Judges 12:13

Jdg 12:13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

Ver. 13. Judged Israel.] See Jdg 12:11.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Jdg_12:13-15

Abdon . . . had forty sons and thirty nephews.

The time of peace

For our instruction this we may learn, that in the time of peace, when there is freedom from war and persecution in a land, there is great prosperity in every kind, as multitudes of people, building, purchasing, and growing in wealth and promotion. For though the plague and famine sometimes sweep away and diminish the number of people, yet they through Gods goodness not continuing long, nor sore, are the sooner outgrown; but the other, I mean war and persecution, make strip and waste, as we say, even as the violent fire burneth all where it cometh, and the raging waters drown. But when they cease, there is plenty for the most part going with peace, and there is with both great outward prosperity. Which is to be acknowledged a singular great favour of God, and to such as are able to use it aright it giveth much liberty and encouragement to live well and happily. And otherwise what is all jollity and abundance, if we have not learned and be not fitted for the right use of it? The which how few regard or look after, but only seek to pass their precious time in ease, vanity, play, idleness, drinking and such like; and the civiller sort to mind little else than to increase and gather wealth, the most of them not knowing why, but to content and please themselves thereby; to see how fondly, nay madly, so many do use this peace and liberty of quiet living, it is much more to be bewailed than the benefit itself is to be rejoiced for. And to think how in this time of peace good preaching should be in use throughout all parts of the land to hold down atheism, profaneness, and other sin, and that which should be all in all with us to bring many people to God, and yet how little is done this way, it cannot without much bewailing be thought on. Now if in this earthly mansion of ours He can allow His people so liberal and comfortable a supply of earthly refreshings meet for them, until they shall no longer stand in need of them; then what is like to be their entertainment at home in heaven, and what provision will the Lord make for them there, where all sound rejoicing is without end or measure? A great means to provoke them to serve out their time with cheerfulness and faithfulness when they consider that all things are theirs, both here and hereafter. All good things serve to make up the happiness of them who are Christs, who is Lord of all. (R. Rogers.)

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The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

(13) Abdon.—The name means “servant.” Some suppose that he is the unknown Bedan of 1Sa_12:11.

Hillel.—The first occurrence of a name (“praising”) afterwards destined to be so famous in the annals of Jewish theology. Hillel, the rival of Shammai, shortly before our Lord’s day, may be regarded, with all his faults, as by far the greatest and best of the Rabbis.

A Pirathonite.—And, therefore, of the tribe of Ephraim.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13. Abdon … the Pirathonite] Pir‘athon (2Sa_23:30 etc.) prob. = Far‘atâ, situated on a high rock a little to the S.W. of Nâblus; if this is correct, Abdon belonged to an Ephraimite family. In 1Ch_8:23 Abdon is a Benjamite; but the name was a common one.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And Abdon the son of Hillell the Pirathonite died,.... At the end of his eight years' government:

and was buried at Pirathon, in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites; in the place where he was born, and from whence he had the name of a Pirathonite; and this was in the tribe of Ephraim, and the particular spot was Mount Amalek; so called either from the name of the person to whom it belonged, or because the Amalekites formerly dwelt in it; or rather because of some remarkable advantage got over them at this place: here, Josephus says (e), this judge had a magnificent funeral.

(e) Ut supra, (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 7.) sect. 15.

Next: Judges Chapter 13

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

A Pirathonite - He was, therefore, an Ephraimite 1Ch 27:14. Its name still lingers in “Feratah,” 6 miles west of Shechem. The 25 years, apparently consecutive, occupied by the judgeship of Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, seem to have been very uneventful and prosperous, since the only record of them, preserved in the annals of their country, relates to the flourishing families and peaceful magnificence of two of the number.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Illel. Josephus reads "the son or servant of Helon," whom some have confounded with Ahialon, though contrary to the Hebrew. (Calmet) --- The author supposes that Abdon reigned in peace. But it seems that he and the two others preceding him in the government of the people, were forced to purchase rest by paying tribute. (Salien, in the year before Christ 1193.)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

13. A Pirathonite — A native and resident of Pirathon, a. city in the tribe of Ephraim, the modern Ferata, about six miles southwest of Shechem. In Jdg_12:15 it is described as being in the mount of the Amalekites, from which we infer that a colony of this people had early settled on this hill, and given it its most common name. Hence Ephraim’s root was in Amalek. See note on Jdg_5:14.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

A Pirathonite, i.e. an inhabitant of Pirathon in the tribe of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites (ver. 15), afterwards famous as the birthplace of Benaiah, one of David"s mighty men. (2Sa_23:30) The Pharathon which is mentioned in RAPC 1Ma 9:50, and by Josephus, following its authority, as fortified by Jonathan the brother of Judas may have been the same, though its collocation between Titans and Tekoah rather suggests a more southern position; and the Ferata found by Robinson between two and three hours from Samaria, south-south-west, on the way to Jerusalem, seems certainly to represent Pirathon.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Abdon ... Hillel

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Pirathonite ... Pirathon

Pirathon is the name of a place, someone who is from that place is called a Pirathonite. (See: How to Translate Names)

They rode on seventy donkeys

These men owned seventy donkeys, which they did ride. Here the word "rode" is used instead of "owned." AT: "They owned seventy donkeys" (See: Metonymy)

forty sons ... thirty grandsons ... seventy donkeys

"40 sons ... 30 grandsons ... 70 donkeys (See: Numbers)

translationWords

judge, judges

Israel

donkey

Ephraim

Amalek

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.