And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Study Helps
Interpretation
Abimelech intended to punish the Schechemites for slighting him now, but God punished them for their serving him formerly in the murder of Gideon's sons. When God uses men as instruments in his hand to do his work, he means one thing, and they another.
Read with
This thought runs through Judges 9:34-38.
Glossary
- Abimelech Person
- My father a king, or father of a king, a common name of the Philistine kings, as “Pharaoh” was of the Egyptian kings. (1. ) The Philistine king of Gerar in the time of Abraham ( Gen. 20:1-18 ).
- Shechem Place
- Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Tell Balatah.