Judges 9:6-7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:1-6

We are here told by what arts Abimelech got into authority, and made himself great. His mother perhaps had instilled into his mind some towering ambitious thoughts, and the name his father gave him, carrying royalty in it, might help to blow up these sparks; and now that he has buried his father nothing will serve his proud spirit but he will succeed him in the government of Israel, directly contrary to his father's will, for he had declared no son of his should rule over them. He had no call... read more

Matthew Henry

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 9:6

And all the men of Shechem gathered together ,.... Upon the return of Abimelech, after he with his banditti had committed the execrable murder of his brethren: and all the house of Millo ; which was either the men of a place near to Shechem, or of his brother's family, or of some grand leading family in Shechem; or it may mean the town hall, where the principal inhabitants met in full house, as Millo signifies, on this occasion: and went and made Abimelech king ; which was a most... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:7

And when they told it to Jotham ,.... Or when it was told him that Abimelech was made king in Shechem by some of his friends: he went and stood in the top of Mount Gerizim ; a mount near Shechem; it hung over the city, as Josephus says F3 Antiqu. l. 5. c. 7. sect. 2. , and so a very proper place to stand on and deliver a speech from it to the inhabitants of it; who, as the same writer says, were now keeping a festival, on what account he says not, perhaps to Baalberith their idol:... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:6

And all the house of Millo - If Millo be the name of a place, it is nowhere else mentioned in the sacred writings. But it is probably the name of a person of note and influence in the city of Shechem - the men of Shechem and the family of Millo. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:7

Stood in the top of Mount Gerizim - Gerizim and Ebal were mounts very near to each other; the former lying to the north, the latter to the south, and at the foot of them Shechem. But see some remarks on the extent of the human voice in some hilly countries in the following extract from a late traveler in the East: - "The great extent to which the sound of the voice is conveyed may be mentioned. Some persons have thought this a proof of the extreme rarity of the atmosphere. A... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:6

Millo must have been a fortified place close to, but separate from, Shechem, and perhaps the same as the tower of Shechem mentioned in Judges 9:46-47. The building or enlarging of the better-known Millo, at Jerusalem was one of Solomon’s great works 1 Kings 9:15, 1 Kings 9:24. The population dwelling in Millo though perhaps numerically small, had great weight from possessing the stronghold. Their giving Abimelech the title of king indicates the strong Canaanite influence at Shechem. All the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:7

The top of Mount Gerizim - The ancient Shechem was perhaps situated there. The population of Shechem is supposed to have been keeping some public festival outside the city when Jotham addressed them. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 9:6

Judges 9:6. All the men of Shechem That is, the great men, the chief magistrates of the city; and the house of Millo Either some eminent and potent family living in or near Shechem, or the common council, the full house, or house of fulness, as the word signifies; those that met in their court-house or place of general assembly; g athered together Not to prosecute and punish Abimelech for this most barbarous murder, as they ought to have done, he being one of their citizens, but to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 9:7

Judges 9:7. Jotham stood in the top of mount Gerizim Which overlooked the city of Shechem. This was not on the same day when Abimelech was inaugurated, but some time after. The valley between Gerizim and Ebal was a famous place, employed for the solemn reading of the law, and its blessings and curses; and it is probable it was still used, even by the superstitious and idolatrous Israelites, for such occasions, who delighted to use the same places which their ancestors had used. And lifted... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:1-6

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Judges 9:7-21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Judges 9:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Judges 9:7

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:6

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Judges 9:7

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 9:6

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Judges 9:7

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