Judges 9

Judges 9:1

Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,

Judges 9:1 · BSB

Judges 9:2

“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”

Judges 9:2 · BSB

Whether etc. Heb. What is good

whether etc

Judges 9:3

And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

Judges 9:3 · BSB

to follow Heb. after

Judges 9:4

So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.

Judges 9:4 · BSB

Judges 9:5

He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

Judges 9:5 · BSB

Judges 9:6

Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.

Judges 9:6 · BSB

Millo Probably the name of a person of note in Shechem.

Judges 9:7

When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.

Judges 9:7 · BSB

Judges 9:8

One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

Judges 9:8 · BSB

olive tree The zayith , or olive tree , in the Linnean system , is a genus of the diandra monogynia class of plants. It is of a moderate height , and grows best in sunny places. Its trunk is knotty; bark smooth , of an ash colour . wood solid and yellowish; leaves oblong , almost like those of the willow , of a dark green colour on the upper side , and whitish below. In June it puts forth white flowers , growing in bunches , each of one piece , widening towards the top , and dividing into four parts. After this succeeds the fruit , which is oblong and plump; first green , then pale , and when quite ripe , black. Within it is enclosed a hard stone , filled with oblong seeds. It was the most useful of all trees in the forest; as the bramble was the meanest and most worthless.

Judges 9:9

But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

Judges 9:9 · BSB

God Elohim , rather gods; the parable being adapted to the idolatrous Shechemites.

Judges 9:10

Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’

Judges 9:10 · BSB

Judges 9:11

But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’

Judges 9:11 · BSB

Judges 9:13

But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

Judges 9:13 · BSB

Judges 9:14

Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’

Judges 9:14 · BSB

Judges 9:15

But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

Judges 9:15 · BSB

Judges 9:16

Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—

Judges 9:16 · BSB

Judges 9:17

for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,

Judges 9:17 · BSB

Judges 9:18

but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—

Judges 9:18 · BSB

Judges 9:19

if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.

Judges 9:19 · BSB

Judges 9:20

But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

Judges 9:20 · BSB

Judges 9:21

Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.

Judges 9:21 · BSB

Judges 9:22

After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,

Judges 9:22 · BSB

Judges 9:23

God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,

Judges 9:23 · BSB

am 2771 , bc 1233

An Ex , Is , 258

Judges 9:24

in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.

Judges 9:24 · BSB

aided him in the killing of Heb. strengthened his hands to kill , Sooner or later , God will make inquisition for blood , and will return it on the heads of those that shed it. Accessories will be reckoned with , as well as principals , in that and other sins. The Shechemites , who countenanced Abimelech's pretensions , aided and abetted him in his bloody project , and avowed the fact by making him king after he had done it , must fall with him , fall by him , and fall first. Those that combine together to do wickedly , are justly dashed in pieces one against another. Blood cannot be a lasting cement to any interest.

Judges 9:25

The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.

Judges 9:25 · BSB

Judges 9:26

Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.

Judges 9:26 · BSB

Judges 9:27

And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.

Judges 9:27 · BSB

Judges 9:28

Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?

Judges 9:28 · BSB

Judges 9:29

If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”

Judges 9:29 · BSB

And he said Rather , "and I would say to Abimelech ," as the LXX renders; for as Dr. Wall observes , this was probably not said in the presence of Abimelech; but at an intemperate feast , in his absence , when he boasted he would challenge him.

Judges 9:30

When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.

Judges 9:30 · BSB

Judges 9:31

So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.

Judges 9:31 · BSB

privily Heb. craftily , or , to Tormah

Judges 9:32

Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.

Judges 9:32 · BSB

Judges 9:33

And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”

Judges 9:33 · BSB

Judges 9:34

So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

Judges 9:34 · BSB

Judges 9:35

Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.

Judges 9:35 · BSB

Gaal Of this person we know no more than is here recorded. He was probably one of the descendants of the Canaanites , who hoped , from the state of the public mind and their disaffection to Abimelech , to cause a revolution , and thus to restore the ancient government as it was under Hamor , the father of Shechem. Josephus says he was a man of authority , who sojourned with them , with his armed men and kinsmen; and that the Shechemites desired that he would allow them a guard during the vintage.

Judges 9:36

When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”

Judges 9:36 · BSB

Judges 9:37

Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”

Judges 9:37 · BSB

middle Heb. navel

Judges 9:38

“Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”

Judges 9:38 · BSB

Judges 9:40

but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.

Judges 9:40 · BSB

Judges 9:41

Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.

Judges 9:41 · BSB

Arumah This place appears from the next #### Verse to have been near Shechem; and is perhaps the same as Ruma , a village of Galilee , mentioned by Josephus , Bell. 1. iii. c. 7.

Judges 9:43

So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them.

Judges 9:43 · BSB

Judges 9:44

Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down.

Judges 9:44 · BSB

Judges 9:45

And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

Judges 9:45 · BSB

sowed Salt in small quantities renders land extremely fertile; but too much of it destroys vegetation. Every place , says Pliny , in which salt is found is barren , and produces nothing. Hence the sowing of a place with salt was a custom in different nations to express permanent desolation. Sigonius observes , that when Milan was taken , ad 1162 , the walls were razed , and it was sown with salt. And Brantome informs us , that it was an ancient custom in France , to sow the house of a man with salt , who had been declared a traitor to his king. Charles IX. , king of France , the most base and perfidious of human beings , caused the house of Admiral Coligni . whom he and the Duke of Guise caused to be murdered , with thousands more of Protestants , on the eve of St. Bartholomew , 1572 to be sown with salt!

Judges 9:46

On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

Judges 9:46 · BSB

Judges 9:48

he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”

Judges 9:48 · BSB

me do Heb. I have done

Judges 9:49

So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.

Judges 9:49 · BSB

Judges 9:50

Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.

Judges 9:50 · BSB

Judges 9:51

But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.

Judges 9:51 · BSB

Judges 9:52

When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.

Judges 9:52 · BSB

Judges 9:53

But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, crushing his skull.

Judges 9:53 · BSB

and all to An antiquated expression , meaning "full intention" to complete an object. "All to ," observes Dr. Johnson , "is a particle of mere enforcement." The original is wattaritz eth gulgalto , which is simply as the LXX render ךבי וךכבףו פן ךסבםיןם בץפןץ , "and she brake his skull." Plutarch relates , that Pyrrhus was killed at the siege of Thebes , by a piece of a tile , which a woman threw upon his head.

Judges 9:54

He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" So Abimelech's armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.

Judges 9:54 · BSB

And his young man It was a disgrace to be killed by a woman.

Judges 9:55

And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.

Judges 9:55 · BSB

Judges 9:56

In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.

Judges 9:56 · BSB

Judges 9:57

And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

Judges 9:57 · BSB