Judges 12:13
New International Version
After him, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, led Israel.

New Living Translation
After Elon died, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel.

English Standard Version
After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

Berean Standard Bible
After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel.

Berean Literal Bible
And after him Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel,

King James Bible
And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

New King James Version
After him, Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

New American Standard Bible
Now Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel after him.

NASB 1995
Now Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel after him.

NASB 1977
Now Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel after him.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel after him.

Amplified Bible
Now after him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

Berean Annotated Bible
After Elon, Abdon (servile) son of Hillel (praising), from Pirathon, judged Israel (he wrestles with God).

Christian Standard Bible
After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, who was from Pirathon, judged Israel.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, who was from Pirathon, judged Israel.

American Standard Version
And after him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

English Revised Version
And after him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
After Elon, Abdon, son of Hillel, from Pirathon judged Israel.

Good News Translation
After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel from Pirathon led Israel.

International Standard Version
Hillel the Pirathonite's son Abdon governed Israel after him.

NET Bible
After him Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite led Israel.

New Heart English Bible
After him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

Webster's Bible Translation
And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel.

World English Bible
After him, Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And after him, Abdon son of Hillel, the Pirathonite, judges Israel,

Berean Literal Bible
And after him Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel,

Young's Literal Translation
And after him, Abdon son of Hillel, the Pirathonite, judgeth Israel,

Smith's Literal Translation
And after him Abdon, son of Hillel the Pirathonite, will judge Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
After him Abdon, the son of Illel, a Pharathonite, judged Israel:

Catholic Public Domain Version
After him, Abdon, the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

New American Bible
After him Abdon, son of Hillel, the Pirathonite, judged Israel.

New Revised Standard Version
After him Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And after him Acran the son of Hillian, the Aprathonite, judged Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And after him, Akran son of Helyan, the Aphrathunite, judged Israel
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And after him Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite judged Israel.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And after him Abdon the son of Ellel, the Pharathonite, judged Israel.

Additional Translations ...



Context
Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon
12Then Elon the Zebulunite died, and he was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun. 13After Elon, Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, judged Israel. 14He had forty sons and thirty grandsons, who rode on seventy donkeys. And he judged Israel eight years.…

Cross References
After Elon,

Judges 10:1
After the time of Abimelech, a man of Issachar, Tola son of Puah, the son of Dodo, rose up to save Israel. He lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim.

Judges 2:16
Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them from the hands of those who plundered them.

Acts 13:20
All this took about 450 years. After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet.
Abdon son of Hillel,

Judges 3:15
And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up Ehud son of Gera, a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer. So they sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab.

1 Samuel 1:1
Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

1 Samuel 9:1
Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
from Pirathon,

1 Chronicles 27:14
The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah the Pirathonite, an Ephraimite. There were 24,000 men in his division.

2 Samuel 23:30
Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,
judged Israel.

Judges 3:10
The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him.

Judges 4:4
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time.

1 Samuel 7:15
So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
Judges 11:1-3
Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty man of valor; he was the son of a prostitute, and Gilead was his father. / And Gilead’s wife bore him sons who grew up, drove Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall have no inheritance in our father’s house, because you are the son of another woman.” / So Jephthah fled from his brothers and settled in the land of Tob, where worthless men gathered around him and traveled with him.

1 Samuel 12:11
So the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and He delivered you from the hands of your enemies on every side, and you dwelt securely.

1 Kings 11:26-28
Now Jeroboam son of Nebat was an Ephraimite from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. Jeroboam was a servant of Solomon, but he rebelled against the king, / and this is the account of his rebellion against the king. Solomon had built the supporting terraces and repaired the gap in the wall of the city of his father David. / Now Jeroboam was a mighty man of valor. So when Solomon noticed that the young man was industrious, he put him in charge of the whole labor force of the house of Joseph.

2 Kings 15:8-12
In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah’s reign over Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria six months. / And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, as his fathers had done. He did not turn away from the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit. / Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, struck him down and killed him in front of the people, and reigned in his place. …

1 Chronicles 7:21-23
Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son. Ezer and Elead were killed by the natives of Gath, because they went down to steal their livestock. / Their father Ephraim mourned for many days, and his relatives came to comfort him. / And again he slept with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. So he named him Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house.


Treasury of Scripture

And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel.

A.

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Abdon Hillel Israel Judge Judged Judgeth Led Pirathon Pirathonite Pira'thonite
Judges 12
1. The Ephraimites, quarrelling with Jephthah, are slain by the Gileadites
7. Jephthah dies
8. Ibzan, who had thirty sons, and thirty daughters
11. and Elon
13. and Abdon, who had forty sons, and thirty nephews, judge Israel












After Elon,

Elon’s ten-year judgeship ended, and Israel’s leadership passed to another judge during a period marked by repeated instability.

