judges-9:26-40-asv

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 9:30

ZEBAL INFORMS ABIMELECH OF THE INSURRECTION (Judges 9:30-33)"And when Zebal the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. And he sent messengers unto Abimelech craftily, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city to take part against thee. Now therefore, up by night, and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field: and it shall be, that in the morning; as soon as the sun is up,... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 9:34

THE DEFEAT OF GAAL AND THE SHECHEMITES (Judges 9:34-40)"And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem, in four companies. And Gaal the son of Ebel went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambushment. And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebal, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebal said unto him, Thou seest the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 9:26

Judges 9:26. And Gaal the son of Ebed— It is very uncertain who this man was. It has been rationally conjectured by some, that he was a Gentile, and desirous to see the authority of the Canaanites restored. His whole speech and proceeding shew him to have been an insidious demagogue, desirous to obtain popularity, that by it he might climb up to dominion. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 9:27

Judges 9:27. Did eat and drink— They probably offered sacrifices, and afterwards feasted together upon those sacrifices. REFLECTIONS.—For a time the wickedness of Abimelech seemed to prosper, and three years he enjoyed in peace his ill gotten dignity; but the triumphing of the wicked is short, like sunshine before the thunder-storm. For, 1. There was a spirit of dissention sworn between him and the Shechemites; God, in just judgment for the blood which was shed, visiting their sins upon them by... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:26

26. Gaal . . . came with his brethren . . ., and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him—An insurrection of the original Canaanites, headed by this man, at last broke out in Shechem. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:28

28-45. would to God this people were under my hand—He seems to have been a boastful, impudent, and cowardly person, totally unfit to be a leader in a revolutionary crisis. The consequence was that he allowed himself to be drawn into an ambush, was defeated, the city of Shechem destroyed and strewn with salt. The people took refuge in the stronghold, which was set on fire, and all in it perished. :-. ABIMELECH SLAIN. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 9:1-57

3. The story of Abimelech ch. 9The story of Abimelech connects directly with the story of Gideon. It is the sequel to and indeed the climax of the Gideon story, and it portrays the disastrous results of Gideon’s legacy. Though Abimelech sought a place of leadership in Israel, God did not raise him up as a judge. His history is of interest primarily because of the light it throws on this period of Israel’s national life and the continuing decline in Israel. Furthermore we can see what had become... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 9:22-49

Abimelech’s reign 9:22-49Abimelech’s rule over Israel appears to have been very small in scope as well as short in duration. He was only the ruler of Shechem and its surrounding territory. He evidently lived in Arumah about five miles to the southeast of Shechem (Judges 9:41).". . . Abimelech’s government was not a monarchical reign, but simply a tyrannical despotism." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, p. 365.] The "evil spirit" that God sent between Abimelech and the men of Shechem (Judges 9:24) was... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:1-57

The Story of AbimelechThis chapter breaks the regular order of the book, since Abimelech is not thought of as a judge, and the Canaanites are not here regarded as oppressors. The story, however, throws a valuable light on the way in which Israel fell into unfaithfulness, when free from the yoke of foreign oppression.1-6. The rise of Abimelech.1. As being born out of regular wedlock, Abimelech would be brought up at first in his mother’s family, and reckoned as belonging to it (Judges 9:2). It... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 9:26

(26) Gaal the son of Ebed.—We are not told any further who he was; but the context leads us to infer that he was one of these freebooters, and probably belonged to the Canaanite population. His “brethren” may have formed the nucleus of a marauding band. Josephus says he was “a certain chief, with his soldiers and kinsmen.” For Ebed some MSS. and versions read Eber, and some Jobel. “Gaal Ben-Ebed” (“loathing son of a slave “) sounds like some contemptuous distortion of his real name.Went over to... read more