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Judges Chapter
Nine
Judges 9
Outlines
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 9
This
chapter contains an account of the craft and cruelty of Abimelech
by which he
got himself made king of the Shechemites
Judges 9:1 of the
parable of Jotham
the youngest son of Gideon
concerning the trees
in which
he exposes their folly in making Abimelech king
and foretells the ruin of them
both
Judges 9:7 of the
contentions which arose between Abimelech
and the men of Shechem
increased by
Gaal the son of Ebed
Judges 9:22 who was
drawn into a battle with Abimelech
and beaten and forced to fly
Judges 9:30 but the
quarrel between Abimelech and the men of Shechem ceased not
but still continued
which issued in the entire ruin of the city and the inhabitants of it
Judges 9:42 and in
the death of Abimelech himself
according to Jotham's curse
Judges 9:50.
Judges 9:1 Then
Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem
to his mother’s brothers
and
spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father
saying
YLT
1and Abimelech son of
Jerubbaal goeth to Shechem
unto his mother's brethren
and speaketh unto them
and unto all the family of the house of his mother's father
saying
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem
unto his
mother's brethren
.... It seems that though the mother of Abimelech lived at
Shechem
he was taken and brought up in his father's house at Ophrah
where he
was when he died; and from hence he came to Shechem
to pay a visit to his
uncles there; whether his mother was now living
is not certain:
and communed with them; about the death of his
father
the state of his family
and the government of Israel:
and with all the family of the house of his mother's father; that
descended from his grandfather
the several branches of them
and of the
family
the heads of them at least:
saying
as follows.
Judges 9:2 2 “Please speak in the
hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you
that all seventy
of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you
or that one reign over you?’ Remember
that I am your own flesh and bone.”
YLT
2`Speak
I pray you
in the
ears of all the masters of Shechem
Which [is] good for you -- the ruling over
you of seventy men (all the sons of Jerubbaal)
or the ruling over you of one
man? -- and ye have remembered that I [am] your bone and your flesh.'
Speak
I pray you
in the ears of all the men of Shechem
.... Which
though the Targum calls the inhabitants of the place
Ben Melech better
interprets it the lords of Shechem
as the phrase will bear to be rendered; for
it is more likely he would have this first whispered and suggested to the
principal men of the city
before the common people were acquainted with it
and indeed in order to use their influence with them:
whether is better for you
either that all the sons of Jerubbaal
which
are seventy persons
reign over you
or that one reign over you? intimating
thereby
that though Gideon his father had refused the regal government when
offered him
it was but reasonable that his sons
or some one of them
should
be tried
whether it would be acceptable to them; nay
he would insinuate
that
the sons of Gideon
who were seventy in number
were either contending with one
another about it
or contriving to divide the government among them
and
therefore desired it might be moved to consideration
whether it would not be
more eligible to fix upon some one person to be their ruler
than to be under
the government of seventy; or
in other words
whether it was not better to
have one king than seventy kings; but in reality there was no necessity for any
consultation about this matter
the sons of judges never succeeded their
fathers in government; nor does it appear that any of Gideon's sons had any
thought about it
nor any desire to be made kings
as appears from Jotham's
parable; and this was only a wicked insinuation of this man's
with an
ambitious view of getting the kingdom to himself
as follows:
remember also that I am your bone and your flesh; was of the
same tribe and city with them
born among them
his mother always living with
them
and he having now many near relations by his mother's side that dwelt
there; and therefore while they had this affair of government under
consideration
he would have them think of him to be their king
which would be
to their honour
and to their advantage
to have one so nearly related to them
on the throne
from whom they might expect many favours.
Judges 9:3 3 And his mother’s brothers
spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem;
and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech
for they said
“He is our
brother.”
YLT
3And his mother's brethren
speak concerning him
in the ears of all the masters of Shechem
all these
words
and their heart inclineth after Abimelech
for they said
`He [is] our
brother;'
And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of the men of
Shechem all these words
.... Got them together in some certain place
and laid before
them all that Abimelech had suggested to them
and spake in his favour to them:
and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech
for they said
he
is our brother; being fond of kingly government
as the Israelites generally
were
it seemed most agreeable to them to have one king over them
and none
more acceptable than one so nearly related to them
who they doubted not
from
his alliance to them
would be ready to oblige them on all occasions.
Judges 9:4 4 So they gave him seventy shekels
of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith
with which Abimelech hired worthless
and reckless men; and they followed him.
YLT
4and they give to him
seventy silverings out of the house of Baal-Berith
and Abimelech hireth with
them men
vain and unstable
and they go after him;
And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of
Baalbirith
.... The temple of their idol; of this name See Gill on Judges 8:33
out of
the money which had been dedicated to his service by freewill offering
or out
of a bank which they deposited there for greater safety
and perhaps out of a
superstitious notion of its being more prosperous and successful: of what value
these pieces were is not certain; by pieces of silver
commonly shekels are
meant; but these are thought to be of too little value to be given to a man to
raise an army with
or carry on a scheme to advance himself to the throne; and
talents are judged to be too large a sum for such a city to contribute out of a
temple of theirs
and that but lately built
as it must be since the death of
Gideon; they are therefore thought to be pounds
as the Vulgate Latin version
renders it; however
in the number of them there seems to be some reference to
the number of Gideon's sons
who were to be destroyed by bribing men with this
sum
which was the scheme concerted between Abimelech and the men of Shechem:
wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons
which followed
him; perhaps seventy of them
giving to each a piece or pound of
silver; these were a base scoundrel sort of people
that lived in an idle
scandalous manner
a sort of freebooters
that lived upon what they could lay
hold on in a way of force and rapine; men of light heads and empty brains
and
whose pockets were as light and empty as their heads
and fit to engage in any
enterprise
though ever so barbarous
for the sake of a little money.
Judges 9:5 5 Then he went to his
father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers
the seventy sons of
Jerubbaal
on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left
because he hid himself.
YLT
5and he goeth into the house
of his father at Ophrah
and slayeth his brethren
sons of Jerubbaal
seventy
men
on one stone; and Jotham
youngest son of Jerubbaal
is left
for he was
hidden.
And he went to his father's house at Ophrah
.... Which
according to BuntingF1Travels of the Patriarchs
&c. p. 111.
was ten miles from Shechem:
and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal
being seventy
persons
upon one stone: in which he was assisted by the ruffians he had hired with
seventy pieces of silver; these were laid one after another upon one and the
same stone
as being convenient for the execution of them; or as serving as an
altar on which they were sacrificed to Baal
out of whose temple the money was
taken to hire the executioners with. They are said to be seventy that were
slain
though one escaped
the round number being given
as in many other
instances
as in Genesis 46:27
notwithstanding
yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; or remained
alive
not out of compassion to his youth
but because he could not be found:
for he hid himself; for no doubt Abimelech
and his crew
were
most forward to lay hold of the eldest
and sacrifice them first
as being most
in his way; this gave Jotham the youngest not only notice of their design
but
an opportunity of providing for his safety
or however his friends; for it may
be rendered
as in some versions
"he was hidden"F2נחבא εκρυβη
Sept. "absconditus est"
V. L. "qui absconditus fuit"
Tigurine version; so the Targum.
that is
by others.
