Judges 9:23

Judges 9:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
• New International Version (NIV)God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
• New King James Version (NKJV)God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

Context of Judges 9:23

21After he said that, Jotham ran away to Beer. He lived there because he was afraid of his brother, Abimelech. 22Abimelech ruled Israel for three years. Then God caused the leaders of Shechem to turn against Abimelech. They were no longer friends. 24God did this to punish Abimelech because he had killed his brothers, Gideon's 70 sons. The leaders of Shechem were also guilty for their murder, because they had helped Abimelech. 25The leaders of Shechem no longer obeyed Abimelech. They sent men to hide in the hills near Shechem. Those men robbed everyone who travelled on that road. But someone told Abimelech about this.

Judges 9:23 word by word

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֱלֹהִים֙ ר֣וּחַ רָעָ֔ה בֵּ֣ין אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ וּבֵ֖ין בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶ֑ם וַיִּבְגְּד֥וּ בַעֲלֵי־שְׁכֶ֖ם בַּאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• sentשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• an evilרַעra‛ râ‛âh · bad: evilH7451
• spiritרוּחַrûach · spiritH7307
• between Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
• and the menבַּעַלba‛al · masterH1167
• of Shechemשְׁכֶםshekem · ShechemH7927
• dealt treacherouslyבָּגַדbâgad · to act treacherouslyH898

Cross-references for Judges 9:23

• Judges 9:15The thorn bush said to the trees, “If you really want to choose me as your king, come here. Hide under my branches to keep safe. If not, I will cause fire to come out from the thorn bush. It will burn up all the big cedar trees in Lebanon!”
• 1 Samuel 16:14The Spirit of the Lord had now gone away from Saul. The Lord sent an evil spirit to Saul. It gave Saul trouble and fear in his mind.
• 1 Samuel 18:9After that, Saul was jealous of David and he watched David carefully.
• 1 Kings 12:15So the king did not agree to do what the people wanted him to do. It was the Lord who caused this to happen. He had already given his message about this to Nebat's son Jeroboam. The prophet Ahijah who came from Shiloh had spoken the Lord's message to Jeroboam.
• 1 Kings 22:22The spirit said, “I will give a message to all Ahab's prophets. I will cause them to speak lies.” The Lord said, “Go and deceive King Ahab, as you have said. He will do what you say.”
• 2 Chronicles 10:15So the king did not agree to do what the people wanted him to do. It was God who caused this to happen. He had already given his message about this to Nebat's son Jeroboam. The prophet Ahijah who came from Shiloh had spoken the Lord's message to Jeroboam.
• 2 Chronicles 18:19The Lord asked, “Who will go and deceive King Ahab of Israel so that he attacks Ramoth Gilead and he dies there?” Many of the angels suggested different things.
• Isaiah 19:2‘I will cause Egypt's people to fight against each other. People will fight against their own family. They will fight against their neighbours. Cities and kingdoms will fight against each other.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:11For this reason, God causes their minds to accept something that is wrong. They believe a false message.
• Judges 9:16When you chose Abimelech to be your king, you have not been faithful to Gideon and his family. You have not given Gideon the honour that he deserves.
• Isaiah 33:1It will be very bad for you who destroy other nations. No other nation has destroyed you yet. It will be very bad for you who deceive other nations. No other nation has deceived you yet. But in the end, when you stop destroying, others will destroy you. When you stop deceiving, other nations will deceive you.
• Matthew 7:2God will think about you in the same way that you think about other people. He will use the same rules for you as you use for other people.

Commentaries on Judges 9:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23God sent an evil spirit - He permitted jealousies to take place which produced factions; and these factions produced insurrections, civil contentions, and slaughter.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-29Verses 22-29 Abimelech is seated in the throne his father refused. But how long does this glory last? Stay but three years, and see the bramble withered and burned. The prosperity of the wicked is short and fickle. The Shechemites are plagued by no other hand than Abimelech's. They raised him unjustly to the throne; they first feel the weight of his sceptre.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 22-23It took three years to fulfill what God had planned. The spirit that caused trouble found people ready to listen. Those punished for their foolishness actively contributed to their downfall; they caused it themselves.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. 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.Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 9:23

• Conspiracy
• Demons
• Judge
• Treachery
• Treason

In the dictionaries

• Abimelech
• God
• Shechem
• Evil Spirit
• Deserving
• Incline
• Merry
• Middle
• Mouth
• Parable

Commentaries on Judges 9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• Darby Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary