Judges 9:48 NIV

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 9:48

And Abimelech got him up to Mount Zalmon ,.... A mountain near Shechem, and thought to be the same with Salmon in Psalm 68:14 which seems to have had its name from the shade of the trees which grew upon it: he and all the people that were with him ; his whole army: and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees ; which grew upon Mount Zalmon: and took it, and laid it on his shoulders ; and carried it along with him: and said unto the people that... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:48

Zalmon - A lofty and thickly-wooded hill, as the etymology of the name (“shady”) implies, in the immediate neighborhood of Shechem: perhaps the same as Ebal. The setting fire to the hold, where the men of Shechem were all crowded together, with their wives and children, was the literal fulfillment of Jotham’s curse in Judges 9:20. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 9:48-51

Judges 9:48-51. Zalmon A place so called from its shadiness. Thebez Another town near Shechem; and, as it seems, within its territory. Thither fled all the men and women All that were not slain in the taking of the town. And gat them up to the top of the tower Which was flat and plain, after their manner of building. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Judges 9:1-57

The story of Abimelech (9:1-57)Gideon had about seventy sons. One of these, Abimelech, was not a full-blooded Israelite, for his mother was a Shechemite. (The Shechemites were a group of Canaanites who lived peaceably among the Israelites; see Genesis 12:6; Genesis 34:1-31; Joshua 24:32.) With the help of some worthless Shechemites, Abimelech killed all his brothers (except one who escaped) and established himself ‘king’ in Shechem. His ‘kingdom’ probably consisted only of Shechem and a few... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Judges 9:48

trees = brushwood. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 9:1-57

3. The story of Abimelech ch. 9The story of Abimelech connects directly with the story of Gideon. It is the sequel to and indeed the climax of the Gideon story, and it portrays the disastrous results of Gideon’s legacy. Though Abimelech sought a place of leadership in Israel, God did not raise him up as a judge. His history is of interest primarily because of the light it throws on this period of Israel’s national life and the continuing decline in Israel. Furthermore we can see what had become... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Judges 9:22-49

Abimelech’s reign 9:22-49Abimelech’s rule over Israel appears to have been very small in scope as well as short in duration. He was only the ruler of Shechem and its surrounding territory. He evidently lived in Arumah about five miles to the southeast of Shechem (Judges 9:41).". . . Abimelech’s government was not a monarchical reign, but simply a tyrannical despotism." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, p. 365.] The "evil spirit" that God sent between Abimelech and the men of Shechem (Judges 9:24) was... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:1-57

The Story of AbimelechThis chapter breaks the regular order of the book, since Abimelech is not thought of as a judge, and the Canaanites are not here regarded as oppressors. The story, however, throws a valuable light on the way in which Israel fell into unfaithfulness, when free from the yoke of foreign oppression.1-6. The rise of Abimelech.1. As being born out of regular wedlock, Abimelech would be brought up at first in his mother’s family, and reckoned as belonging to it (Judges 9:2). It... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Judges 9:48

(48) To mount Zalmon.—Evidently the nearest spot where he could get wood for his hideous design. Zalmon means shady. In Psalms 68:14 we find “as white as snow in Zalmon,” but whether the same mountain is referred to we cannot tell. It may be any of the hills near Gerizim.An axe.—Literally, the axes—i.e., he took axes for himself and his army.Cut down a bough.—The word for “a bough” is socath, which does not mean “a bundle of logs,” as the LXX. render it. Every one will recall the scene in... read more