Judges 9:6 6 And all the men of Shechem
gathered together
all of Beth Millo
and they went and made Abimelech king
beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem.
YLT
6And all the masters of
Shechem are gathered together
and all the house of Millo
and come and cause
Abimelech to reign for king at the oak of the camp which [is] in Shechem;
And all the men of Shechem gathered together
.... Upon the
return of Abimelech
after he with his banditti had committed the execrable
murder of his brethren:
and all the house of Millo; which was either the men
of a place near to Shechem
or of his brother's family
or of some grand
leading family in Shechem; or it may mean the town hall
where the principal
inhabitants met in full house
as Millo signifies
on this occasion:
and went and made Abimelech king; which was a most bold
and daring action; being done without asking counsel of God
without which no
king was to be set over Israel
and by a single city
without the knowledge
advice
and consent of the body of the people of Israel: by the plain of the
pillar that was in Shechem; the place where they met together
and did this
business in voting Abimelech to be king
was near a place where a pillar was
set in Shechem; or by the oak of the pillar in Shechem
and so may mean the
stone under an oak
which Joshua placed there as a testimony between God and
the people
Joshua 24:25 and
here
in the same place where Joshua convened the people of Israel
and made
his last speech to them
was this business done.
Judges 9:7 7 Now when they told Jotham
he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim
and lifted his voice and cried out.
And he said to them: “Listen to me
you men of Shechem
That God may listen to
you!
YLT
7and they declare [it] to
Jotham
and he goeth and standeth on the top of mount Gerizim
and lifteth up
his voice
and calleth
and saith to them
`Hearken unto me
O masters of
Shechem
and God doth hearken unto you:
And when they told it to Jotham
.... Or when it was told
him that Abimelech was made king in Shechem by some of his friends:
he went and stood in the top of Mount Gerizim; a mount near
Shechem; it hung over the city
as Josephus saysF3Antiqu. l. 5. c.
7. sect. 2.
and so a very proper place to stand on and deliver a speech from
it to the inhabitants of it; who
as the same writer says
were now keeping a
festival
on what account he says not
perhaps to Baalberith their idol: over
against this mountain was another
called Ebal
and between them a valley; and
very likely they were assembled in this valley
where the children of Israel
stood when the blessings were delivered from Gerizim
and the curses from Ebal;
and if so
Jotham might be heard very well by the Shechemites:
and he lifted up his voice
and cried; that he might
be heard by them:
and said unto them
hearken unto me
ye men of Shechem
that God
may hearken unto you; which was a very solemn manner of address to them
tending to
excite attention
as having somewhat of importance to say to them
and
suggesting
that if they did not hearken to him
God would not hearken to them
when they cried to him
and therefore it behoved them to attend: it is an
adjuration of them to hearken to him
or a wish that God would not hearken to
them if they were inattentive to him.
Judges 9:8 8 “The trees once went forth
to anoint a king over them. And
they said to the olive tree
‘Reign
over us!’
YLT
8`The trees have diligently
gone to anoint over them a king
and they say to the olive
Reign thou over us.
The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them
.... This is
an apologue or fable
and a very fine and beautiful one; it is fitly expressed
to answer the design
and the most ancient of the kind
being made seven
hundred years before the times of Aesop
so famous for his fables
and exceeds
anything written by him. By the trees are meant the people of Israel in
general
and the Shechemites in particular
who had been for some time very
desirous of a king
but could not persuade any of their great and good men to
accept of that office:
and they said unto the olive tree
reign thou over us; a fit emblem
of a good man
endowed with excellent virtues and qualifications for good
as
David king of Israel
who is compared to such a tree
Psalm 52:8
Jarchi
applies this to Othniel the first judge; but it may be better applied to
Gideon
an excellent good man
full of fruits of righteousness
and eminently
useful
and to whom kingly government was offered
and was refused by him; and
the men of Shechem could scarcely fail of thinking of him
and applying it to
him
as Jotham was delivering his fable.
Judges 9:9 9 But the olive tree said to
them
‘Should I cease
giving my oil
With
which they honor God and men
And
go to sway over trees?’
YLT
9And the olive saith to
them
Have I ceased from my fatness
by which they honour gods and men
that I
have gone to stagger over the trees?
But the olive tree said unto them
.... In reply to the
request of the trees:
should I leave my fatness
wherewith by me they honour God and man; by
"fatness" oil is meant
pressed out of the fruit of the olive tree
and which was much made use of both in the burning of the lamps in the
tabernacle
and in many sacrifices
as the meat offerings and others
whereby
God was honoured; and it was also made use of in the investiture of the
greatest personages with the highest offices among men
as kings
priests
and
prophets
as well as eaten with pleasure and delight by all sorts of men
and
even by the greatest
and so men are honoured by it:
and go to be promoted over the trees; desert so
useful a station
in which it was planted and fixed
to move to and fro
as the
word signifies
and reign over trees; suggesting that it was unreasonable
at
least not eligible to a good man to desert a private station in life
to which
he was called of God
and in which he acted with honour and usefulness to
others
and take upon him a public office
attended with much care and trouble
and with neglect of private affairs
and with the loss of much personal peace
and comfort.
Judges 9:10 10 “Then the trees said to
the fig tree
‘You
come and reign over us!’
YLT
10And the trees say to the
fig
Come thou
reign over us.
And the trees said to the fig tree
.... Another useful and
fruit bearing tree
and to which also good men are sometimes compared
see Song of Solomon 2:13
come thou
and reign over us: which Jarchi applies to
Deborah
but may be better applied to one of Gideon's sons
who
though they
had not a personal offer of kingly government themselves
yet it was made to
them through their father
and refused
as for himself
so for them; and had it
been offered to them
they would have rejected it
as Jotham seems to intimate
by this parable.
Judges 9:11 11 But the fig tree said to
them
‘Should I cease
my sweetness and my good fruit
And
go to sway over trees?’
YLT
11And the fig saith to them
Have I ceased from my sweetness
and my good increase
that I have gone to
stagger over the trees?
And the fig tree said unto them
.... Rejecting the offer
made:
should I forsake my sweetness and my good fruit; for such the
fruit of the fig tree is
sweet and good: so JulianF4Opera
par. 2.
ep. 24. Sarapioni
p. 142. the emperor shows from various authors
Aristophanes
Herodotus
and Homer
that nothing is sweeter than figs
excepting honey
and that no kind of fruit is better
and
where they are
no
good is wanting:
and go to be promoted over the trees? the same is
designed by this as the former.
Judges 9:12 12 “Then the trees said to
the vine
‘You
come and reign over us!’
YLT
12`And the trees say to the
vine
Come thou
reign over us.
Then said the trees unto the vine
.... Another emblem of
good and useful men; and it may be observed
that Jotham takes no notice of any
trees but fruitful ones till he comes to the bramble
and them only such as
were well known
and of the greatest use
in the land of Judea
as olives
figs
and vines
see Deuteronomy 8:8.
come thou
and reign over us; this Jarchi applies to
Gideon; but since there are three sorts of trees brought into the fable
and
when the kingdom was offered to Gideon
it was proposed to him
and to his son
and his son's son
and refused
some reference may be had unto it in this
apologue. Abarbinel thinks three sorts of men are intended as proper persons for
rule and government
as honourable ones
such as are wealthy and rich
and also
of good behaviour to God and man
as Gideon's sons were; but Abimelech was all
the reverse.
Judges 9:13 13 But the vine said to them
‘Should I cease my new
wine
Which cheers both
God and men
And
go to sway over trees?’
YLT
13And the vine saith to them
Have I ceased from my new wine
which is rejoicing gods and men
that I have
gone to stagger over the trees?
And the vine said unto them
.... By way of denial and
refusal
as the other two:
shall I leave my wine
which cheereth God and man; which being
used in the drink offerings was acceptable to God
and of a sweet savour to
him
Numbers 15:7 and
being drank by than
revives
refreshes
and makes glad
when before sorrowful
drooping
faint
and weary
Psalm 104:15 though
some by Elohim
rendered God
understand great personages
as men of quality
magistrates
&c. and by man the common people
and so in Judges 9:9.
and go to be promoted over the trees? all speak the
same language
being of the same sentiment.
Judges 9:14 14 “Then all the trees said
to the bramble
‘You
come and reign over us!’
YLT
14And all the trees say unto
the bramble
Come thou
reign over us.
Then said all the trees unto the bramble
....
Perceiving they could not prevail upon any of the useful and fruitful trees to
take the government of them
they unite in a request to a bramble
scarce to be
called a tree
and however a very barren and fruitless one
yea
hurtful and
distressing:
come thou
and reign over us; this respects Abimelech
and describes him as a mean person
the son of a concubine
as having no
goodness in him
not any good qualifications to recommend him to government
but all the reverse
cruel
tyrannical
and oppressive; and this exposes the
folly of the Shechemites
and their eagerness to have a king at any rate
though ever so mean and despicable
useless and pernicious.
Judges 9:15 15 And the bramble said to
the trees
‘If
in truth you anoint me as king over you
Then
come and take shelter in my shade; But if not
let fire come out of the bramble And devour the cedars of
Lebanon!’
YLT
15And the bramble saith unto
the trees
If in truth ye are anointing me for king over you
come
take refuge
in my shadow; and if not -- fire cometh out from the bramble
and devoureth the
cedars of Lebanon.
And the bramble said unto the trees
.... Accepting of their
offer at once:
if ye in trust anoint me king over you; suspecting
they were not hearty and cordial in their choice and call to the kingly
authority over them:
then come and put your trust in my shadow; promising
protection to them as his subjects
requiring their confidence in him
and
boasting of the good they should receive from him
as is common with wicked
princes at their first entering on their office; but
alas! what shadow or
protection can there be in a bramble? if a man attempts: to put himself under
it for shelter
he will find it will be of no use to him
but harmful
since
the nearer and closer he comes to it
the more he will be scratched and torn by
it:
and if not
let fire come out of the bramble
and devour the
cedars of Lebanon; signifying
that if they did not heartily submit to his
government
and put confidence in him
and prove faithful to him
they should
smart for it
and feel his wrath and vengeance
even the greatest men among
them
comparable to the cedars of Lebanon; for thorns and brambles catching
fire
as they easily do
or fire being put to them
as weak as they are
and placed
under the tallest and strongest cedars
will soon fetch them down to the
ground; and the words of the bramble
or Abimelech
proved true to the
Shechemites
he is made to speak in this parable.
Judges 9:16 16 “Now therefore
if you
have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king
and if you have
dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house
and have done to him as he deserves—
YLT
16`And
now
if in truth and
in sincerity ye have acted
when ye make Abimelech king; and if ye have done
good with Jerubbaal
and with his house; and if according to the deed of his
hands ye have done to him –
Now therefore
if ye have done truly and sincerely
in that ye
have made Abimelech king
.... If they had done this conscientiously
and in the
uprightness of their hearts
to take such a base man
and a murderer
and make
him their king
which Jotham doubted
and put it in this manner to them
that
they might consider of it themselves:
if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal
and his house; if they could
think so
which surely they could not
when they reflected upon the murder of
his family they had consented to:
and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; to his
memory
and to his family
according to the merit of his works which he had performed
on their account
next mentioned.
Judges 9:17 17 for my father fought for
you
risked his life
and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
YLT
17because my father hath
fought for you
and doth cast away his life from [him]
and deliver you from
the hand of Midian;
For my father fought for you
.... In the valley of
Jezreel
and at Karkor
where with three hundred men he routed and destroyed an
army of 135
000:
and adventured his life far: which
according to our
version
may seem to have respect to his going over Jordan
and following the
Midianites
fleeing into their country
and fighting them at Karkor
at a great
distance from his native place; but the phrase in the original text is
"he cast away his life afar"F5וישלך
את נפשו מנגד
"et projecit animam suam a louge"
Pagninus; "vel eminus"
Montanus; so Junius & Tremellius
Piscator.
made no account of it
exposed it to the greatest danger; or
as the Targum
"he delivered his
life as it were to destruction:"
and delivered you out of the hand of Midian; from the
oppression and bondage of the Midianites
under which they had laboured seven
years.
Judges 9:18 18 but you have risen up
against my father’s house this day
and killed his seventy sons on one stone
and made Abimelech
the son of his female servant
king over the men of
Shechem
because he is your brother—
YLT
18and ye have risen against
the house of my father to-day
and slay his sons
seventy men
on one stone
and cause Abimelech son of his handmaid to reign over the masters of Shechem
because he [is] your brother –
And ye are risen up against my father's house this day
.... Which was
an instance of great ingratitude in them
after such services done for them
and favours received by them:
and have slain his sons
seventy persons on one stone; excepting
one
himself
and he was intentionally slain
their design was to cut off
everyone; and all being slain but one
the round number is given
and this
being so large
is the rather observed; and though Abimelech committed the
fact
the men of Shechem were accessory to it
they gave him money
with which
he hired men to assist him in it
see Judges 9:20 and it
is very probable they were privy to his intention
and encouraged him to it;
and certain it is they showed their approbation of it
by making Abimelech king
after it
and therefore they are justly charged with it:
and have made Abimelech
the son of his handmaid
king over the men
of Shechem; which was both to the disgrace of Gideon
and his family
and of
themselves too
that a base son of his should be made their king; when it would
have been more to the credit of Gideon
and his family
that he had lived in
obscurity
and had not been known as a son of his; and this was to the reproach
of the men of Shechem
and especially to the princes thereof; for
by the men
of Shechem are meant the lords
and great men thereof
as Kimchi observes; and
great contempt is cast on Abimelech himself
who is here represented as making
a very poor figure
being by extraction the son of an handmaid
and king only
over the men of Shechem; and who made him so for no other reason but this:
because he is your brother; not because he had any
right to the kingdom
or had any qualification for it
but because his mother
lived among them
and her family belonged to them
and so he was related to
many of them
and they hoped on that account to have preferment and favours
from him.
Judges 9:19 19 if then you have acted in
truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day
then
rejoice in Abimelech
and let him also rejoice in you.
