Judges 9:42-57 KJV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:50

Then went Abimelech to Thebez ,.... Which, according to Ben Gersom, had rebelled against him; it was near to Shechem. Adrichomius says F16 Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 70. , the ruins, where he thinks stood the city of Thebez, were but one furlong from Neapolis or Shechem, where, to the left of Jacob's well, were to be seen ruins of a large town, marble stones, whole pillars, and other signs of large palaces, and the soil wonderfully fruitful; and Jerome says F17 De loc. Heb. 95. D. ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:51

But there was a strong tower within the city ,.... The tower of Shechem was without the city, but this within, as towers generally are: and hither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city ; men, women, and children, man and maid servants, all the inhabitants of the city; the tower being a large place, having not only many rooms in it, but perhaps a large area in the midst of it, as well as it had battlements on the top of it: and shut it to them ; the gates of it, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:52

And Abimelech came unto the tower ,.... With his army to besiege it: and fought against it ; using all the methods he could to oblige those in it to surrender: and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire ; in order to get entrance into it; and perhaps the tower was built of stone, so that no other part could be set fire to; and to do this he drew near to the door himself, for nothing more is meant by the phrase, "went hard", than drawing near in his own person to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:53

And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone ,.... Of the upper millstone, as the word signifies, which is observed by Jarchi and other Jewish commentators; this with other stones being carried up to the top of the tower, to do what execution they could with them: and a woman observing Abimelech making up to the door of the tower, took up this piece of millstone, and threw it down upon Abimelech's head, and all to break his skull ; she did it with that view, though it may as well be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:54

Then he called hastily to the young man his armourbearer ,.... Perceiving it was a mortal blow that was given him, and he should soon expire; and that the cast of the stone was by the hand of a woman, and therefore he was in haste to have the young man come to him: and said unto him, draw thy sword and slay me, that men say not of me, a woman slew him ; it being reckoned very ignominious and reproachful to die by the hand of a woman, and especially any great personage, as a king or... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:55

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead ,.... That is, those that were with him, the men of his army, who were all Israelites: they departed every man to his place ; disbanded themselves, and went everyone to their own home, and so the inhabitants of Thebez escaped the vengeance of Abimelech. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:56

Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech which he did unto his father ,.... To the disgrace of his father's character, and to the hurt of his father's family: in slaying his seventy brethren ; excepting one, which was a piece of unheard of wickedness, attended with most sad aggravations; the shedding such blood required blood to be shed again, and it was righteous judgment God rendered to him; this, and the following verse contain the remarks made upon this history by the writer of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:57

And all the evil of the men of Shechem ,.... In aiding Abimelech to slay his brethren, and in making him king after so foul a fact committed: did God render upon their heads ; by suffering Abimelech to beat down their city, and destroy the inhabitants of it, and by burning the hold in which the men of the tower of Shechem were, and them in it: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal ; both upon Abimelech, and the men of Shechem, they being destroyed by one... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:45

And sowed it with salt - Intending that the destruction of this city should be a perpetual memorial of his achievements. The salt was not designed to render it barren, as some have imagined; for who would think of cultivating a city? but as salt is an emblem of incorruption and perpetuity, it was no doubt designed to perpetuate the memorial of this transaction, and as a token that he wished this desolation to be eternal. This sowing a place with salt was a custom in different nations... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:46

A hold of the house of the god Berith - This must mean the precincts of the temple, as we find there were a thousand men and women together in that place. read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:50

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:51

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:52

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:53

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:54

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:55

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:56

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:57

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:45

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:46

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