17 (For my father H1 fought H3898 for you, and adventured H7993 his life H5315 far, H5048 and delivered H5337 you out of the hand H3027 of Midian: H4080
Then Jerubbaal, H3378 who is Gideon, H1439 and all the people H5971 that were with him, rose up early, H7925 and pitched H2583 beside the well of Harod: H5878 so that the host H4264 of the Midianites H4080 were on the north side H6828 of them, by the hill H1389 of Moreh, H4176 in the valley. H6010 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Gideon, H1439 The people H5971 that are with thee are too many H7227 for me to give H5414 the Midianites H4080 into their hands, H3027 lest Israel H3478 vaunt H6286 themselves against me, saying, H559 Mine own hand H3027 hath saved H3467 me. Now therefore go to, H4994 proclaim H7121 in the ears H241 of the people, H5971 saying, H559 Whosoever is fearful H3373 and afraid, H2730 let him return H7725 and depart early H6852 from mount H2022 Gilead. H1568 And there returned H7725 of the people H5971 twenty H6242 and two H8147 thousand; H505 and there remained H7604 ten H6235 thousand. H505 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Gideon, H1439 The people H5971 are yet too many; H7227 bring them down H3381 unto the water, H4325 and I will try H6884 them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say H559 unto thee, This shall go H3212 with thee, the same shall go H3212 with thee; and of whomsoever I say H559 unto thee, This shall not go H3212 with thee, the same shall not go. H3212 So he brought down H3381 the people H5971 unto the water: H4325 and the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Gideon, H1439 Every one that lappeth H3952 of the water H4325 with his tongue, H3956 as a dog H3611 lappeth, H3952 him shalt thou set H3322 by himself; likewise every one that boweth down H3766 upon his knees H1290 to drink. H8354 And the number H4557 of them that lapped, H3952 putting their hand H3027 to their mouth, H6310 were three H7969 hundred H3967 men: H376 but all the rest H3499 of the people H5971 bowed down H3766 upon their knees H1290 to drink H8354 water. H4325 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Gideon, H1439 By the three H7969 hundred H3967 men H376 that lapped H3952 will I save H3467 you, and deliver H5414 the Midianites H4080 into thine hand: H3027 and let all the other people H5971 go H3212 every man H376 unto his place. H4725 So the people H5971 took H3947 victuals H6720 in their hand, H3027 and their trumpets: H7782 and he sent H7971 all H376 the rest of Israel H3478 every man H376 unto his tent, H168 and retained H2388 those three H7969 hundred H3967 men: H376 and the host H4264 of Midian H4080 was beneath him in the valley. H6010 And it came to pass the same night, H3915 that the LORD H3068 said H559 unto him, Arise, H6965 get thee down H3381 unto the host; H4264 for I have delivered H5414 it into thine hand. H3027 But if thou fear H3373 to go down, H3381 go H3381 thou with Phurah H6513 thy servant H5288 down H3381 to the host: H4264 And thou shalt hear H8085 what they say; H1696 and afterward H310 shall thine hands H3027 be strengthened H2388 to go down H3381 unto the host. H4264 Then went he down H3381 with Phurah H6513 his servant H5288 unto the outside H7097 of the armed men H2571 that were in the host. H4264 And the Midianites H4080 and the Amalekites H6002 and all the children H1121 of the east H6924 lay H5307 along in the valley H6010 like grasshoppers H697 for multitude; H7230 and their camels H1581 were without number, H4557 as the sand H2344 by the sea H3220 side H8193 for multitude. H7230 And when Gideon H1439 was come, H935 behold, there was a man H376 that told H5608 a dream H2472 unto his fellow, H7453 and said, H559 Behold, I dreamed H2492 a dream, H2472 and, lo, a cake H6742 H6742 of barley H8184 bread H3899 tumbled H2015 into the host H4264 of Midian, H4080 and came H935 unto a tent, H168 and smote H5221 it that it fell, H5307 and overturned H2015 H4605 it, that the tent H168 lay along. H5307 And his fellow H7453 answered H6030 and said, H559 This is nothing else save the sword H2719 of Gideon H1439 the son H1121 of Joash, H3101 a man H376 of Israel: H3478 for into his hand H3027 hath God H430 delivered H5414 Midian, H4080 and all the host. H4264 And it was so, when Gideon H1439 heard H8085 the telling H4557 of the dream, H2472 and the interpretation H7667 thereof, that he worshipped, H7812 and returned H7725 into the host H4264 of Israel, H3478 and said, H559 Arise; H6965 for the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 