Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Judges 9:46 - 9:57

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Paul Kretzmann Commentary - Judges 9:46 - 9:57


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:



The End of Abimelech

v. 46. And when all the men of the tower of Shechem,
probably the same as Beth-Millo, the fortress of the city, heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith, thinking they would be safe in the sanctuary,

v. 47. And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

v. 48. And Abimelech gat him up to Mount Zalmon,
so called from its wooded heights, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, all this being told with the details noted by an eye-witness, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done.

v. 49. And all the people,
in obedience to his command. likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, which the men of the tower had considered a refuge, and set the hold on fire upon them, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women, suffocated by the smoke and consumed by the flames.

v. 50. Then went Abimelech to Thebez,
evidently not far from Shechem, and encamped against Thebez, and took it, the city proper.

v. 51. But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women and all they of the city, and shut it to them,
locked and barred it securely, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

v. 52. And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire,
thereby stepping closely to the wall.

v. 53. And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone,
the upper stone, known as the runner, upon Abimelech's head, and all to (wholly) brake his skull, crushing its bones.

v. 54. And he called hastily unto the young man, his armor-bearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him.
Thus he was fierce and warlike to the end, determined not to have appearances against him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

v. 55. And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
The siege was raised and the dead chieftain forsaken.

v. 56. Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech which he did unto his father in slaying his seventy brethren;


v. 57. and all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads; and upon them came the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal.
God often pursues that course, punishing wicked people by wicked people, overthrowing rebels by rebels. His avenging hand finds both the seducers and the seduced.