YLT
19yea
if in truth and in
sincerity ye have acted with Jerubbaal and with his house this day
rejoice ye
in Abimelech
and he doth rejoice -- even he -- in you;
If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and his
house this day
.... If they could in their consciences think and believe they
had done well
and acted the faithful and upright part by him and his family
which he left with them to consider of:
then rejoice ye in Abimelech
and let him also rejoice in you; may you be
happy in him as a king
and he be happy in you as his subjects
and live
peaceably and comfortably together; and this he suggests as a test of their
former conduct
that should this alliance between Abimelech and them be
attended with happiness
which he could not believe would be the case
then it
would seem that they had done a right part by Gideon and his family; but if they
should be unhappy together
as he supposed they would
then it would be clear
that they had acted a base and disingenuous part by his father's family.
Judges 9:20 20 “But if not
let fire come
from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come
from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!”
YLT
20and if not -- fire cometh
out from Abimelech and devoureth the masters of Shechem and the house of Millo
and fire cometh out from the masters of Shechem and from the house of Millo
and devoureth Abimelech.'
But if not
.... If it appeared that they had not acted uprightly and
sincerely in this matter:
let fire come out of Abimelech
and devour the men of Shechem
and
the house of Millo; let wrath
rage
and fury
break out from Abimelech like fire
and issue in the destruction of those that made him king
both those of Shechem
and of Millo:
and let fire come out from the men of Shechem
and from the house
of Millo
and devour Abimelech; let them be incensed against Abimelech
and
seek his ruin
and procure it: the sense is
that he wishes that strife
contention
and quarrels
might arise among them
and they mutually destroy
each other; the words are imprecative of evil upon them both
and which had its
exact fulfilment.
Judges 9:21 21 And Jotham ran away and
fled; and he went to Beer and dwelt there
for fear of Abimelech his brother.
YLT
21And Jotham hasteth
and
fleeth
and goeth to Beer
and dwelleth there
from the face of Abimelech his
brother.
And Jotham ran away
and fled
.... Having delivered his
fable
and the application of it
he made his escape
having the advantage of
being on the top of a mountain
at some distance from the people
and perhaps
they might not be inclined to do him any harm:
and went to Beer; which some take to be the same with
Baalathbeer in the tribe of Simeon
Joshua 19:8 JeromF6De
loc. Heb. fol. 89. I says
the village Bera
whither Jotham fled
is eight
miles from Eleutheropolis to the north; but Mr. MaundrellF7Journey
from Aleppo
&c. p. 64
66.
who was in those parts in 1697
gives us a
better account of it; and
according to him
it is about two hours and a half's
travel from Bethel to it
and three hours and one third from it to Jerusalem;
Beer
he says
enjoys a very pleasant situation
on an easy declivity
fronting
southward; at the bottom of the hill it has a plentiful fountain of excellent
water
from which it had its name:
and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech his brother; how long he
dwelt there is not certain
and we hear no more of him after this
Josephus
saysF8Antiqu. l. 5. c. 7. sect. 2. he lay hid in the mountains three
years for fear of Abimelech
which perhaps he concluded from Abimelech's
reigning three years
as follows.
Judges 9:22 22 After Abimelech had
reigned over Israel three years
YLT
22And Abimelech is prince
over Israel three years
When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel. The people in
general consenting to what the men of Shechem had done
at least not opposing
it
all being desirous of a king
and therefore put up with a mean person
rather than have none; though it is amazing they should
and that they had not
rose up as one man against Abimelech
and avenged the blood of the sons of
Gideon
who had been so useful and serviceable to them; it is indeed said that
he reigned over all Israel
and his reign
such as it was
was very short
as
is often the case with wicked princes.
Judges 9:23 23 God sent a spirit of ill
will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt
treacherously with Abimelech
YLT
23and God sendeth an evil
spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem
and the masters of Shechem
deal treacherously with Abimelech
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of
Shechem
.... Permitted
yea
gave a commission to Satan
the evil spirit
to go among them
who stirred up suspicions
jealousies
hatred
and ill will
to one another
and sowed the seeds of discord and contention among them; or
God gave them up to their own hearts' lusts
to think ill of one another
grow
jealous
and meditate revenge:
and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech; did not
openly declare their minds
but secretly conspired against him
and privately
consulted ways to find means to get rid of him
and shake off his government.
Judges 9:24 24 that the crime done
to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on
Abimelech their brother
who killed them
and on the men of Shechem
who aided
him in the killing of his brothers.
YLT
24for the coming in of the
violence [to] the seventy sons of Jerubbaal
and of their blood to place [it]
on Abimelech their brother
who slew them
and on the masters of Shechem
who
strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
That the cruelty done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come
.... That
vengeance might come on the authors of it; so things were ordered in Providence
that this might come to pass:
and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother
which slew
them; be charged to his account
and he suffer for shedding it:
and upon the men of Shechem which aided him in killing of his
brethren; by giving him money to hire men to go with him to do it
and
perhaps by words encouraging the assassins
and who might be of the city of
Shechem.
Judges 9:25 25 And the men of Shechem set
men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains
and they robbed all who
passed by them along that way; and it was told Abimelech.
YLT
25And the masters of Shechem
set for him ambushes on the top of the hills
and rob every one who passeth
over by them in the way
and it is declared to Abimelech.
And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the
mountains
.... Of Ebal and Gerizim
which were near Shechem
by the way of
which he passed when he came to that city
and these they set there
either to
slay him
or to seize his person
and bring him to them:
and they robbed all that came along that way by them; that belonged
to Abimelech and others also; and this they did to show their contempt of his
government
and that they were no longer under it
and every man did what was
right in his own eyes
as if they had no governor over them; though some think
this was done to draw him thither to secure his subjects from such rapine and
violence
that they might have an opportunity to lay hold upon him
or this
they did on purpose to begin a civil war:
and it was told Abimelech; that they lay in wait
for him
and so he kept himself from them.
Judges 9:26 26 Now Gaal the son of Ebed
came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put
their confidence in him.
YLT
26And Gaal son of Ebed cometh
-- also his brethren -- and they pass over into Shechem
and the masters of
Shechem trust in him
And Gaal the son or Ebed came with his brethren
and went over to
Shechem
.... Who this Gaal was
and who his brethren
and from whence he
came
and the place he went over
are all uncertain. Jarchi thinks he was a
Gentile
and it looks
by some speeches of his afterwards
as if he was a
descendant of Hamor
prince of Shechem
in the times of Jacob
who
since the
expulsion of the Canaanites
his family had retired to some distant parts; but
hearing of a difference between Abimelech and the Shechemites
Gaal
with some
of the family
came over
perhaps over Jordan
to make what advantage he could
of it:
and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him; freely told him
their mind
the ill opinion they had of Abimelech
and what was their design
against him; and he assuring them he would take their part
and defend them to
the uttermost
they depended on him
and therefore very securely went about
their business in the fields
as follows.
Judges 9:27 27 So they went out into the
fields
and gathered grapes from their vineyards and trod them
and made merry. And they went into the house of their god
and ate and drank
and cursed Abimelech.
YLT
27and go out into the field
and gather their vineyards
and tread
and make praises
and go into the house
of their god
and eat and drink
and revile Abimelech.
