English Standard Version
Judges 9:23
23And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
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.
- 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,
- New Living Translation (NLT)God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted.
Context of Judges 9:23
21And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother. 22Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, 24that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 25And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.
Read all of Judges 9Judges 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 9:15And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
- 1 Samuel 16:14Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.
- 1 Samuel 18:9And Saul eyed David from that day on.
- 1 Kings 12:15So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by the Lord that he might fulfill his word, which the Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
- 1 Kings 22:22And the Lord said to him, 'By what means?' And he said, 'I will go out, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' And he said, 'You are to entice him, and you shall succeed; go out and do so.'
- 2 Chronicles 10:15So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of affairs brought about by God that the Lord might fulfill his word, which he spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
- 2 Chronicles 18:19And the Lord said, 'Who will entice Ahab the king of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?' And one said one thing, and another said another.
- Isaiah 19:2And I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians, and they will fight, each against another and each against his neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom;
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,
- Judges 9:16"Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved—
- Isaiah 33:1Ah, you destroyer, who yourself have not been destroyed, you traitor, whom none has betrayed! When you have ceased to destroy, you will be destroyed; and when you have finished betraying, they will betray you.
- Matthew 7:2For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.
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
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries