Interesting Facts

• Abdon is identified as a Gomerite.
• He served as one of the four witnesses to the written and attested transaction wherein Abraham purchased the field and cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite.
• His father was Achiram.

Genealogy

• Abdon was the son of Achiram the Gomerite.
• The source provides no further genealogical information regarding Abdon, such as his ancestry beyond his father, his birth details, marital connections, or offspring.

Historical Context

Abdon’s appearance in the narrative is directly linked to the significant historical event of Abraham’s purchase of a burial place for Sarah in the region of Hebron, also known as Kirjath Arba. According to Jasher, this transaction was formally documented and required the attestation of four witnesses. Abdon, identified as a Gomerite, participated in this legal and communal act alongside Amigal the Hittite, Adichorom the Hivite, and Bakdil the Zidonite. The necessity of witnesses underscores the established customs and the importance of formalizing land ownership transfers within the society of Canaan at that time. Abdon’s presence as a Gomerite witness further illustrates the diverse ethnic composition of the inhabitants of the land and their involvement in such significant local events concerning Abraham, who was a sojourner amongst them.

Narrative

Abdon’s role in the narrative is specifically that of a witness to the documented agreement between Abraham and Ephron for the purchase of the field and cave of Machpelah. The text of Jasher explicitly names him as “Abdon son of Achiram the Gomerite” in the list of these four individuals who attested to the transaction. His action, therefore, is his participation in this formal witnessing, which served to validate the legal transfer of property to Abraham. While no direct dialogue or further actions are attributed to Abdon within the provided excerpts, his inclusion as a witness implies a certain level of recognition and standing within his community or the broader local society, sufficient for his attestation to be considered valid. His presence alongside individuals of Hittite, Hivite, and Zidonite origin highlights the interconnectedness of these different groups in witnessing important communal and legal events. Abdon’s contribution to the narrative, though limited to this specific act, is crucial in establishing the legality and permanence of Abraham’s acquisition of the burial place, a significant event in the patriarchal narratives.