New Living Translation
Judges 9:49
49So each of them cut down some branches, following Abimelech’s example. They piled the branches against the walls of the temple and set them on fire. So all the people who had lived in the tower of Shechem died—about 1,000 men and women.
Judges 9:49 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.
- English Standard Version (ESV)So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1,000 men and women.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, put them against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.
Context of Judges 9:49
47Someone reported to Abimelech that the citizens had gathered in the temple, 48so he led his forces to Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and chopped some branches from a tree, then put them on his shoulder. “Quick, do as I have done!” he told his men. So each of them cut down some branches, following Abimelech’s example. They piled the branches against the walls of the temple and set them on fire. So all the people who had lived in the tower of Shechem died—about 1,000 men and women. 50Then Abimelech attacked the town of Thebez and captured it. 51But there was a strong tower inside the town, and all the men and women—the entire population—fled to it. They barricaded themselves in and climbed up to the roof of the tower.
Read all of Judges 9Judges 9:49 word by word
וַיִּכְרְת֨וּ גַם־כָּל־הָעָ֜ם אִ֣ישׁ שׂוֹכֹ֗ה וַיֵּ֨לְכ֜וּ אַחֲרֵ֤י אֲבִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ וַיָּשִׂ֣ימוּ עַֽל־הַצְּרִ֔יחַ וַיַּצִּ֧יתוּ עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם אֶֽת־הַצְּרִ֖יחַ בָּאֵ֑שׁ וַיָּמֻ֜תוּ גַּ֣ם כָּל־אַנְשֵׁ֧י מִֽגְדַּל־שְׁכֶ֛ם כְּאֶ֖לֶף אִ֥ישׁ וְאִשָּֽׁה׃ פRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And all the peopleעַם‛am · people: soldiersH5971
- likewise cut downכָּרַתkârath · to cut: cutH3772
- every manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- his boughשׂוֹךְώôk ώôkâh · branchH7754
- and followedאַחַר'achar · afterH310
- and followedיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
- Abimelechאֲבִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăbîymelek · AbimelechH40
- and putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
- to the holdצְרִיחַtserîyach · excavationH6877
- and setיָצַתyâtsath · to kindleH3341
- on fireאֵשׁ'êsh · fireH784
- upon them; so that all the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
- of the towerמִגְדָּלmigdâl migdâlâh · towerH4026
- of Shechemשְׁכֶםshekem · ShechemH7927
- diedמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- also, about a thousandאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousandH505
- menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- and womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
Cross-references for Judges 9:49
- Judges 9:15And the thornbush replied to the trees, ‘If you truly want to make me your king, come and take shelter in my shade. If not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’”
- Galatians 5:15But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.
- James 3:16For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
Commentaries on Judges 9:49
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 30-49Verses 30-49 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. That, which they hoped would have been for their welfare, proved a snare and a trap, as those will certainly find, who run to idols for shelter; such will prove a refuge of lies. (Jdg 9:50-57)Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 46-49The leaders (literally lords) of Shechem, who first plotted against Abimelech, gathered in the temple of Baal-berith. The temple then burned around them. Archaeologists have confirmed this destruction at the site.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-4922. When Abimelech had reigned three years--His reign did not, probably at first, extend beyond Shechem; but by stealthy and progressive encroachments he subjected some of the neighboring towns to his sway. None could "reign" in Israel, except by rebellious usurpation; and hence the reign of Abimelech is expressed in the original by a word signifying "despotism," not that which describes the mild and divinely authorized rule of the judge.Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 9:49
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
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