Judges 9:16-21

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:16

Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king ,.... If they had done this conscientiously, and in the uprightness of their hearts, to take such a base man, and a murderer, and make him their king, which Jotham doubted, and put it in this manner to them, that they might consider of it themselves: if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal, and his house ; if they could think so, which surely they could not, when they reflected upon the murder of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:17

For my father fought for you ,.... In the valley of Jezreel, and at Karkor, where with three hundred men he routed and destroyed an army of 135,000: and adventured his life far : which, according to our version, may seem to have respect to his going over Jordan, and following the Midianites, fleeing into their country, and fighting them at Karkor, at a great distance from his native place; but the phrase in the original text is, "he cast away his life afar" F5 וישלך את נפשו ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:18

And ye are risen up against my father's house this day ,.... Which was an instance of great ingratitude in them, after such services done for them, and favours received by them: and have slain his sons, seventy persons on one stone ; excepting one, himself, and he was intentionally slain, their design was to cut off everyone; and all being slain but one, the round number is given, and this being so large, is the rather observed; and though Abimelech committed the fact, the men of Shechem... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:19

If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and his house this day ,.... If they could in their consciences think and believe they had done well, and acted the faithful and upright part by him and his family, which he left with them to consider of: then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you ; may you be happy in him as a king, and he be happy in you as his subjects, and live peaceably and comfortably together; and this he suggests as a test of their former... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:20

But if not ,.... If it appeared that they had not acted uprightly and sincerely in this matter: let fire come out of Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo ; let wrath, rage, and fury, break out from Abimelech like fire, and issue in the destruction of those that made him king, both those of Shechem and of Millo: and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech ; let them be incensed against Abimelech, and seek... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:21

And Jotham ran away, and fled ,.... Having delivered his fable, and the application of it, he made his escape, having the advantage of being on the top of a mountain, at some distance from the people, and perhaps they might not be inclined to do him any harm: and went to Beer ; which some take to be the same with Baalathbeer in the tribe of Simeon, Joshua 19:8 Jerom F6 De loc. Heb. fol. 89. I says, the village Bera, whither Jotham fled, is eight miles from Eleutheropolis to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:20

Let fire come out from Abimelech - As the thorn or bramble may be the means of kindling other wood, because it may be easily ignited; so shall Abimelech be the cause of kindling a fire of civil discord among you, that shall consume the rulers and great men of your country. A prophetic declaration of what would take place. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:21

Went to Beer - Mr. Maundrell, in his journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 64, 5th edit., mentions a place of this name, which he thinks to be that to which Jotham fled, and supposed to be the same as Mishmash, 1 Samuel 14:5 , 1 Samuel 14:31 . It is situated, he says, towards the south, on an easy declivity; and has a fountain of excellent water at the bottom of the hill from which it has taken its name. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:8-20

This fable and that noted in the marginal reference are the only two of the kind found in Scripture. Somewhat different are the parables of the Old Testament, 2 Samuel 12:1-4; 2 Samuel 14:5-11; 1 Kings 20:39-40.Judges 9:9Honour God and man - Alluding to the constant use of oil in the meat-offerings Leviticus 2:1-16, and in the holy ointment Exodus 30:24-25. In like manner, the allusion in Judges 9:13 is to the drink-offerings of wine. See Leviticus 23:13; Numbers 15:10.Judges 9:14The bramble -... read more

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