Judges 9:55

55 When Abimelech’s men saw that he was dead, they disbanded and returned to their homes.

Judges 9:55 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 9:55

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 9:55 In-Context

53 a woman on the roof dropped a millstone that landed on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.

54 He quickly said to his young armor bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me! Don’t let it be said that a woman killed Abimelech!” So the young man ran him through with his sword, and he died.

55 When Abimelech’s men saw that he was dead, they disbanded and returned to their homes.

56 In this way, God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers.

57 God also punished the men of Shechem for all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Gideon was fulfilled.