Abdon
Servile. (1.) The son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, the tenth judge of Israel ( Judg. 12:13-15 ). He is probably the Bedan of 1 Sam. 12:11 . (2.) The first-born of Gibeon of the tribe of Benjamin ( 1 Chr. 8:30 ; 9:36 ). (3.) The son of Micah, one of those whom Josiah sent to the prophetess Huldah to ascertain from her the meaning of the recently discovered book of the law ( 2 Chr. 34:20 ). He is called Achbor in 2 Kings 22:12 . (4.) One of the “sons” of Shashak ( 1 Chr. 8:23 ). This is the name also of a Levitical town of the Gershonites, in the tribe of Asher ( Josh. 21:30 ; 1 Chr. 6:74 ). The ruins of Abdeh, some 8 miles north-east of Accho, probably mark its site.
Achbor
Gnawing = mouse. (1.) An Edomitish king ( Gen. 36:38 ; 1 Chr. 1:49 ). (2.) One of Josiah’s officers sent to the prophetess Huldah to inquire regarding the newly-discovered book of the law ( 2 Kings 22:12 , 14 ). He is also called Abdon ( 2 Chr. 34:20 ).
Ass
Frequently mentioned throughout Scripture. Of the domesticated species we read of, (1.) The she ass (Heb. ‘athon), so named from its slowness ( Gen. 12:16 ; 45:23 ; Num. 22:23 ; 1 Sam. 9:3 ). (2.) The male ass (Heb. hamor), the common working ass of Western Asia, so called from its red colour. Issachar is compared to a strong ass ( Gen. 49:14 ). It was forbidden to yoke together an ass and an ox in the plough ( Deut. 22:10 ). (3.) The ass’s colt (Heb. ‘air), mentioned Judg. 10:4 ; 12:14 . It is rendered “foal” in Gen. 32:15 ; 49:11 . (Comp. Job 11:12 ; Isa. 30:6 .) The ass is an unclean animal, because it does not chew the cud ( Lev. 11:26 . Comp. 2 Kings 6:25 ). Asses constituted a considerable portion of wealth in ancient times ( Gen. 12:16 ; 30:43 ; 1 Chr. 27:30 ; Job 1:3 ; 42:12 ). They were noted for their spirit and their attachment to their master ( Isa. 1:3 ). They are frequently spoken of as having been ridden upon, as by Abraham ( Gen. 22:3 ), Balaam ( Num. 22:21 ), the disobedient prophet ( 1 Kings 13:23 ), the family of Abdon the judge, seventy in number ( Judg. 12:14 ), Zipporah ( Ex. 4:20 ), the Shunammite ( 1 Sam. 25:30 ), etc. Zechariah (9:9) predicted our Lord’s triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, “riding upon an ass, and upon a colt,” etc. ( Matt. 21:5 , R.V.). Of wild asses two species are noticed, (1) that called in Hebrew ’arod , mentioned Job 39:5 and Dan. 5:21 , noted for its swiftness; and (2) that called pe’re , the wild ass of Asia ( Job 39:6-8 ; 6:5 ; 11:12 ; Isa. 32:14 ; Jer. 2:24 ; 14:6 , etc.). The wild ass was distinguished for its fleetness and its extreme shyness. In allusion to his mode of life, Ishmael is likened to a wild ass ( Gen. 16:12 . Here the word is simply rendered “wild” in the Authorized Version, but in the Revised Version, “wild-ass among men”).