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
And Gaul the son or Ebed went out ,.... He rose up early that morning, being a man of vigilance and activity, and perhaps had some intelligence of the preparations of Abimelech, his design against the city, though he did not expect he was so near at hand: and stood in the entering of the gate of the city ; to see whether the guards were on their duty within, and whether he could observe any thing without, any approaching danger: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with... read more
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul ,.... Who was up as early, and came to the gate of the city, to see how things went, and whether there was any appearance of Abimelech and his forces, and whether any opportunity offered to let him into the city; and it seems as if he came and stood by Gaul, and appeared friendly with him: behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains ; the mountains of Ebal and Gerizim, which were near to Shechem: and Zebul said unto him,... read more
And Gaal spake again, and said ,.... Looking towards the mountains, and taking another view of what he before saw, for further satisfaction: see, there come people down by the middle of the land ; either in the valley between the two mountains; or rather those he first saw on the top of the mountains were now come down about the middle of them, called in the Hebrew text the navel, from the prominence of the mountains thereabout, or because the navel is in the middle of the body, as this... read more
Then said Zebul unto him ,.... Not being able to put him off any longer, and willing to take the opportunity to upbraid him with what he had said: where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, who is Abimelech, that we should serve him ? darest thou say the same thou hast done, and utter the contemptuous language concerning Abimelech, asking who he was, that he should be served? Here he is, speak to his face; what are become of those boasts and brags, and great swelling words, what... read more
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem ,.... At the head of them, to meet Abimelech, having gathered together as many, and put them in as good order, as he could, and the time would admit of: and fought with Abimelech ; without the city. read more
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him ,.... Abimelech got the better of him in the battle, and obliged him to give way, and he pursued him closely as he was fleeing: and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate ; or, "they fell many wounded" F11 נפלו חללים "et ceciderant vulnerati multi", Pagninus, Montanus. , or slain, as the Targum; that is, many were killed and wounded, as in the battle, so in the pursuit, and lay all the way to the... read more
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah ,.... Called also Aarima as Jerom F12 De loc. Heb. fol. 94. B. says, and in his time called Remphtis; it seems to be not far off from Shechem, he returned to the place where he was before, see Judges 9:31 contenting himself with the advantage he had got, and waiting when another opportunity would offer, which quickly did, to be revenged on the Shechemites: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem ; there seems... read more
And it came to pass on the morrow ,.... The day after the battle: that the people went out into the field ; some think to fight, and try the event of another battle, in order to be freed from Abimelech, but that seems not so likely: rather to finish their vintage, as Josephus F12 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 7. sect. 4. , or to till their ground, to plough and sow, which quickly came on after the vintage was ended; find this they might do the more securely, since Abimelech had withdrawn... read more
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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