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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:1-6

We are here told by what arts Abimelech got into authority, and made himself great. His mother perhaps had instilled into his mind some towering ambitious thoughts, and the name his father gave him, carrying royalty in it, might help to blow up these sparks; and now that he has buried his father nothing will serve his proud spirit but he will succeed him in the government of Israel, directly contrary to his father's will, for he had declared no son of his should rule over them. He had no call... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:1

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... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:1

Abimelech - went to Shechem - We have already seen that Abimelech was the son of Gideon, by his concubine at Shechem. His going thither immediately after his father's death was to induce his townsmen to proclaim him governor in the place of his father. Shechem was the residence of his mother, and of all her relatives. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:1

We are not told how soon after the death of Gideon these events happened. There must have been time for the apostacy and establishment of Baal-worship, and for the development of ill-will between Abimelech and his brethren. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 9:1-3

Judges 9:1-3. Abimelech went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren That is, her relations; and communed with them To try if he could engage them to favour and aid the design he had conceived to usurp the government of Israel, in direct opposition to his father’s will, who had declared no son of his should rule over them. His mother had, probably, instilled into his mind some ambitious thoughts, and the name his father had given him, carrying royalty in its meaning, might help to blow up... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 9:1-57

The story of Abimelech (9:1-57)Gideon had about seventy sons. One of these, Abimelech, was not a full-blooded Israelite, for his mother was a Shechemite. (The Shechemites were a group of Canaanites who lived peaceably among the Israelites; see Genesis 12:6; Genesis 34:1-31; Joshua 24:32.) With the help of some worthless Shechemites, Abimelech killed all his brothers (except one who escaped) and established himself ‘king’ in Shechem. His ‘kingdom’ probably consisted only of Shechem and a few... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 9:1

brethren. Put by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Species) for other relatives. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Judges 9:1

TRAGIC TALE OF GIDEON'S SON BY A CONCUBINEAt first glance, it might appear that this pitiful tale of the scoundrel Abimelech is unimportant. However, the events of this chapter came very near to being the end of the nation of Israel. "Shechem, along with a scattering of Israelites, here reverted to the Bronze-age monarchical form of government; it was nearly the end of Israel."[1] If Abimelech had been able to succeed in any extensive sense, all Israel might have renounced their covenant... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Judges 9:1

CHAP. IX. Abimelech is made king, and puts his brethren to death. Jotham, the only surviving one, rebuketh Abimelech and the men of Shechem by a parable, and fortels their ruin. At the siege of Thebez, Abimelech is killed by a piece of a mill-stone cast upon his head. Before Christ 1231. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:1

1. Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem—The idolatry which had been stealthily creeping into Israel during the latter years of Gideon was now openly professed; Shechem was wholly inhabited by its adherents; at least, idolaters had the ascendency. Abimelech, one of Gideon's numerous sons, was connected with that place. Ambitious of sovereign power, and having plied successfully the arts of a demagogue with his maternal relatives and friends, he acquired both the influence and money by... read more

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