Abdon Judges Israel from Pirathon

Abdon is from Pirathon and buried there in Ephraim, in the hill country called that of the Amalekites.

Elon's short tenure and burial precede Abdon. Judges 13:1 then reports Israel's renewed evil and forty years under Philistine power. Abdon's record belongs to the series of brief judgeship notices, not to the Samson birth narrative that follows.

Abdon's large family and brief tenure complete this sequence of judge notices.

Understanding the Big Idea

Abdon son of Hillel from Pirathon succeeds Elon as judge. The narrator records forty sons, thirty grandsons, seventy donkey colts, eight years of judging, death, and burial at Pirathon in Ephraim's hill country. These details close the succession notices before the next Philistine crisis, without a battle or moral verdict on Abdon's household.

To close the post-Jephthah succession notices with Abdon's family, eight-year judgeship, and burial before the next Philistine crisis.

Abdon's household and office cannot provide Israel's final rescue. The gospel is Christ's death for sins and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4), distinct from this short family and burial record.

1. Who is Abdon's father and where is he from?
2. How many sons, grandsons, and donkeys are named?
3. How long does he judge?
4. Where is he buried?
5. What is not stated about battles, rest, or the moral meaning of the numbers?