Bible Strands
Judges 12:15
Then Abdon son of Hillel, from Pirathon, died, and he was buried at Pirathon in Ephraim, in the hill country of the Amalekites.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Judges 12:15 records the death and burial of Abdon, son of Hillel, concluding his eight-year judgeship. The narrative places him geographically in Pirathon within the territory of Ephraim and the hill country of the Amalekites.
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יָּ֛מָת (va/i.Ya.mot) and וַ/יִּקָּבֵ֤ר (va/i.yi.ka.Ver) literally render "and he died" and "and he was buried," marking the formal closure of his account. The phrase בְּ/אֶ֣רֶץ (be./'E.retz) denotes "in the land of," specifically locating his grave within the Amalekite hill country.
The thread — The text locates Abdon’s burial in the hill country of the Amalekites, a region previously noted in Judges 5:14 as part of the Ephraimite sphere and later targeted by Saul in 1 Samuel 15:7. Genesis 14:7 also records Israelite forces operating through the territory of the Amalekites.
Why it lands — The verse records the factual end of a judge’s life and tenure without elaboration, emphasizing the temporary nature of human leadership in the book. It demands recognition that tribal boundaries and regional control shifted, and that each judge’s authority concluded in the same ground as the previous generation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites.
Cross-references
- Judges 5:14 Some came from Ephraim, with their roots in Amalek; Benjamin came with your people after you. The commanders came down from Machir, the bearers of the marshal’s staff from Zebulun.
- 1 Samuel 15:7 Then Saul struck down the Amalekites all the way from Havilah to Shur, which is east of Egypt.
- Genesis 14:7 Then they turned back to invade En-mishpat (that is, Kadesh), and they conquered the whole territory of the Amalekites, as well as the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar.
- Exodus 17:8 After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim.
- Judges 3:13 After enlisting the Ammonites and Amalekites to join forces with him, Eglon attacked and defeated Israel, taking possession of the City of Palms.
- Judges 3:27 On arriving in Seirah, he blew the ram’s horn throughout the hill country of Ephraim. The Israelites came down with him from the hills, and he became their leader.
- 2 Samuel 23:30 Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai from the brooks of Gaash,