Judges 9:26-45

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:26

And Gaal the son or Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem ,.... Who this Gaal was, and who his brethren, and from whence he came, and the place he went over, are all uncertain. Jarchi thinks he was a Gentile, and it looks, by some speeches of his afterwards, as if he was a descendant of Hamor, prince of Shechem, in the times of Jacob, who, since the expulsion of the Canaanites, his family had retired to some distant parts; but hearing of a difference between Abimelech and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:27

Before they kept within the city, and durst not stir out to gather in the vintage, the time being come, for fear of the troops of Abimelech; for their lying in wait for him, and the robberies committed being made known to him, he had prepared to raise some forces, and attack them, of which they had had information; but now being encouraged with the protection of Gaal, they ventured out to gather their grapes in their vineyards without fear: and trode the grapes, and made merry : sung songs... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:28

And Gaal the son of Ebed said ,.... As they were then making merry, drinking and carousing: who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him ? who is this Abimelech the Shechemite? or who is he more than Shechem, the old prince of this place, long ago dispossessed of it? the one is no better than the other, nor has a better title to rule and government than the other, that we should serve him; nay, of the two, the descendants of the old Shechem have the best title: is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:29

And would to God this people were under my hand ,.... Or government, that I were but the ruler of their city, and general of their forces: then would I remove Abimelech ; from his kingly office, and rid Shechem of him, and all the country round about, and indeed remove him out of the world: and he said to Abimelech ; as if he was present, in a hectoring and blustering manner; or he said what follows to his officer under him, that represented him; or he sent a messenger to him,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:30

And when Zebul the ruler of the city ,.... Whom Abimelech had placed there under him: heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled ; because he spoke slightly of him, and wished to have his place; perhaps before Zebul was inclined to be on the side of the Shechemites against Abimelech, or at least dissembled that he was; but now, being incensed at the words of Gaal, determined to take the side of Abimelech, and let him know how things were carrying on against him. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:31

And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily ,.... In a secret manner, unknown to Gaal and the men of Shechem; or "craftily", as Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it, still dissembling, notwithstanding his anger, to be in the interest of Gaal, and the men of Shechem, as appears indeed afterwards by a show of friendliness with Gaal, Judges 9:36 though, according to Joseph Kimchi and Ben Gersom, Thormah is the name of the place where Abimelech was, the same with Arumah, Judges 9:41 and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:32

Now therefore up by night ,.... The night following, that no time might be lost: and the people that is with thee ; the troops he had with him; not only such he had for his own guards, but what he had been raising, having intelligence before this of the revolt of the Shechemites from him: and lie in wait in the fields ; he thought it most advisable for him to march with the forces he had, from the place where he was in the night, and less liable to be discovered, and remain in the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:33

And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city ,.... For being with his forces advanced near to it by a march in the night, he would be able by sunrising to attack the city before the inhabitants were up to defend it, and so surprise them: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee ; that is, Gaul, and the men with him, as many as he upon a surprise can get together: thou mayest do to them as... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:34

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night ,.... According to the advice of Zebul: and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies ; he divided his army into four parts, which he placed on the four sides of the city, at some distance from it, to act as they should have opportunity, to find ways and means of getting into it on either quarter. read more

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