Bible Encyclopedias
Abdon

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

(Heb. Abdon', עְְבדּוֹן and עְְבדוֹן, servile; Sept. Ἀβδών ), the name of four men and one city.

1. The son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, of the tribe of Ephraim, and the twelfth Judge of Israel for eight years, B.C. 1233-1225. His administration appears to have been peaceful (ςΑβδων , Josephus, Ant. 5, 7, 15); for nothing is recorded of him but that he had forty sons and thirty nephews, who rode on young asses a mark of their consequence (Judges 12:13-15). He is probably the BEDAN (See BEDAN) referred to in 1 Samuel 12:11.

2. The first-born of Jehiel, of the tribe of Benjamin, apparently by his wife Maachab, and resident at Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 8:30; 1 Chronicles 9:36), B.C. ante 1093.

3. The son of Micah, and one of the persons sent by King Josiah to ascertain of the prophetess Huldah the meaning of the recently-discovered look of the Law (2 Chronicles 34:20), B.C. 628. In the parallel passage (2 Kings 22:12) he is called ACHBOR (See ACHBOR) , the son of Michaiah.

4. A "son" of Shashak, and chief Benjamite of Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 8:23), B.C. ante 598.

5. A Levitical town of the Gershonites, in the tribe of Asher, mentioned between Mishal or Mashal and Helkath or Hukkok (Joshua 21:30; 1 Chronicles 6:74). The same place, according to several MSS., is mentioned in Joshua 19:28, instead of HEBRON (See HEBRON) (Reland, Palest. p. 518). Under this latter form Schwarz (Palest. p. 192) identifies it with a village, Ebra, which he affirms lies in the valley of the Leontes, south of Kulat Shakif; perhaps the place by the name of Abnon marked in this region on Robinson's map (new ed. of Researches). It is probably identical with the ruined site Abdeh, 8 or 9 miles N.E. of Accho (Van de Velde, Memoir, p. 280).

ADDENDUM FROM VOLUME 11:

The modern Abdeh was examined by Tristram carefully, who found traces of a very extensive town, with sculptures of the Greek period, and a solitary column standing out in the plain at no great distance" (Bible Places, p. 292).

Bibliography Information
McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Abdon'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​tce/​a/abdon.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.