into your hand H3027 the host H4264 of Midian. H4080 And he divided H2673 the three H7969 hundred H3967 men H376 into three H7969 companies, H7218 and he put H5414 a trumpet H7782 in every man's hand, H3027 with empty H7386 pitchers, H3537 and lamps H3940 within H8432 the pitchers. H3537 And he said H559 unto them, Look H7200 on me, and do H6213 likewise: and, behold, when I come H935 to the outside H7097 of the camp, H4264 it shall be that, as I do, H6213 so shall ye do. H6213 When I blow H8628 with a trumpet, H7782 I and all that are with me, then blow H8628 ye the trumpets H7782 also on every side H5439 of all the camp, H4264 and say, H559 The sword of the LORD, H3068 and of Gideon. H1439 So Gideon, H1439 and the hundred H3967 men H376 that were with him, came H935 unto the outside H7097 of the camp H4264 in the beginning H7218 of the middle H8484 watch; H821 and they had but H389 newly H6965 set H6965 the watch: H8104 and they blew H8628 the trumpets, H7782 and brake H5310 the pitchers H3537 that were in their hands. H3027 And the three H7969 companies H7218 blew H8628 the trumpets, H7782 and brake H7665 the pitchers, H3537 and held H2388 the lamps H3940 in their left H8040 hands, H3027 and the trumpets H7782 in their right H3225 hands H3027 to blow H8628 withal: and they cried, H7121 The sword H2719 of the LORD, H3068 and of Gideon. H1439 And they stood H5975 every man H376 in his place round about H5439 the camp: H4264 and all the host H4264 ran, H7323 and cried, H7321 and fled. H5127 H5127 And the three H7969 hundred H3967 blew H8628 the trumpets, H7782 and the LORD H3068 set H7760 every man's H376 sword H2719 against his fellow, H7453 even throughout all the host: H4264 and the host H4264 fled H5127 to Bethshittah H1029 in Zererath, H6888 and to the border H8193 of Abelmeholah, H65 unto Tabbath. H2888 And the men H376 of Israel H3478 gathered themselves together H6817 out of Naphtali, H5321 and out of Asher, H836 and out of all Manasseh, H4519 and pursued H7291 after H310 the Midianites. H4080 And Gideon H1439 sent H7971 messengers H4397 throughout all mount H2022 Ephraim, H669 saying, H559 Come down H3381 against H7125 the Midianites, H4080 and take H3920 before them the waters H4325 unto Bethbarah H1012 and Jordan. H3383 Then all the men H376 of Ephraim H669 gathered themselves together, H6817 and took H3920 the waters H4325 unto Bethbarah H1012 and Jordan. H3383 And they took H3920 two H8147 princes H8269 of the Midianites, H4080 Oreb H6159 and Zeeb; H2062 and they slew H2026 Oreb H6159 upon the rock H6697 Oreb, H6159 and Zeeb H2062 they slew H2026 at the winepress H3342 of Zeeb, H2062 and pursued H7291 Midian, H4080 and brought H935 the heads H7218 of Oreb H6159 and Zeeb H2062 to Gideon H1439 on the other side H5676 Jordan. H3383
And Gideon H1439 came H935 to Jordan, H3383 and passed over, H5674 he, and the three H7969 hundred H3967 men H376 that were with him, faint, H5889 yet pursuing H7291 them. And he said H559 unto the men H582 of Succoth, H5523 Give, H5414 I pray you, loaves H3603 of bread H3899 unto the people H5971 that follow H7272 me; for they be faint, H5889 and I am pursuing H7291 after H310 Zebah H2078 and Zalmunna, H6759 kings H4428 of Midian. H4080 And the princes H8269 of Succoth H5523 said, H559 Are the hands H3709 of Zebah H2078 and Zalmunna H6759 now in thine hand, H3027 that we should give H5414 bread H3899 unto thine army? H6635 And Gideon H1439 said, H559 Therefore when the LORD H3068 hath delivered H5414 Zebah H2078 and Zalmunna H6759 into mine hand, H3027 then I will tear H1758 your flesh H1320 with the thorns H6975 of the wilderness H4057 and with briers. H1303 And he went up H5927 thence to Penuel, H6439 and spake H1696 unto them likewise: H2063 and the men H582 of Penuel H6439 answered H6030 him as the men H582 of Succoth H5523 had answered H6030 him. And he spake H559 also unto the men H582 of Penuel, H6439 saying, H559 When I come again H7725 in peace, H7965 I will break down H5422 this tower. H4026 Now Zebah H2078 and Zalmunna H6759 were in Karkor, H7174 and their hosts H4264 with them, about fifteen H2568 H6240 thousand H505 men, all that were left H3498 of all the hosts H4264 of the children H1121 of the east: H6924 for there fell H5307 an hundred H3967 and twenty H6242 thousand H505 men H376 that drew H8025 sword. H2719
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Judges 9
Commentary on Judges 9 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 9
Jud 9:1-6. Abimelech Is Made King by the Shechemites.
1. Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem—The idolatry which had been stealthily creeping into Israel during the latter years of Gideon was now openly professed; Shechem was wholly inhabited by its adherents; at least, idolaters had the ascendency. Abimelech, one of Gideon's numerous sons, was connected with that place. Ambitious of sovereign power, and having plied successfully the arts of a demagogue with his maternal relatives and friends, he acquired both the influence and money by which he raised himself to a throne.
communed … with all the family of the house of his mother's father—Here is a striking instance of the evils of polygamy—one son has connections and interests totally alien to those of his brothers.
2. Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, … or that one reign over you—a false insinuation, artfully contrived to stir up jealousy and alarm. Gideon had rejected, with abhorrence, the proposal to make himself or any of his family king, and there is no evidence that any of his other sons coveted the title.
4. the house of Baal-berith—either the temple, or the place where this idol was worshipped; Baal-berith, "god of the covenant," by invocation of whom the league of cities was formed.
Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him—idle, worthless vagabonds, the scum of society, who had nothing to lose, but much to gain from the success of a revolutionary movement.
5. went unto … Ophrah, and slew his brethren i. e., upon one stone—This is the first mention of a barbarous atrocity which has, with appalling frequency, been perpetrated in the despotic countries of the East—that of one son of the deceased monarch usurping the throne and hastening to confirm himself in the possession by the massacre of all the natural or legitimate competitors. Abimelech slew his brethren on one stone, either by dashing them from one rock, or sacrificing them on one stone altar, in revenge for the demolition of Baal's altar by their father. This latter view is the more probable, from the Shechemites (Jud 9:24) aiding in it.
threescore and ten persons—A round number is used, but it is evident that two are wanting to complete that number.
6. all the men of Shechem …, and all the house of Millo—that is, a mound or rampart, so that the meaning is, all the men in the house or temple; namely, the priests of Baal.
made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar—rather, "by the oak near a raised mound"—so that the ceremony of coronation might be conspicuous to a crowd.
Jud 9:7-21. Jotham by a Parable Reproaches Them.
7. he … stood in the top of mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice—The spot he chose was, like the housetops, the public place of Shechem; and the parable [Jud 9:8-15] drawn from the rivalry of the various trees was appropriate to the diversified foliage of the valley below. Eastern people are exceedingly fond of parables and use them for conveying reproofs, which they could not give in any other way. The top of Gerizim is not so high in the rear of the town, as it is nearer to the plain. With a little exertion of voice, he could easily have been heard by the people of the city; for the hill so overhangs the valley, that a person from the side or summit would have no difficulty in speaking to listeners at the base. Modern history records a case, in which soldiers on the hill shouted to the people in the city and endeavored to instigate them to an insurrection. There is something about the elastic atmosphere of an Eastern clime which causes it to transmit sound with wonderful celerity and distinctness [Hackett].
13. wine, which cheereth God and man—not certainly in the same manner. God might be said to be "cheered" by it, when the sacrifices were accepted, as He is said also to be honored by oil (Jud 9:9).
21. Joatham … went to Beer—the modern village El-Bireh, on the ridge which bounds the northern prospect of Jerusalem.
Jud 9:22-49. Gaal's Conspiracy.
22. When Abimelech had reigned three years—His reign did not, probably at first, extend beyond Shechem; but by stealthy and progressive encroachments he subjected some of the neighboring towns to his sway. None could "reign" in Israel, except by rebellious usurpation; and hence the reign of Abimelech is expressed in the original by a word signifying "despotism," not that which describes the mild and divinely authorized rule of the judge.
23. Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem—In the course of providence, jealousy, distrust, secret disaffection, and smothered rebellion appeared among his subjects disappointed and disgusted with his tyranny; and God permitted those disorders to punish the complicated crimes of the royal fratricide and idolatrous usurper.
26. Gaal … came with his brethren …, and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him—An insurrection of the original Canaanites, headed by this man, at last broke out in Shechem.
28-45. would to God this people were under my hand—He seems to have been a boastful, impudent, and cowardly person, totally unfit to be a leader in a revolutionary crisis. The consequence was that he allowed himself to be drawn into an ambush, was defeated, the city of Shechem destroyed and strewn with salt. The people took refuge in the stronghold, which was set on fire, and all in it perished.
Jud 9:50-57. Abimelech Slain.
50. Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez—now Tubas—not far from Shechem.
51-53. all the men and women, … gat them up to the top of the tower—The Canaanite forts were generally mountain fastnesses or keeps, and they often had a strong tower which served as a last refuge. The Assyrian bas-reliefs afford counterparts of the scene here described so vivid and exact, that we might almost suppose them to be representations of the same historic events. The besieged city—the strong tower within—the men and women crowding its battlements—the fire applied to the doors, and even the huge fragments of stone dropping from the hands of one of the garrison on the heads of the assailants, are all well represented to the life—just as they are here described in the narrative of inspired truth [Goss].