Judges 9:43

43 he separated his men into three groups and hid them in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he jumped up and attacked them.

Judges 9:43 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 9:43

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 9:43 In-Context

41 While Abimelech stayed at Arumah, Zebul forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem.

42 The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields. When Abimelech was told about it,

43 he separated his men into three groups and hid them in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he jumped up and attacked them.

44 Abimelech and his group ran to the entrance gate to the city. The other two groups ran out to the people in the fields and struck them down.

45 Abimelech and his men fought the city of Shechem all day until they captured it and killed its people. Then he tore it down and threw saltn over the ruins.