IX. 1-4. Abimelech induces the Shechemites to join in a conspiracy. Judges 9:5. The murder of his brethren. Judges 9:7. Jotham’s parable of the trees seeking to anoint a king. Judges 9:16. Application of the parable. Judges 9:21. Escape of Jotham. Judges 9:22. Disaffection of the Shechemites, (Judge... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ABIMELECH. — This narrative of the rise and fall of Abimelech, “the bramble king,” is singularly vivid in many of its details, while at the same time material facts are so briefly touched upon that parts of the story must remain obscure. The general bearing of this graphic episode is to illustra... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE MEN OF SHECHEM. — Rather, _the lords_ (_Baali_)_ of Shechem._ These seem to be the same as “the men” (_anoshi_)_,_ or “lords (_Baali_) of the tower of Shechem,” in Judges 9:46; Judges 9:49. It is by no means impossible that the Canaanites may have still held possession of the fortress, thoug... [ Continue Reading ]
PIECES. — Rather, _shekels,_ which is the word normally understood in similar phrases (Judges 8:26). “Neither the citizens of Shechem nor the ignobly-ambitious bastard understood what true monarchy was, and still less what it ought to be in the commonwealth of Jehovah” (Ewald, ii. 389). OUT OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WENT UNTO HIS FATHER’S HOUSE AT OPHRAH. — Probably, like Absalom, he seized the opportunity of some local or family feast at which all his brethren would be assembled (2 Samuel 13:23); it may even have been the anniversary of Gideon’s vision. SLEW HIS BRETHREN... — This is the first mention i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE HOUSE OF MILLO. — It cannot be determined whether Beth Millo is here a proper name, or whether _Beth_ means the family or inhabitants of Millo. The Chaldee renders Millo by “a rampart;” and if this be correct, the “house of the rampart” was perhaps the same as the “tower of Shechem” (Judges 9:46... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE TOP OF MOUNT GERIZIM. — Unless Shechem is not to be identified with Neapolis (_Nablous_)_,_ and was rather, as De Saulcy decides, on Mount Gerizim itself, at a spot still marked by extensive ruins, it would have been entirely impossible for Jotham to be heard at Shechem from the actual summit... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TREES WENT FORTH. — As in this chapter we have the first Israelite “king” and the first massacre of brethren, so here we have the first fable. Fables are extremely popular in the East, where they are often current, under the name of the slave-philosopher Lokman, the counterpart of the Greek Æsop... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREWITH BY ME THEY HONOUR GOD AND MAN. — The words may also mean, _which gods and men honour in me_ (Vulg., _quâ et dii utuntur et homines;_ Luther, _meine Fettigheit, die beide Götter und menschen an mir preisen;_ and so some MSS. of the LXX.). In either case the mention of gods or God (Elohim) r... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIG TREE. — The luscious fruit and broad green shade of the ancient fig would naturally make it the next choice; but it returns the same scornful answer.... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE VINE. — We might have felt surprise that the vine was not the first choice, but the low-growing, trellised vine, which needs support for its own tendrils, might seem less suitable. Indeed, ancient nations talked of the _female_ vine — “Or they led the vine To wed her elm; she round about... [ Continue Reading ]
_(_13_)_ MY WINE. — The Hebrew word is _tirôsh_ which sometimes means merely “grape-cluster.” WHICH CHEERETH GOD AND MAN. — For explanation, see Exodus 29:40; Numbers 15:7; Numbers 15:10, &c. If _Elohim_ be here understood of God, the expression is, of course, of that simply anthropomorphic charact... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO THE BRAMBLE. — Despairing of their best, they avail themselves of the unscrupulous ambition of their worst. The bramble — _atad_ — is rather the rhamnus, or buckthorn, which Dioscorides calls the _Cartha ginian atadin._ There seems to be an echo of this fable in Æsop’s fable of the fox and the... [ Continue Reading ]
IF IN TRUTH — _i.e.,_ with serious purpose. The bramble can hardly believe in the infatuation of the trees. PUT YOUR TRUST IN MY SHADOW. — The mean leaves and bristling thorns of the rhamnus could afford no shadow to speak of, and even such as they could afford would be dangerous; but the fable is... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEREFORE. — Here follows the _epimuthion._ or application of the fable. Judges 9:16 are the _protasis_ of the sentence, which is a long and parenthetic series of premisses; the conclusion, or _apodosis,_ follows in Judges 9:19. IF YE HAVE DONE TRULY AND SINCERELY. — A bitterly ironical supposi... [ Continue Reading ]
ADVENTURED HIS LIFE. — Literally, as in the margin, _cast his life_ (LXX., εῤῥιψε), like the Latin _projicere vitam_ (Lucan, _Phars._ iv. 516). Comp. the reading _paraboleusamenos_ in Philippians 2:30 and Isaiah 53:12 : “He hath poured out his soul unto death.”... [ Continue Reading ]
THREESCORE AND TEN PERSONS. — See Note on. Judges 9:5. THE SON OF HIS MAIDSERVANT. — The term is intentionally contemptuous. It seems clear from Judges 8:31; Judges 9:1, that she was not a slave, but even of high birth among the Canaanites.... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE THEN HAVE DEALT TRULY. — If your conduct be just and right, I wish you all joy in it.... [ Continue Reading ]
LET FIRE COME OUT. — The malediction is that they may perish by mutual destruction. It was exactly fulfilled (Judges 9:45). So when (Œetes is crucified as he had crucified Polykrates, Herodotus notices the similarity of the Nemesis (3:128).... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT TO BEER. — Since Beer means a “well,” it. was naturally a very common name in Palestine. There is nothing to show with certainty whether this Beer is Beeroth in Benjamin (Joshua 9:17), now _el Bireh,_ about. six miles north of Jerusalem (see my _Life of Christ,_ i. 73), or the _el Bireh_ which... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD REIGNED. — The verb is here _sûr,_ not _malak,_ as in Judges 9:6; but whether the change of word is meant to be significant we cannot say. OVER ISRAEL — _i.e.,_ over all the Israelites who would accept his authority — mainly the central tribes.... [ Continue Reading ]
AN EVIL SPIRIT. — Whether the word used for spirit (_ruach_) is here meant to be _personal_ or not we cannot say. Sometimes it seems to mean an evil being (1 Samuel 16:14), sometimes only an evil temper (Numbers 14:24). The later Jews would have made little or no difference between the two, since th... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE CRUELTY... MIGHT COME... UPON ABIMELECH. — Scripture is always most emphatic in the recognition of the Divine Nemesis upon wickedness, especially upon bloodshed. THEIR BLOOD BE LAID UPON ABIMELECH. — Comp. 1 Kings 2:5; Matthew 23:35, and the cry of the Jews in Matthew 27:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
SET LIERS IN WAIT FOR HIM. — The “for him” does not necessarily mean “to seize him,” but to his disadvantage. The disaffection began to show itself, as has so often been the case in Palestine from the days of Saul to those of Herod, by the rise of brigandage, rendering all government precarious, and... [ Continue Reading ]
GAAL THE SON OF EBED. — We are not told any further who he was; but the context leads us to infer that he was one of these freebooters, and probably belonged to the Canaanite population. His “brethren” may have formed the nucleus of a marauding band. Josephus says he was “a certain chief, with his s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MADE MERRY. — The vintage was the most joyous festival of the year (Isaiah 16:9; Jeremiah 25:30). The word rendered “merry” is _hillûlim,_ and occurs only here and in Leviticus 19:24, where it is rendered _“_praise.” Some render it “offered thank-offerings.” The Chaldee renders it “dances,” and... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS ABIMELECH? — This is obviously contemptuous, like “Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse?” in 1 Samuel 25:10. WHO IS SHECHEM? — The meaning of this clause is very obscure. It can hardly be a _contrast_ between the insignificance of Abimelech and the grandeur of Shechem (Vulg., _quœ est S... [ Continue Reading ]
WOULD TO GOD THIS PEOPLE WERE UNDER MY HAND! — Comp. 2 Samuel 15:4. AND HE SAID TO ABIMELECH. — The “he said” may be the impersonal idiom (comp. Joshua 7:26, &c.), meaning “it was told” (Vulg., _Dictum est_). It is less likely that “he” means Zebul, or that it is Gaal’s drunken vaunt to the absent... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RULER OF THE CITY. — The word _sar_ seems to imply that he was the military commandant.... [ Continue Reading ]
PRIVILY. — The Hebrew is _betormah,_ which may mean “to Tormah,” or Arumah, where Abimelech was living (Judges 9:41). The word occurs nowhere else, and the versions differ (LXX., _in secret;_ Cod. B, with _gifts;_ Cod. A reading _batherumah_). Whether “craftily” be the right rendering or not, it is... [ Continue Reading ]
LIE IN WAIT IN THE FIELD. — To surprise the Shechemites when they went out to finish their vintage operations, which they would do securely under the protection of Gaal’s forces.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THOU SHALT FIND OCCASION. — Literally, as in the margin, _as thine hand shall find,_ as in 1 Samuel 10:7; 1 Samuel 25:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOUR COMPANIES. — Literally, _four heads._ (Comp. Judges 7:16.)... [ Continue Reading ]
STOOD IN THE ENTERING OF THE GATE OF THE CITY. — This was the ordinary station of kings, judges, &c.; but Gaal only seems to have gone there in order to keep a look-out (Joshua 20:4).... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAID TO ZEBUL. — The narrative is too brief to enable us to understand clearly the somewhat anomalous position of Zebul. He seems to have been deposed from his office, and yet to have retained the confidence of Gaal and the Shechemites. THOU SEEST THE SHADOW OF THE MOUNTAINS. — The shadow advanc... [ Continue Reading ]
BY THE MIDDLE OF THE LAND. — Literally, _by the navel of the land._ Probably the expression means some gently-swelling hill, but it perplexed the translators. The Chaldee renders it “the strength,” and the Svriac “the fortification of the land.” In Ezekiel 38:12 it is rendered “in the midst of the l... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE IS NOW THY MOUTH...?_ — _“Mouth” here means _boastfulness._ This is usually taken as a bitter taunt, as though Zebul could now safely throw off his deceitful acquiescence in Gaal’s plans. It may be so, for the narrative gives us no further details; but unless Zebul was in some way secured by h... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE THE MEN OF SHECHEM. — Not merely “in the presence of the Shechemites,” as some of the versions understand it, but as leader of the “lords” of Shechem. (Comp. Judges 9:23.)... [ Continue Reading ]
Abimelech CHASED HIM... — He won a complete victory; but Gaal and his forces were able to secure themselves in Shechem. They succeeded in closing the gates against Abimelech, but only at the cost of many lives.... [ Continue Reading ]
DWELT AT ARUMAH. — Eusebius and Jerome identify Arumah with Remphis or Arimathea, near Lydda, which is most improbable on every ground. It is clearly some place at no great distance from Shechem which he was still determined to punish. ZEBUL THRUST OUT GAAL AND HIS BRETHREN. — Josephus seems here t... [ Continue Reading ]
ON THE MORROW. — This is surprising. Possibly, however, there were important agricultural labours to be finished, and Abimelech had lulled them into security by ostentatiously withdrawing his forces. Into the field — “The wide corn-fields at the _opening_ of the Valley of Shechem” (Stanley). (42)... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THREE COMPANIES. — Why he only made _three_ companies this time can only be matter of conjecture. HE ROSE UP AGAINST THEM, AND SMOTE THEM. — He was evidently a man of ruthlessly vindictive temperament, for these people whom he slew were mere husbandmen, not an armed host.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE ENTERING OF THE GATE OF THE CITY. — This time he was able to intercept the people before they could get back, and he had reserved the post of honour and peril for himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEAT DOWN THE CITY. — Comp. 2 Samuel 17:13; Micah 3:12. Sowed it with salt. — Nothing can better show his deadly execration against the populace to whom he owed his elevation, and who had been the instrument of his crimes. By this symbolic act he devoted the city to barrenness and desolation. (See... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEN OF THE TOWER OF SHECHEM. — Evidently the garrison of the house of Millo (Judges 9:6). ENTERED INTO AN HOLD. — The word for “hold” occurs in 1 Samuel 13:6 (“high place”). The LXX. render it “a fortress” (_ochuroma_)_;_ Luther, _“Festung.”_ In the Æthiopic Version of Mark 16:15 a similar word... [ Continue Reading ]
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 a... [ Continue Reading ]
THEBEZ. — One of the cities in the league of “Baal of the Covenant,” perhaps, _Tubas,_ ten miles north-east of Shechem, on a mound among the hills.... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS A STRONG TOWER WITHIN THE CITY. — This constant mention of towers and strongholds (Judges 8:9, &c.) shows the disturbed state of the country, which probably resembled the state of England in the days of King Stephen. TO THE TOP OF THE TOWER. — “Standing about the battlements upon the roof... [ Continue Reading ]
WENT HARD UNTO THE DOOR. — Hard, _i.e.,_ close. Like other bad men, Abimelech was not lacking in physical courage. He had all his father’s impetuous energy. The peril of such rashness served the Israelites as a perpetual warning (2 Samuel 11:21). TO BURN IT WITH FIRE. — He naturally anticipated ano... [ Continue Reading ]
A PIECE OF A MILLSTONE. — The word for millstone is _receb,_ literally, _runner, i.e.,_ the upper millstone, or _lapis vector,_ which is whirled round and round over the stationary lower one, _sheceb_ (Deuteronomy 24:6). AND ALL TO BRAKE HIS SKULL. — This is a mere printer’s error for _all-to_ or _a... [ Continue Reading ]
A woman slew him. — He did not, however, escape the taunt (2 Samuel 11:21). We see also from the narrative of the death of Saul in 2 Samuel 1:9; 1 Samuel 31:4, how sensitive the ancients were about the manner of their death. The same feeling finds ample illustration in Homer and classic writers (Sop... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY DEPARTED. — The death of a leader was generally sufficient to break up an ancient army (1 Samuel 17:51). “With Abimelech expired this first abortive attempt at monarchy.... The true King of Israel is still far in the distance” (Stanley).... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]