Judg.12.13">Judg.12.13</bibleref>) or for “Barak,” which is found in the LXX and the Syriac.A son of Ulam of the house of Manasseh (<bibleref ref="1Chr.7.17">1Chr.7.17</bibleref>).

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<strong>BEDAN</strong> <strong>be’ dăn</strong> (<span class="hebrew">בְּדָ֑ן</span>; LXX <span class="greek">Βαδαν</span>; meaning uncertain). The son of Ulam, a descendant of Manasseh (<bibleref ref="1Chr.7.17">1 Chron 7:17</bibleref>). The name also occurs in the Heb. text of <bibleref ref="1Sam.12.11">1 Samuel 12:11</bibleref>mg., in a list of judges, but this judge is not otherwise known, and the reading of the LXX and the Pesh., which have Barak (q.v.), is usually followed (so RSV). Others would interpret this as a shortened form of Abdon (q.v.), the son of Hillel, who judged Israel for eight years in Pirathon (<bibleref ref="Judg.12.13">Judg 12:13</bibleref>).<br /><br />

<h2>International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)</h2>

(bedhan, "son of judgment" (?)):<br /><br />

(1) One of the leaders in Israel who with Jerubbaal, Jephthah and Samuel is mentioned as a deliverer of the nation (<bibleref ref="1Sam.12.11">1Sa 12:11</bibleref>). The text is questioned because the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic read "Barak" instead.

(2) A son of Ulam of the house of Manasseh (<bibleref ref="1Chr.7.17">1Ch 7:17</bibleref>).