Judges 9:56 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:50-57

We have seen the ruin of the Shechemites completed by the hand of Abimelech; and now it comes to his turn to be reckoned with who was their leader in villany. Thebez was a small city, probably not far from Shechem, dependent upon it, and in confederacy with it. Now, I. Abimelech attempted the destruction of this city (Jdg. 9:50), drove all the inhabitants of the town into the castle, or citadel, Jdg. 9:51. When he had them there he did not doubt but he should do the same execution here that he... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:56

Thus God rendered , etc. - Both the fratricide Abimelech, and the unprincipled men of Shechem, had the iniquity visited upon them of which they had been guilty. Man's judgment may be avoided; but there is no escape from the judgments of God. I Have said that the fable of Jotham is the oldest, and perhaps the best, in the world; and referred for other particulars to the end of the chapter. On the general subject of fable, apologue, and parable, the reader will find a considerable... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 9:56

Judges 9:56. Thus God rendered, &c. This and the following verse conclude the history of Abimelech with a divine admonition, that no man might think such things come to pass by chance. We see God, the judge of all, punished both Abimelech and the men of Shechem according to their deserts, and made them the instruments of each other’s destruction. And it is remarkable that this punishment overtook them speedily, within less than four years after their crime was committed. The wickedness... 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 9:56

rendered = requited. Hebrew brought back. wickedness. Hebrew. ra'a'. 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 9:50-57

Abimelech’s death 9:50-57Abimelech suffered an ignominious death suitable to a man of his character. Thebez (Judges 9:50) was probably another name for Tirzah northeast of Shechem. [Note: Monson, p. 110.] The modern town is Tubas. The upper millstone the woman threw down on Abimelech was probably about 18 inches in diameter. [Note: See The New Bible Dictionary, 1962 ed., s.v. "Mill, Millstone," by A. R. Millard.] Again, a woman proved to be the deliverer of her people, this time from an... 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 9:56-57

(56, 57) Thus.—These impressive verses give the explanation of the whole narrative. They are inserted to show that God punishes both individual and national crimes, and that men’s pleasant vices are made the instruments to scourge them. The murderer of his brothers “on one stone” is slain by a stone flung on his head, and the treacherous idolaters are treacherously burnt in the temple of their idol. read more