BEDAN (bē'dan, Heb. bedhān, perhaps son of judgment)
A Hebrew judge who with Jerubbaal, Jephthan, and Samuel is mentioned as a deliverer of the nation (1Sam.12.11). The Book of Judges does not mention him. It is thought that “Bedan” is a misreading for “Abdon” (Judg.12.13) or for “Barak,” which is found in the LXX and the Syriac.A son of Ulam of the house of Manasseh (1Chr.7.17).
BEDAN be’ dăn (
בְּדָ֑ן; LXX
Βαδαν; meaning uncertain). The son of Ulam, a descendant of Manasseh (
1 Chron 7:17). The name also occurs in the Heb. text of
1 Samuel 12:11mg., 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 (
Judg 12:13).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915)
(bedhan, "son of judgment" (?)):
(1) One of the leaders in Israel who with Jerubbaal, Jephthah and Samuel is mentioned as a deliverer of the nation (1Sa 12:11). The text is questioned because the Septuagint, Syriac, and Arabic read "Barak" instead.
(2) A son of Ulam of the house of Manasseh (1Ch 7:17).