Before
they kept within the city
and durst not stir out to gather in the vintage
the
time being come
for fear of the troops of Abimelech; for their lying in wait
for him
and the robberies committed being made known to him
he had prepared
to raise some forces
and attack them
of which they had had information; but
now being encouraged with the protection of Gaal
they ventured out to gather
their grapes in their vineyards without fear:
and trode the grapes
and made merry: sung songs
and danced
as was usual at the ingathering of the fruits of the earth
and
treading the winepress
Isaiah 16:10 though
Abendana thinks this joy and merriment were made to their idol
to whom they
gave the praise of their vintage
they should have done to the true God
and
what follows may seem to confirm it:
and they went into the house of their god; the temple of
Baalberith
Judges 9:5.
and did eat and drink; in their idol temple
as
was the manner of idolaters to do
bringing their firstfruits to rejoice
and
make glad with:
and cursed Abimelech; wished they had never
seen him and known him
hoped they should be rid of him in a little time
and
that he would meet with his deserved disgrace and punishment; and this they did
in that very temple from whence they had taken money to assist him in making
way for his government of them; so fickle and changeable were they.
Judges 9:28 28 Then Gaal the 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? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve
him?
YLT
28And Gaal son of Ebed saith
`Who [is] Abimelech
and who [is] Shechem
that we serve him? is [he] not son
of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his commander? Serve ye the men of Hamor father of
Shechem
and wherefore do we serve him -- we?
And Gaal the son of Ebed said
.... As they were then
making merry
drinking and carousing:
who is Abimelech
and who is Shechem
that we should serve him? who is this
Abimelech the Shechemite? or who is he more than Shechem
the old prince of
this place
long ago dispossessed of it? the one is no better than the other
nor has a better title to rule and government than the other
that we should
serve him; nay
of the two
the descendants of the old Shechem have the best
title:
is not he the son of Jerubbaal? that pleaded against
Baal
and threw down his altar
the god you now serve:
and Zebul his officer? has he not set him over
you? not content to rule you himself
he has set up another as an officer over
you under him
and thus you are like to be governed in a tyrannical manner
and
oppressed:
serve the men of Hamor--for why should we serve him? that is
rather
serve them than him; which was speaking very contemptuously of his government
preferring the descendants of Hamor
the old Canaanitish prince
that ruled in
this place
to Abimelech; and if Gaal was a descendant of his
he spoke in good
earnest
and thought this a proper opportunity to get the government of the
city restored to him and his family
since their old religion and idolatry were
established among them; and if they had received the one
why not the other?
Judges 9:29 29 If only this people were
under my authority![a] Then I
would remove Abimelech.” So he[b] said to
Abimelech
“Increase your army and come out!”
YLT
29and oh that this people
were in my hand -- then I turn Abimelech aside;' and he saith to Abimelech
`Increase thy host
and come out.'
And would to God this people were under my hand
.... Or
government
that I were but the ruler of their city
and general of their
forces:
then would I remove Abimelech; from his kingly office
and rid Shechem of him
and all the country round about
and indeed remove him
out of the world:
and he said to Abimelech; as if he was present
in
a hectoring and blustering manner; or he said what follows to his officer under
him
that represented him; or he sent a messenger to him
saying:
increase thine army
and come out; bidding him defiance
challenging him to come into the open field and fight him
and bring as many
forces along with him as he could or would
not doubting but he should be a
match for him; and the men of Shechem would see they had nothing to fear from
him
having such a man as Gaal at the head of them; this he said to engage the
Shechemites to make him their ruler.
Judges 9:30 30 When Zebul
the ruler of
the city
heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed
his anger was aroused.
YLT
30And Zebul
prince of the
city
heareth the words of Gaal son of Ebed
and his anger burneth
And when Zebul the ruler of the city
.... Whom
Abimelech had placed there under him: heard
the words of Gaal the son of Ebed
his anger was kindled; because he
spoke slightly of him
and wished to have his place; perhaps before Zebul was
inclined to be on the side of the Shechemites against Abimelech
or at least
dissembled that he was; but now
being incensed at the words of Gaal
determined to take the side of Abimelech
and let him know how things were
carrying on against him.
Judges 9:31 31 And he sent messengers to
Abimelech secretly
saying
“Take note! Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers
have come to Shechem; and here they are
fortifying the city against you.
YLT
31and he sendeth messengers
unto Abimelech deceitfully
saying
`Lo
Gaal son of Ebed and his brethren are
coming into Shechem
and lo
they are fortifying the city against thee;
And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily
.... In a
secret manner
unknown to Gaal and the men of Shechem; or "craftily"
as Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it
still dissembling
notwithstanding his
anger
to be in the interest of Gaal
and the men of Shechem
as appears indeed
afterwards by a show of friendliness with Gaal
Judges 9:36 though
according to Joseph Kimchi and Ben Gersom
Thormah is the name of the place
where Abimelech was
the same with Arumah
Judges 9:41 and the
sense is
that he sent messengers to Abimelech at Thormah or Arumah:
saying
Gaal the son of Ebal
and his brethren
be come to Shechem; a family that
Abimelech well knew
and if they were of the race of the old Canaanites
he
would easily perceive their design:
and
behold
they fortify the city against thee; by repairing
its fortifications
or adding new works; or "besiege"F9צרים "obsident"
Pagninus
Munster
Drusius;
"obsidere cogitant"
Piscator. it
which
as that is done by placing
an army around it without
that none can come out of it
so by setting a watch
within
and upon the walls
and at the gates of it
that none can come in
which is here meant; though some interpret it of their design to besiege the
city Thormah
where Abimelech was
of which he gives him notice; or rather they
set the city against thee
make the inhabitants thine enemies.
Judges 9:32 32 Now therefore
get up by
night
you and the people who are with you
and lie in wait in the
field.
YLT
32and
now
rise by night
thou and the people who [are] with thee
and lay wait in the field
Now therefore up by night
.... The night following
that no time might be lost:
and the people that is with thee; the troops he had with
him; not only such he had for his own guards
but what he had been raising
having intelligence before this of the revolt of the Shechemites from him:
and lie in wait in the fields; he thought it most
advisable for him to march with the forces he had
from the place where he was
in the night
and less liable to be discovered
and remain in the fields of
Shechem till morning
and then come upon Shechemites before they were aware
and surprise them.
Judges 9:33 33 And it shall be
as soon
as the sun is up in the morning
that you shall rise early and rush upon
the city; and when he and the people who are with him come out against
you
you may then do to them as you find opportunity.”
YLT
33and it hath been
in the
morning
about the rising of the sun
thou dost rise early
and hast pushed
against the city; and lo
he and the people who [are] with him are going out
unto thee -- and thou hast done to him as thy hand doth find.'
And it shall be
that in the morning
as soon as the sun is up
thou shalt rise early
and set upon the city
.... For being with his
forces advanced near to it by a march in the night
he would be able by
sunrising to attack the city before the inhabitants were up to defend it
and
so surprise them:
and
behold
when he and the people that is with him come out
against thee; that is
Gaul
and the men with him
as many as he upon a
surprise can get together:
thou mayest do to them as thou shalt find occasion; as the
situation of things would direct him
and he
in his wisdom
and according to
his ability
and as opportunity offered
would see plainly what was fit and
right to be done; Zebul did not pretend to advise him further
but left the
rest to his discretion
as things should appear to him.
