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Judges 9:22-32

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The Downfall of Abimelech

22 Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.
23 1And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem 2dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
24 3that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
25 And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.
26 And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him.
27 And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held a festival; and they went into 4the house of their god and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech.
28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, 5“Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of 6Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?
29 Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say[a] to Abimelech, ‘Increase your army, and come out. ’”
30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, [b] saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up[c] the city against you.
32 Now therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field.
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Judges 9:22-32 Meaning and Commentary

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, Jud 9:1-6 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, Jud 9:7-21 of the contentions which arose between Abimelech, and the men of Shechem, increased by Gaal the son of Ebed, Jud 9:22-29 who was drawn into a battle with Abimelech, and beaten and forced to fly, Jud 9:30-41 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, Jud 9:42-49 and in the death of Abimelech himself, according to Jotham's curse, Jud 9:50-57.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
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Cross References 6

  • 1. 9:23 [1 Sam. 16:14; 18:10; 19:9]
  • 2. 9:23 Isa. 33:1
  • 3. 9:24 ver. 56; [1 Kgs. 2:32; Esth. 9:25; Ps. 7:16; Matt. 23:35, 36]
  • 4. 9:27 ver. 4, 46
  • 5. 9:28 [1 Sam. 25:10]
  • 6. 9:28 Gen. 34:2, 6

Footnotes 3

  • [a] 9:29 Septuagint; Hebrew 'and he said'
  • [b] 9:31 Or 'at Tormah'
  • [c] 9:31 Hebrew 'besieging', or 'closing up'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025

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