The answer is: 8 years

Judges 12:14

Abdon, son of Hillel, is one of the lesser-known judges in the Book of Judges but holds an interesting place in Israel’s history. He ruled for eight years, and even though his time as judge was relatively short, it offers a glimpse into the cyclical nature of leadership and governance during a tumultuous time in Israel.

The Judges period in Israel is painted as one of confusion and frequent leadership changes. The Israelites oscillated between faithfulness to God and a cycle of rebellion, suffering, and eventual redemption. Fun fact: Abdon's name means “servile" or "servant," which hints at the service-oriented role he took on for his people during a chaotic era after the Israelites had settled in Canaan.

Here’s another interesting twist—Abdon's father, Hillel, hailed from Pirathon, a place few specifically know about in modern terms but known highly for specific old traditions. Did you know that while Abdon appears briefly, detailed descriptions of his family, particularly his 40 sons and 30 grandsons, offer insight into the importance of lineage and community in Biblical times?

Judges like Abdon remind us of the broader themes in this book, such as the variability of leadership and the importance of community connection in traversing societal woes. His eight years might seem small, yet every judge displays that in seeming stints of rule lay stories of perseverance and the assorted trials of community life!