Jdg 10:1 After the time of Abimelech, a man of Issachar,…
Jdg 2:16 Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them…
Act 13:20 All this took about 450 years. After this,…

Abdon son of Hillel,

Abdon, whose name means “servant” or “worshiper,” is identified by his father to distinguish him within Israel. Hillel is otherwise unknown, and Abdon’s significance rests on his service as judge.

Jdg 3:15 And again they cried out to the LORD, and He raised up…
1Sa 1:1 Now there was a man named Elkanah who was from…
1Sa 9:1 Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man,…

from Pirathon,

Pirathon was in the hill country of Ephraim, placing Abdon among the central tribes of Israel.

1Ch 27:14 The eleventh, for the eleventh month, was Benaiah…
2Sa 23:30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,

judged Israel.

Abdon governed Israel for eight years. No military deliverance or major conflict is recorded from his time, but his judgeship reflects God’s continued provision of leadership for His people.

Jdg 3:10 The Spirit of the LORD came upon him…
Jdg 4:4 Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth,…
1Sa 7:15 So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Elon the Zebulunite
Elon was one of the judges of Israel, hailing from the tribe of Zebulun. His leadership spanned ten years, during which he served as a judge, a role that involved both military leadership and judicial responsibilities.

2. Zebulun
This is one of the twelve tribes of Israel, named after the sixth son of Jacob and Leah. The tribe of Zebulun was located in the northern part of Israel, and its members were known for their skills in trade and warfare.

3. Judges of Israel
The judges were leaders raised by God to deliver Israel from oppression and to lead them in times of peace. They were not kings but served as military leaders and arbiters of disputes.
Teaching Points
God's Provision of Leadership
God raises leaders according to His purpose and timing. Elon's leadership, though briefly mentioned, was part of God's plan for Israel during a specific period.

Faithfulness in Small Things
Elon's ten-year judgeship, though not detailed, reminds us that faithfulness in our roles, whether prominent or obscure, is valuable in God's eyes.

The Importance of Tribal Identity
Elon's identity as a Zebulunite highlights the significance of tribal heritage and identity in Israel's history, reminding us of the importance of understanding our spiritual heritage.

The Cyclical Nature of Israel's History
The period of the judges illustrates the cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. This cycle serves as a warning and a lesson for us to remain faithful to God.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Judges 12:13?

2. How does Judges 12:13 illustrate God's sovereignty in leadership selection?

3. What lessons can we learn from Abdon's leadership in Judges 12:13?

4. How does Judges 12:13 connect with God's faithfulness in the book of Judges?

5. How can we apply Abdon's example to our leadership roles today?

6. What does Judges 12:13 teach about the importance of family in leadership?

7. Who was Abdon, son of Hillel, and what was his role in Judges 12:13?

8. How does Judges 12:13 fit into the broader narrative of the Book of Judges?

9. What is the significance of Abdon's leadership in the context of Israel's history?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 12?


(13) Abdon.--The name means "servant." Some suppose that he is the unknown Bedan of 1Samuel 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.

Verse 13. - 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 (2 Samuel 23:30). The Pharathon which is mentioned in 1 Macc. 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.

Judges 12:13 packs surprising depth into a single sentence. After Elon’s death, God immediately provided fresh leadership—Abdon, a respected Ephraimite rooted in a godly family and capable household. His upbringing in Pirathon and the stability he brought show the LORD’s ongoing, hands-on care for Israel, using diverse people and places to preserve His covenant plan until it would culminate in the everlasting Rule of Christ.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
After Elon,
אַחֲרָ֖יו (’a·ḥă·rāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

Abdon
עַבְדּ֥וֹן (‘aḇ·dō·wn)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 5658: Abdon -- four Israelites, also a Levitical city

son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Hillel,
הִלֵּ֖ל (hil·lêl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1985: Hillel -- 'he has praised', father of a judge of Israel

from Pirathon,
הַפִּרְעָתוֹנִֽי׃ (hap·pir·‘ā·ṯō·w·nî)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6553: Pirathonite -- inhabitant of Pirathon

judged
וַיִּשְׁפֹּ֥ט (way·yiš·pōṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc


Additonal Resources
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OT History: Judges 12:13 After him Abdon the son of Hillel (Jd Judg. Jdg)

Judges 12:12
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