Smith

(servile).

1. A judge of Israel, (Jude 12:13; Jude 12:15) perhaps the same person as Bedan, in (1 Samuel 12:11) (B.C. 1233-1225).

2. Son of Shashak. (1 Chronicles 8:23)

3. First-born son of Jehiel, son of Gideon. (1 Chronicles 8:30; 1Chr 9:35; 1Chr 9:36).

4. Son of Micah, a contemporary of Josiah, (2 Chronicles 34:20) called Achbor in (2 Kings 22:12) (B.C. 628.)

5. A city in the tribe if Asher, given to the Gershonites, (Joshua 21:30; 1 Chronicles 6:74) the modern Abdeh, 10 miles northeast of Accho.

Arrowsmith

A city in the tribe of Assher, one of four given with its suburbs to the Gershonites Joshua 21:30; 1Chr 6:74.

ISBE

ab´don (עבדּון, ‛abhdōn, perhaps “service”; Ἀβδών, Abdō̇n):

(1) A judge of Israel for eight years (Jdg 12:13-15). The account says that he was the son of Hillel the Pirathonite, and that he was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim. No mention is made of great public services rendered by him, but it is said that he had seventy well-mounted sons and grandsons. So far as we can judge, he was placed in office as a wealthy elderly man, and performed the routine duties acceptably. Very likely his two next predecessors Ibzan and Elon were men of the same type.

An effort has been made to identify Abdon with the Bedan mentioned in 1Sa 12:11, but the identification is precarious.

A certain importance attaches to Abdon from the fact that he is the last judge mentioned in the continuous account (Jdg 2:6 through 13:1) in the Book of Jgs. After the account of him follows the statement that Israel was delivered into the hands of the Philistines forty years, and with that statement the continuous account closes and the series of personal stories begins – the stories of Samson, of Micah and his Levite, of the Benjamite civil war, followed in our English Bibles by the stories of Ruth and of the childhood of Samuel. With the close of this last story (1Sa 4:18) the narrative of public affairs is resumed, at a point when Israel is making a desperate effort, at the close of the forty years of Eli, to throw off the Philistine yoke. A large part of one’s views of the history of the period of the Judges will depend on the way in which he combines these events. My own view is that the forty years of Jdg 13:1 and of 1Sa 4:18 are the same; that at the death of Abdon the Philistines asserted themselves as overlords of Israel; that it was a part of their policy to suppress nationality in Israel; that they abolished the office of judge, and changed the high-priesthood to another family, making Eli high priest; that Eli was sufficiently competent so that many of the functions of national judge drifted into his hands. It should be noted that the regaining of independence was signalized by the reestablishment of the office of judge, with Samuel as incumbent (1Sa 7:6 and context). This view takes into the account that the narrative concerning Samson is detachable, like the narratives that follow, Samson belonging to an earlier period. See SAMSON.

(2) The son of Jeiel and his wife Maacah (1Ch 8:30; 1Ch 9:36). Jeiel is described as the “father of Gibeon,” perhaps the founder of the Israelirish community there. This Abdon is described as brother to Ner, the grandfather of King Saul.

(3) One of the messengers sent by King Josiah to Huldah the prophetess (2Ch 34:20); called Achbor in 2Ki 22:12

(4) One of many men of Benjamin mentioned as dwelling in Jerusalem (1Ch 8:23), possibly in Nehemiah’s time, though the date is not clear.

Naves

H5658

• 1. A judge of Israel, in the time of the judges Jue 12:13-15
• 2. A Levitical city Jos 21:30; 1Cr 6:74
• 3. A Benjamite chief 1Cr 8:23 Achbor
• 4. Son of Gibeon 1Cr 8:30; 1Cr 9:36
• 5. Son of Micah, called Achbor 2Cr 34:20; 2Re 22:12

Fausset

1. The tenth judge of Israel (Jdg 12:13; Jdg 12:15), probably the same as Bedan, 1Sa 12:11; for the Phoenicians often omitted the ‘Ayin ( ע ). Son of Hillel, of the tribe of Ephraim. He succeeded Elon, and judged Israel eight years. His rule was a peaceful one, since no oppression of Israel during his time is mentioned. The record that he had 40 sons and 30 nephews (or rather grandsons) who rode on young donkeys, implies their high dignity and consequence: compare Jdg 5:9. He died in 1112 B.C. Of him Josephus (Ant. 5:7, 15) writes: “He alone is recorded to have been happy in his children; for the public affairs were so peaceable and secure that he had no occasion to perform glorious actions.” A prophetical type of Israel’s and the world’s coming millennial blessedness (Isa 1:26-27). Pirathon, the city to which he belonged, is identified by Robinson with the modern Fer’ata, six miles W. of Shechem or Nablous (Bibl. Res., 3).

2. 1Ch 8:30, akin to Saul’s forefathers, 1Ch 9:35-36

3. 1Ch 8:23.

4. 2Ch 34:20; called Achbor 2Ki 22:12.

Easton

servile. (1.) The son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, the tenth judge of Israel (Judg. 12:13-15). He is probably the Bedan of 1 Sam. 12:11.

(2.) The first-born of Gibeon of the tribe of Benjamin (1 Chr. 8:30; 9:36).

(3.) The son of Micah, one of those whom Josiah sent to the prophetess Huldah to ascertain from her the meaning of the recently discovered book of the law (2 Chr. 34:20). He is called Achbor in 2 Kings 22:12.

(4.) One of the “sons” of Shashak (1 Chr. 8:23).

This is the name also of a Levitical town of the Gershonites, in the tribe of Asher (Josh. 21:30; 1 Chr. 6:74). The ruins of Abdeh, some 8 miles north-east of Accho, probably mark its site.

Concise Bible Dictionary

. The tenth judge of Israel: he succeeded Elon, and ruled eight years. Jud 12:13,15.

2. Son of Shashak. 1Ch 8:23.

3. Son of Jehiel, of Gibeon. 1Ch 8:30 9:35,36.

4. Son of Micha, 2Ch 34:20 : the same as ACHBOR, q. v.

5. City in the tribe of Asher, one of the four given to the Gershonites. Jos 21:30 1Ch 6:74. Probably the same as Hebron in the list of the cities of Asher in Jos 19:28. According to Gesenius, Abdon is read here in twenty Hebrew MSS. instead of Hebron, though most of the ancient versions favour Hebron. This is not the well-known Hebron which is in Judah’s lot. Abdon is identified with Abdeh, 33° 3′ N, 35° 9′ E.

Abdon [H5658]
David Cox’s Topical Bible Concordance

1. A judge of Israel, in the time of the judges Judg. 12:13-15.
2. A Levitical city Jos. 21:30; 1Ch. 6:74.
3. A Benjamite chief 1Ch. 8:23 Achbor
4. Son of Gibeon 1Ch. 8:30; 9:36.
5. Son of Micah, called Achbor 2Ch. 34:20; 2Ki. 22:12.