Judges 9:34 34 So Abimelech and all the
people who were with him rose by night
and lay in wait against Shechem
in four companies.
YLT
34And Abimelech riseth
and
all the people who [are] with him
by night
and they lay wait against Shechem
-- four detachments;
And Abimelech rose up
and all the people that were with him
by
night
.... According to the advice of Zebul:
and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies; he divided
his army into four parts
which he placed on the four sides of the city
at
some distance from it
to act as they should have opportunity
to find ways and
means of getting into it on either quarter.
Judges 9:35 35 When Gaal the son of Ebed
went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate
Abimelech and the people
who were with him rose from lying in wait.
YLT
35and Gaal son of Ebed goeth
out
and standeth at the opening of the gate of the city
and Abimelech riseth
-- also the people who [are] with him -- from the ambush
And Gaul the son or Ebed went out
.... He rose up early
that morning
being a man of vigilance and activity
and perhaps had some
intelligence of the preparations of Abimelech
his design against the city
though he did not expect he was so near at hand:
and stood in the entering of the gate of the city; to see
whether the guards were on their duty within
and whether he could observe any
thing without
any approaching danger:
and Abimelech rose up
and the people that were with him
from
lying in wait; came out of their ambush
and appeared just as Gaul was at the
gate.
Judges 9:36 36 And when Gaal saw the
people
he said to Zebul
“Look
people are coming down from the tops of the
mountains!” But Zebul said to him
“You see the shadows of the mountains as if
they were men.”
YLT
36and Gaal seeth the people
and saith unto Zebul
`Lo
people are coming down from the top of the hills;'
and Zebul saith unto him
`The shadow of the hills thou art seeing like men.'
And when Gaal saw the people
he said to Zebul
.... Who was
up as early
and came to the gate of the city
to see how things went
and
whether there was any appearance of Abimelech and his forces
and whether any
opportunity offered to let him into the city; and it seems as if he came and
stood by Gaul
and appeared friendly with him:
behold
there come people down from the tops of the mountains; the mountains
of Ebal and Gerizim
which were near to Shechem:
and Zebul said unto him
thou seest the shadow of the mountains
as if they were men; either deriding him
as being just out of
his bed
and his eyes scarce open
that he could not discern shadows from men;
or rather as being of such a timorous spirit
that he was afraid of shadows; or
else he said this
putting on an air of seriousness
as if he really believed
this to be the case
on purpose to deceive him
and keep him from talking about
them
while Abimelech and his men made further advances before Gaul could make
any preparation to meet them.
Judges 9:37 37 So Gaal spoke again and
said
“See
people are coming down from the center of the land
and another
company is coming from the Diviners’[c] Terebinth
Tree.”
YLT
37And Gaal addeth yet to
speak
and saith
`Lo
people are coming down from the high part of the land
and another detachment is coming by the way of the oak of Meonenim.'
And Gaal spake again
and
said
.... Looking towards the mountains
and taking another view of
what he before saw
for further satisfaction:
see
there come people down by the middle of the land; either in the
valley between the two mountains; or rather those he first saw on the top of
the mountains were now come down about the middle of them
called in the Hebrew
text the navel
from the prominence of the mountains thereabout
or because the
navel is in the middle of the body
as this part of them was the middle on
which he saw them. R. Isaiah interprets it
between the two cities:
and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim; of which we
read nowhere else. Montanus renders it
"the oak of Meonenim"; or of
the soothsayers; oaks being had in great esteem with idolaters for their
oracles and divinations; and perhaps this was a place
whether an oak or
a
plain
where such persons used to meet to make their divinations.
Judges 9:38 38 Then Zebul said to him
“Where indeed is your mouth now
with which you said
‘Who is Abimelech
that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised?
Go out
if you will
and fight with them now.”
YLT
38And Zebul saith unto him
`Where [is] now thy mouth
in that thou sayest
Who [is] Abimelech that we
serve him? is not this the people against which thou hast kicked? go out
I
pray thee now
and fight against it.'
Then said Zebul unto him
.... Not being
able to put him off any longer
and willing to take the opportunity to upbraid
him with what he had said:
where is now thy mouth
wherewith thou saidst
who is
Abimelech
that we should serve him? darest thou say the same
thou hast done
and utter the contemptuous language concerning Abimelech
asking who he was
that he should be served? Here he is
speak to his face;
what are become of those boasts and brags
and great swelling words
what thou
wouldest do if thou hadst the command of this city?
is not this the people thou hast despised? as small and
insignificant
bidding Abimelech increase his army
and come out and fight:
go out
I pray thee
now
and fight with them; and show
thyself to be a man of courage
and not a mere blusterer
a man that can use
his sword as well as his tongue.
Judges 9:39 39 So Gaal went out
leading
the men of Shechem
and fought with Abimelech.
YLT
39And Gaal goeth out before
the masters of Shechem
and fighteth against Abimelech
And Gaal went out before
the men of Shechem
.... At the head of them
to meet Abimelech
having gathered
together as many
and put them in as good order
as he could
and the time
would admit of:
and fought with Abimelech; without the city.
Judges 9:40 40 And Abimelech chased him
and he fled from him; and many fell wounded
to the very entrance of the
gate.
YLT
40and Abimelech pursueth him
and he fleeth from his presence
and many fall wounded -- unto the opening of
the gate.
And Abimelech chased him
and he fled before him
.... Abimelech got the better of him in the battle
and obliged
him to give way
and he pursued him closely as he was fleeing:
and many were overthrown and wounded
even unto the entering of
the gate; or
"they fell many wounded"F11נפלו חללים "et ceciderant
vulnerati multi"
Pagninus
Montanus.
or slain
as the Targum; that is
many were killed and wounded
as in the battle
so in the pursuit
and lay all
the way to the entrance into the gate of the city
to which Gaal
and the men
of Shechem
made for their safety
and got in.
Judges 9:41 41 Then Abimelech dwelt at
Arumah
and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers
so that they would not dwell
in Shechem.
YLT
41And Abimelech abideth in
Arumah
and Zebul casteth out Gaal and his brethren from dwelling in Shechem.
And Abimelech dwelt at
Arumah
.... Called also Aarima as JeromF12De loc. Heb. fol.
94. B. says
and in his time called Remphtis; it seems to be not far off from
Shechem
he returned to the place where he was before
see Judges 9:31
contenting himself with the advantage he had got
and waiting when another
opportunity would offer
which quickly did
to be revenged on the Shechemites:
and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren
that they should not
dwell in Shechem; there seems to have been two parties in Shechem before
one that
hated Abimelech
and another more friendly to his interest; by which means
Zebul his officer kept his post
and Gaal could not get the government into his
hand; and now by the loss in the late battle
who were Abimelech's sworn
enemies
and the disgrace Gaal fell into by being beaten
Zebul was able
so
far able to carry his point
as to drive Gaul and his brethren out of the city;
though he had not strength to put him to death
or to seize him and deliver him
into the hands of Abimelech.
Judges 9:42 42 And it came about on the
next day that the people went out into the field
and they told Abimelech.
