Judges 9:1-57 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:7-21

We have here the only testimony that appears to have been borne against the wicked confederacy of Abimelech and the men of Shechem. It was a sign they had provoked God to depart from them that neither any prophet was sent nor any remarkable judgment, to awaken this stupid people, and to stop the progress of this threatening mischief. Only Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, who by a special providence escaped the common ruin of his family (Jdg. 9:5), dealt plainly with the Shechemites, and his... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:22-49

Three years Abimelech reigned, after a sort, without any disturbance; it is not said, He judged Israel, or did any service at all to his co 7611 untry, but so long he enjoyed the title and dignity of a king; and not only the Shechemites, but many other places, paid him respect. They must have been fond of a king that could please themselves with such a one as this. But the triumphing of the wicked is short. Within three years, as the years of a hireling, all this glory shall be contemned, and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:50-57

We have seen the ruin of the Shechemites completed by the hand of Abimelech; and now it comes to his turn to be reckoned with who was their leader in villany. Thebez was a small city, probably not far from Shechem, dependent upon it, and in confederacy with it. Now, I. Abimelech attempted the destruction of this city (Jdg. 9:50), drove all the inhabitants of the town into the castle, or citadel, Jdg. 9:51. When he had them there he did not doubt but he should do the same execution here that he... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:2

Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem ,.... Which, though the Targum calls the inhabitants of the place, Ben Melech better interprets it the lords of Shechem, as the phrase will bear to be rendered; for it is more likely he would have this first whispered and suggested to the principal men of the city, before the common people were acquainted with it, and indeed in order to use their influence with them: whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:3

And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of the men of Shechem all these words ,.... Got them together in some certain place, and laid before them all that Abimelech had suggested to them, and spake in his favour to them: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, he is our brother ; being fond of kingly government, as the Israelites generally were, it seemed most agreeable to them to have one king over them, and none more acceptable than one so nearly... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:4

And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baalbirith ,.... The temple of their idol; of this name See Gill on Judges 8:33 , out of the money which had been dedicated to his service by freewill offering, or out of a bank which they deposited there for greater safety, and perhaps out of a superstitious notion of its being more prosperous and successful: of what value these pieces were is not certain; by pieces of silver, commonly shekels are meant; but these are thought... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:5

And he went to his father's house at Ophrah ,.... Which, according to Bunting F1 Travels of the Patriarchs, &c.; p. 111. , was ten miles from Shechem: and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, upon one stone : in which he was assisted by the ruffians he had hired with seventy pieces of silver; these were laid one after another upon one and the same stone, as being convenient for the execution of them; or as serving as an altar on which they were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:6

And all the men of Shechem gathered together ,.... Upon the return of Abimelech, after he with his banditti had committed the execrable murder of his brethren: and all the house of Millo ; which was either the men of a place near to Shechem, or of his brother's family, or of some grand leading family in Shechem; or it may mean the town hall, where the principal inhabitants met in full house, as Millo signifies, on this occasion: and went and made Abimelech king ; which was a most... read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:7-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:22-49

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:50-57

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:4

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:5

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:6

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