Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 12:13
And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.
13. Abdon the Pirathonite ] Pir‘athon (2Sa 23:30 etc.) prob. = Far‘at, situated on a high rock a little to the S.W. of Nblus; 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.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
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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Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
And after him Abdon the son of Hillell, a Pirathonite, judged Israel. So called from Pirathon, where he was born, and which was in the tribe of Ephraim, as appears from Jud 12:15.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(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 Lords 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.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
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.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, the Pirathonite, judged Israel.’
“The Pirathonite.” So called from Pirathon, where he was born, and which was in the tribe of Ephraim, as appears from Jdg 12:15. It was also later the home of Benaiah, David’s captain (2Sa 23:30).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 12:13 And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.
Ver. 13. Judged Israel. ] See Jdg 12:11 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
am 2840, bc 1164, An, Ex, Is, 327, “A civil judge also in North-east Israel.” Jdg 12:13
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Abdon’s judgeship 12:13-15
Abdon (lit. service or servant) lived in the hill country of Ephraim. Pirathon was west and a little south of Shechem. He too had many sons and daughters who rode on donkeys, reflecting Abdon’s prestige and the peace that prevailed when he judged (cf. Jdg 10:4).
The fact that several of the judges fathered extremely large families points to their living like the eastern potentates of their day. This is further evidence that Canaanite culture was influencing the Israelites adversely. The judges’ lives evidenced mixed success and failure. Children are a blessing from the Lord (cf. Jdg 10:1-5), so even in spite of apostasy God continued to bestow grace on His people.