God’s Word Translation
Judges 9:23
23Then God sent an evil spirit to cause problems between Abimelech and citizens of Shechem. So citizens of Shechem turned against 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.
- 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
21Then Jotham ran away quickly. He went to Beerah and lived there ⌞to avoid⌟ his brother Abimelech. 22Abimelech ruled Israel for three years. Then God sent an evil spirit to cause problems between Abimelech and citizens of Shechem. So citizens of Shechem turned against Abimelech. 24God did this so that the bloody violence committed against Jerubbaal’s 70 sons would happen to Abimelech and citizens of Shechem. Citizens of Shechem had helped Abimelech execute his brothers. 25So citizens of Shechem set ambushes for Abimelech on top of the mountains. They also robbed everyone who passed by them on the road. This was reported 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 9:15But the thornbush responded to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me to be your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. But if not, fire will come out of the thornbush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon.’
- 1 Samuel 16:14Now, the Lord’s Spirit had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.
- 1 Samuel 18:9From that day on Saul kept an eye on David.
- 1 Kings 12:15The king refused to listen to the people because the Lord was directing these events to carry out the promise he had made to Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) through Ahijah from Shiloh.
- 1 Kings 22:22“The Spirit answered, ‘I will go out and be a spirit that tells lies through the mouths of all of Ahab’s prophets.’ “The Lord said, ‘You will succeed in deceiving him. Go and do it.’
- 2 Chronicles 10:15The king refused to listen to the people because the Lord was directing these events to carry out the promise he had made to Jeroboam (Nebat’s son) through Ahijah from Shiloh.
- 2 Chronicles 18:19The Lord asked, ‘Who will deceive King Ahab of Israel so that he will attack and be killed at Ramoth in Gilead?’ Some answered one way, while others were saying something else.
- Isaiah 19:2“I will turn one Egyptian against another. They will fight— brother against brother, neighbor against neighbor, city against city, kingdom against kingdom.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:11That’s why God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe a lie.
- Judges 9:16“If you acted with sincerity and integrity when you made Abimelech king, ⌞be happy.⌟ If you treated Jerubbaal and his family well, if you treated him as he deserved, be happy.
- Isaiah 33:1How horrible it will be for you, you destroyer, although you haven’t been destroyed. How horrible it will be for you, you traitor, although you haven’t been betrayed. When you’ve finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you’ve finished being a traitor, you will be betrayed.
- Matthew 7:2Otherwise, you will be judged by the same standard you use to judge others. The standards you use for others will be applied 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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries