And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, Ver. 1. _And communed with them._] What might be the likeliest means of effecting his design. Ambition rideth without reins; an... [ Continue Reading ]
Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether [is] better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, [which are] threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I [am] your bone and your flesh. Ver. 2. _Whether is better for yon._]... [ Continue Reading ]
And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He [is] our brother. Ver. 3. And his mother's brethren spake of him.] And perhaps they gained the same commendation that the Duke of Buckingham... [ Continue Reading ]
And they gave him threescore and ten [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him. Ver. 4. _And they gave him threescore and ten pieces._] Pounds, saith the Vulgate: but more likely, shekels: which though it were a small sum... [ Continue Reading ]
And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, [being] threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. Ver. 5. _And slew his brethren._] So did afterwards Joram, the degen... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that [was] in Shechem. Ver. 6. _And all the men of Shechem._] They might have foreseen by his bloody fratricide what kind of king they should have of him; but they... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they told [it] to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you. Ver. 7. _And when they told it to Jotham._] He only escaped of all the seventy sons, to tell A... [ Continue Reading ]
The trees went forth [on a time] to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us. Ver. 8. _The trees went forth on a time._] An apologue or parable. The like whereunto see 2 Kings 14:9 2Sa 12:2 Matthew 13:2,3, &c. The trees, that is, the men of Israel (Plato compar... [ Continue Reading ]
But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Ver. 9. _But the olive-tree said unto them._] The bramble thought it a great matter to reign over the rest; not so the olive. _Animo mayno nihil magnum._ The... [ Continue Reading ]
And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, [and] reign over us. Ver. 10. _And the trees said to the fig tree._] By the fig tree the Jewish doctors understand Deborah, as by the olive tree Othniel or Ehud; and by the fruitful vine, Gideon with his numerous offspring.... [ Continue Reading ]
But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? Ver. 11. _Should I forsake, &c._] See Judges 9:9 . _ And my good fruit._] _Dioscorides scribit ficum utile alimentum praebere:_ Figs are good for meat and medicine.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, [and] reign over us. Ver. 12. _Then said the trees unto the vine._] So fond they were of a king, howsoever it went. When the Romans offered the Capadocians to make them a free state, they refused it, saying they could not live without a king.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? Ver. 13. _Should I leave my wine?_] This is the drunkard's motto, _Malle so, vitam quam vinum eripi._ _a_ Take away my liquor, you take away my life. Ambrose reporteth of one Theot... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, [and] reign over us. Ver. 14. _Then said all the trees unto the bramble._] Or, Thistle, or teazle; which is not a tree but a shrub, prickly, barren, base, abject, good-for-nothing but to stop gaps, or kindle a fire. Abimelech was a right bramble... [ Continue Reading ]
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, [then] come [and] put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon. Ver. 15. _If in truth ye anoint me king over you._] Whereunto he also must be entreated for fas... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands; Ver. 16. _Now therefore._] This is the επιμυθιον, the explication and application of the p... [ Continue Reading ]
Judges 9:17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian: Ver. 17. _And adventured his life._] Heb., Threw his life far from him, set light by it, was prodigal of it. And was not the Lord Christ much more so for us? Out upon our uuthankfuln... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he [is] your brother;) Ver. 18. And ye are risen up against my father's house, &c.]... [ Continue Reading ]
If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, [then] rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you: Ver. 19. _Then rejoice you in Abimelech._] As I hardly think you ever will; for it is an irony: _Mutuum oblectemini,_ May there be all good correspo... [ Continue Reading ]
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech. Ver. 20. _But if not._] As your own consciences, those domestical chaplains, will tell you: for “ _... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. Ver. 21. _And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went._] It was but high time to fly, _Cito, citius, citissime,_ whence all this heap of words in the text. So fled Jacob from Esau, David from Saul, Paul... [ Continue Reading ]
When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, Ver. 22. _When Abimelech had reigned three years._] And now haply began to think, as afterward Dionysius the tyrant of Sicily did, that his kingdom was tied to him with chains of adamant.... [ Continue Reading ]
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: Ver. 23. _Then God sent an evil spirit._] The devil, that troubler, that seedsman of sedition, that great kindle coal and mischief maker of the world, who, working upon... [ Continue Reading ]
That the cruelty [done] to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. Ver. 24. _That the cruelty done._] God maketh inquisition for blood, an... [ Continue Reading ]
And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech. Ver. 25. _Set liers in wait for him._] Attempting thereby secretly to have slain him, or at least to have seized his person. _ And it was t... [ Continue Reading ]
And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him. Ver. 26. _And Gaal the son of Ebed._] This thrasonical fellow, no less ambitious, subtle, and seditious than Abimelech, offereth to head the Shechemites, whom he saw to be... [ Continue Reading ]
And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode [the grapes], and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. Ver. 27. _And they went out into their vineyards._] Which till Gaal came they durst not do, belike, for fear of... [ Continue Reading ]
And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we should serve him? [is] not [he] the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him? Ver. 28. _Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem?_] Or, Who is Shech... [ Continue Reading ]
And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out. Ver. 29. _And would to God this people, &c._] This is the very voice of these _quorum bibulas animas ambitionis possidet salsugo; _ witness Absalom, Julius Ca... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. Ver. 30. _His anger was kindled,_] _sc., _ To hear his lord and himself so slighted and debased: there being nothing that man's nature is more impatient of than contempt; for a reproachful scorn sho... [ Continue Reading ]
And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee. Ver. 31. Behold, Gaal … and, behold, they fortify.] Abimelech was but a usurper, yet Gaal, his prefect or lieutenant, sticketh to... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that [is] with thee, and lie in wait in the field: Ver. 32. _Thou and the people that is with thee._] Those thou hast ready: lose not the present opportunity. _In bello non datur bis errare,_ in war there is no use of after wise.... [ Continue Reading ]
And it shall be, [that] in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, [when] he and the people that [is] with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion. Ver. 33. _As thou shalt find occasion._] This was... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that [were] with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. Ver. 34. And Abimelech rose up … by night.] According to Zebul's advice. It is best not to need good counsel; and it is next best to take it when given. _a_ a Hesiod.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that [were] with him, from lying in wait. Ver. 35. _And stood in the entering of the gate of the city._] To see what he could discover of the enemy: and had he been as valiant... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as [if they were] men. Ver. 36. _He said to Zebul._] Who had hitherto played on both hands, and seemed to side with Gaal, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim. Ver. 37. _By the plain of Meonenim._] Or, Of the soothsayers. It may be rendered, By the oak of the oraculous diviners. The oak was consecrated to Jupiter: a... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Zebul unto him, Where [is] now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who [is] Abimelech, that we should serve him? [is] not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them. Ver. 38. _Where is now thy mouth?_] Thy bubbles of words, thy thrasonical boastings? No... [ Continue Reading ]
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech. Ver. 39. _And Gaal went out._] Zebul's taunts had made him ashamed to retire: but God had a special hand in it, for his just punishment. That is a true saying of one, Where iniquity breaketh fast, calamity will be sure to dine;... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown [and] wounded, [even] unto the entering of the gate. Ver. 40. _And he fled before him._] Notwithstanding his great brags and insolent challenge. Those who vaunt most have oft the least courage: as those creatures which have... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. Ver. 41. _And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah._] _a_ Concealing his ill-will against the Shechemites, as though he had meant it to Gaal only. It is said of Tiberius the Emperor, that the fart... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. Ver. 42. _Went out into the field,_] viz., To renew the battle, and to rid the country of Abimelech; not to their grape gathering, or about their husbandry, as Josephus and Procopius say.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people [were] come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them. Ver. 43. _Were come forth out of the city._] As ambitious of their own destruction. Judgment... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abimelech, and the company that [was] with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two [other] companies ran upon all [the people] that [were] in the fields, and slew them. Ver. 44. _Ran upon all the people._] _Omnia sunt misera in bellis civilibus,_ sait... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that [was] therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt. Ver. 45. _He took the city, and slew the people._] There was, as at Athens when taken by Sulla, ανελεης σφαγη, a merciless massacre, the... [ Continue Reading ]
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard [that], they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith. Ver. 46. _Into an hold of the house of the god Berith._] This was as if a man should run into a stack of straw or barrel of gunpowder, to secure himself from a raging fire. Their cov... [ Continue Reading ]
And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. Ver. 47. _And it was told Abimelech._] Who carefully watched all their motions, and had his _corycaei_ to give him intelligence of all passages.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that [were] with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid [it] on his shoulder, and said unto the people that [were] with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, [and] do a... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put [them] to the hold, 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. Ver. 49. _All the men of the tower of Shechem._] Who were, probabl... [ Continue Reading ]
Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it. Ver. 50. _Then went Abimelech to Thebez._] Elijah the Tishbite's country, and more famous for him than Thebes, in Greece, was afterwards for Pindarus the poet.... [ Continue Reading ]
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, and gat them up to the top of the tower. Ver. 51. _Thither fled all the men and women._] As all creatures in times of danger run to their refuges. Proverbs 30:26 _;... [ Continue Reading ]
And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. Ver. 52. _And went hard unto the door._] This was not soldier-like, whose rule must be, _Neque timide neque temere,_ Be neither timorous nor temerarious. See 2 Samuel 11:21. But... [ Continue Reading ]
And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull. Ver. 53. _And a certain woman._] Women have sometimes done singular service against an enemy: as at the siege of Lamia, laid by M. Acilius, the Roman general: _a_ of Coccinum, in the isle of Lemnus, b... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. Ver. 54. _Then he called hastily unto the young man._] _Exemplum pertinacis ambitionis et impaenit... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place. Ver. 55. _They departed every man to his place._] They stayed not to take the tower, and to revenge their lord's death, but haply were glad they were rid of such a tyrant. “ _Cure mors crudelem rapuisse... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:_ Ver. 56. _Which he did unto his father._] Wrong done to a parent in any kind, is a heinous sin, and hath a heavy punishment.... [ Continue Reading ]
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. Ver. 57. _And upon them came the curse._] The prophetical curse, though it were more than three years after. _Subito tollitur qui diu toleratur: et Dei patientia quo... [ Continue Reading ]