YLT
42And it cometh to pass
on
the morrow
that the people go out to the field
and they declare [it] to
Abimelech
And it came to pass on the
morrow
.... The day after the battle:
that the people went out into the field; some think to
fight
and try the event of another battle
in order to be freed from
Abimelech
but that seems not so likely: rather to finish their vintage
as
JosephusF12Antiqu. l. 5. c. 7. sect. 4.
or to till their ground
to plough and sow
which quickly came on after the vintage was ended; find this
they might do the more securely
since Abimelech had withdrawn himself and his
forces to his place of habitation
and so concluded he would not soon at least
return to them; and the rather they might think he would be more easy
with
then
since Gaal was thrust out from among them:
and they told Abimelech; or it was told
Abimelech
that the people came out into the field
and so an opportunity
offered to him to come and cut them off
as they were at their business
unarmed.
Judges 9:43 43 So he took his people
divided them into three companies
and lay in wait in the field. And he looked
and there were the people
coming out of the city; and he rose against them and
attacked them.
YLT
43and he taketh the people
and divideth them into three detachments
and layeth wait in a field
and
looketh
and lo
the people are coming out from the city
and he riseth against
them
and smiteth them.
And he took the people
.... That is
the forces he had with him at Arumah:
and divided them into three companies: each having a
separate leader
and the command of one of them he had himself:
and laid wait in the field; in the field of Shechem
one company in one part
and one in another part of the field:
and looked
and
behold
the people were come forth out of the
city; he watched them when they did:
and he rose up against them
and smote them; the companies
rose up out of their ambush
in different parts
and killed them.
Judges 9:44 44 Then Abimelech and the
company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of
the gate of the city; and the other two companies rushed upon all who were
in the fields and killed them.
YLT
44And Abimelech and the
detachments who [are] with him have pushed on
and stand at the opening of the
gate of the city
and the two detachments have pushed against all who are in
the field
and smite them
And Abimelech
and the
company that was with him
.... Which he had the particular command of;
or "the heads"F13והראשים
"et capita"
Pagninus
Montanus
Drusius; "et principes"
Vatablus.
for in the company with him
as Kimchi observes
were great men;
and so the Septuagint renders it
the princes that were with him:
rushed forward
and stood in the entering of the gate of the city; to prevent
the people that were in the field getting into it
and any from coming out of
it to their relief:
and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in
the fields
and slew them; so that by this means none escaped.
Judges 9:45 45 So Abimelech fought
against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were
in it; and he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.
YLT
45and Abimelech hath fought
against the city all that day
and captureth the city
and the people who [are]
in it he hath slain
and he breaketh down the city
and soweth it [with] salt.
And Abimelech fought
against the city all that day
.... By throwing stones or arrows into it:
and he took the city; it was surrendered to him
not being able to stand out against his forces:
and slew the people that was therein; all but those
that were of his own family and his friends; all that had taken up arms against
him
or had shown their dislike of his government
and were his enemies:
and beat down the city; the houses in it
and
walls of it
though it was his native place:
and sowed it with salt; not to make it barren
for he would rather then have sowed the field
though this would not have had
any effect of that kind
for any time at least; but to show his detestation of
it
because of the ill usage he had met with
and as a token of its perpetual
destruction
to which he devoted it
determining that if it was in his power it
should never be rebuilt; but it was hereafter
and became again a very
flourishing city in Jeroboam's time. Thus the Emperor Frederic Barbarossa
in
the year 1162
when he took Milan
not only ploughed it up
but sowed it with
salt; and in memory of it there is a street in it
now called "la contrada
della Sala"F14Sigonius de regn. Ital. l. 13
& 14. :
besides
Abimelech did this to deter other cities from rebelling against him;
for if he so used his own city
more severely
if possible
would he use
others.
Judges 9:46 46 Now when all the men of
the tower of Shechem had heard that
they entered the stronghold of the
temple of the god Berith.
YLT
46And all the masters of the
tower of Shechem hear
and go in unto the high place of the house of the god
Berith
And when all the men of
the tower of Shechem heard that
.... That the city of Shechem was taken
the
inhabitants of it slain
the city beaten down
and sowed with salt; by which it
appears that this tower was not within the city
for then the men of it would
have seen what was done
and not be said only to hear it; though it was not far
from it
and possessed by Shechemites
and whither some of the principal
inhabitants had now fled for safety; perhaps it is the same with the house of
Millo
and so that part of Jotham's curse
which respected that
had now its
accomplishment
otherwise no account is given of it:
they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith; not thinking
themselves safe enough in the tower
they betook themselves to the temple of
Baalberith their god
see Judges 9:4 which
was a strong fortified place
as temples often were; or however had a strong
hold belonging to it
and hither they fled
either because of the greater
strength of the place
or because of the sanctity of it
and imagining
Abimelech would not destroy it on that account; and the rather
because of the
supply he had from it
which enabled him to raise himself to the government of
Israel.
Judges 9:47 47 And it was told Abimelech
that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
YLT
47and it is declared to
Abimelech that all the masters of the tower of Shechem have gathered themselves
together
And it was told Abimelech
.... Who had
his spies about
and particularly to observe the motions of the men in this
tower:
that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together; in the hold
of the temple of Baalberith.
Judges 9:48 48 Then Abimelech went up to
Mount Zalmon
he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech
took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees
and took it and
laid it on his shoulder; then he said to the people who were with him
“What you have seen me do
make haste and do as I have done.”
YLT
48and Abimelech goeth up to
mount Zalmon
he and all the people who [are] with him
and Abimelech taketh
the great axe in his hand
and cutteth off a bough of the trees
and lifteth it
up
and setteth [it] on his shoulder
and saith unto the people who [are] with
him
`What ye have seen I have done -- haste
do ye like it.'
And Abimelech got him up
to Mount Zalmon
.... A mountain near Shechem
and thought to be the same with
Salmon in Psalm 68:14 which
seems to have had its name from the shade of the trees which grew upon it:
he and all the people that were with him; his whole
army:
and Abimelech took an axe in his hand
and cut down a bough from
the trees; which grew upon Mount Zalmon:
and took it
and laid it on his shoulders; and carried
it along with him:
and said unto the people that were with him
what ye have seen me
do
make haste
and do as I have done; take an axe
and every
man cut down a bough with all possible haste
and lay it on his shoulder.
Judges 9:49 49 So each of the people
likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech
put them against
the stronghold
and set the stronghold on fire above them
so that all the
people of the tower of Shechem died
about a thousand men and women.
YLT
49And all the people also cut
down each one his bough
and go after Abimelech
and set [them] at the high
place
and burn by these the high place with fire
and also all the men of the
tower of Shechem die
about a thousand men and women.
And all the people
likewise cut down every man his bough
and followed Abimelech
.... With
their boughs on their shoulders
so that they were men that seemed to be as
trees walking:
and put them to the hold
and set the hold on fire upon them; upon the men
in it
or with them
the boughs of trees; it is probable the hold was made of
wood
and so could the more easily be set on fire. Jarchi says it was a wood or
forest
where they bent the trees
and divided them round about
and made a fence
of them; but they would scarcely have left the tower for such a shelter:
so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also; fire being
put to the hold
and they burnt in it; the Vulgate Latin version adds
with
fire and smoke; for they being boughs of trees just cut down
with which they
set fire to the hold
they would not burn easily and clearly
but make a
prodigious smoke
with which many might be suffocated
as others burnt with
fire; and it is unaccountable that JosephusF15Antiqu. l. 5. c. 7.
sect. 4. should say that faggots of dry wood were taken
and with them fire set
to the hold
when the text is so express for it that they were boughs of green
trees just cut off:
about a thousand men and women; but the above historian
makes them to be many more; he says the men were about 1500
and the rest a
great multitude; this literally fulfilled Jotham's curse.
Judges 9:50 50 Then Abimelech went to
Thebez
and he encamped against Thebez and took it.
YLT
50And Abimelech goeth unto
Thebez
and encampeth against Thebez
and captureth it
Then went Abimelech to
Thebez
.... Which
according to Ben Gersom
had rebelled against him; it
was near to Shechem. Adrichomius saysF16Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p.
70.
the ruins
where he thinks stood the city of Thebez
were but one furlong
from Neapolis or Shechem
where
to the left of Jacob's well
were to be seen
ruins of a large town
marble stones
whole pillars
and other signs of large
palaces
and the soil wonderfully fruitful; and Jerome saysF17De
loc. Heb. 95. D.
that in his time there was a village called Thebes
on the
borders of Neapolis or Shechem
as you go to Scythopolis
thirteen miles from
it. It must be near Shechem
inhabited by Shechemites
to fulfil Jotham's
curse
Judges 9:20.
and encamped against Thebez
and took it: it seems not
to have held out long
being deserted by its inhabitants
who fled to the
tower
as follows.
Judges 9:51 51 But there was a strong
tower in the city
and all the men and women—all the people of the city—fled
there and shut themselves in; then they went up to the top of the tower.
YLT
51and a strong tower hath
been in the midst of the city
and thither flee do all the men and the women
and all the masters of the city
and they shut [it] behind them
and go up on
the roof of the tower.
But there was a strong
tower within the city
.... The tower of Shechem was without the city
but this within
as towers generally are:
and hither fled all the men and women
and all they of the city; men
women
and children
man and maid servants
all the inhabitants of the city; the tower
being a large place
having not only many rooms in it
but perhaps a large area
in the midst of it
as well as it had battlements on the top of it:
and shut it to them; the gates of it
and
which no doubt they strongly barred and bolted
to keep out the enemy:
and gat them up to the top of the tower; to observe
the motions of Abimelech
and annoy him as much as they could with what they
carried with them
as stones
and the like.
Judges 9:52 52 So Abimelech came as far
as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to
burn it with fire.
YLT
52And Abimelech cometh unto
the tower
and fighteth against it
and draweth nigh unto the opening of the
tower to burn it with fire
And Abimelech came unto
the tower
.... With his army to besiege it:
and fought against it; using all the methods he
could to oblige those in it to surrender:
and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire; in order to
get entrance into it; and perhaps the tower was built of stone
so that no
other part could be set fire to; and to do this he drew near to the door
himself
for nothing more is meant by the phrase
"went hard"
than
drawing near in his own person to the door; hazarding his life in the
enterprise
being so bent upon it
thinking to do by this tower what he had
done to the hold of the temple of Baalberith.
Judges 9:53 53 But a certain woman
dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.
YLT
53and a certain woman doth
cast a piece of a rider on the head of Abimelech
and breaketh his skull
And a certain woman cast a
piece of a millstone
.... Of the upper millstone
as the word signifies
which is
observed by Jarchi and other Jewish commentators; this with other stones being
carried up to the top of the tower
to do what execution they could with them:
and a woman observing Abimelech making up to the door of the tower
took up
this piece of millstone
and threw it down
upon Abimelech's head
and all to break his skull; she did it
with that view
though it may as well be rendered
or "she"
or
"it broke his skull"F18ותרץ את גלגלתו "et confregit
cranium ejus"
Junius & Tremellius
Piscator; so Tigurine version. ;
it made a fracture in it
which was mortal. Abendana observes
and so others
that that was measure for measure
a righteous retaliation
that as he had slain
seventy of his brethren on one stone
he should die by means of a stone.
Judges 9:54 54 Then he called quickly to
the young man
his armorbearer
and said to him
“Draw your sword and kill me
lest men say of me
‘A woman killed him.’” So his young man thrust him through
and he died.
YLT
54and he calleth hastily unto
the young man bearing his weapons
and saith to him
`Draw thy sword
and thou
hast put me to death
lest they say of me -- A woman slew him;' and his young
man pierced him through
and he dieth.
Then he called hastily to
the young man his armourbearer
.... Perceiving it was a mortal blow that
was given him
and he should soon expire; and that the cast of the stone was by
the hand of a woman
and therefore he was in haste to have the young man come
to him:
and said unto him
draw thy sword and slay me
that men say not of
me
a woman slew him; it being reckoned very ignominious and reproachful to die by the
hand of a woman
and especially any great personage
as a king or general of an
armyF19"O turpe fatum! foemina Herculeae
necis Auctor feretur
----" Seneca Oetaeo. ; to avoid this
he chose rather to be guilty of
suicide
or of what cannot well be excused from it
and so died by suicide;
which
added to all his other sins
he seemed to have no sense of
or
repentance for; and the method he took to conceal the shame of his death served
the more to spread it; for this circumstance of his death could not be given
without the reason of it
and which was remembered and related punctually near
two hundred years afterwards
2 Samuel 11:21.
Judges 9:55 55 And when the men of Israel
saw that Abimelech was dead
they departed
every man to his place.
YLT
55And the men of Israel see
that Abimelech [is] dead
and go each one to his place;
And when the men of Israel
saw that Abimelech was dead
.... That is
those that were with him
the
men of his army
who were all Israelites:
they departed every man to his place; disbanded
themselves
and went everyone to their own home
and so the inhabitants of
Thebez escaped the vengeance of Abimelech.
Judges 9:56 56 Thus God repaid the
wickedness of Abimelech
which he had done to his father by killing his seventy
brothers.
YLT
56and God turneth back the
evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay his seventy brethren;
Thus God rendered the
wickedness of Abimelech which he did unto his father
.... To the
disgrace of his father's character
and to the hurt of his father's family:
in slaying his seventy brethren; excepting one
which was
a piece of unheard of wickedness
attended with most sad aggravations; the
shedding such blood required blood to be shed again
and it was righteous
judgment God rendered to him; this
and the following verse contain the remarks
made upon this history by the writer of it
who
as we have seen
in all
probability
was the Prophet Samuel.
Judges 9:57 57 And all the evil of the
men of Shechem God returned on their own heads
and on them came the curse of
Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
YLT
57and all the evil of the men
of Shechem hath God turned back on their head
and come unto them doth the
cursing of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.
And all the evil of the
men of Shechem
.... In aiding Abimelech to slay his brethren
and in making him
king after so foul a fact committed:
did God render upon their heads; by suffering Abimelech
to beat down their city
and destroy the inhabitants of it
and by burning the
hold in which the men of the tower of Shechem were
and them in it:
and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal; both upon
Abimelech
and the men of Shechem
they being destroyed by one another
as
Jotham imprecated they might
and foretold they would
see Judges 9:20.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)