Matthew Henry on Judges 9:22-49
Three years Abimelech reigned, after a sort, without any disturbance; it is not said, He judged Israel, or did any service at all to his country, but so long he enjoyed the title and dignity of a king; and not only the Shechemites, but many other places, paid him respect. They must have been fond of a king that could please themselves with such a one as this. But the triumphing of the wicked is short. Within three years, as the years of a hireling, all this glory shall be contemned, and laid in the dust, Isa 16:14. The ruin of these confederates in wickedness was from the righteous hand of the God to whom vengeance belongs. He sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the Shechemites (Jdg 9:…
Read the whole note in the consoleJamieson-Fausset-Brown on Judges 9:28
would to God this people were under my hand--He seems to have been a boastful, impudent, and cowardly person, totally unfit to be a leader in a revolutionary crisis. The consequence was that he allowed himself to be drawn into an ambush, was defeated, the city of Shechem destroyed and strewn with salt. The people took refuge in the stronghold, which was set on fire, and all in it perished.
John Gill on Judges 9:43
And he took the people,.... That is, the forces he had with him at Arumah:
and divided them into three companies: each having a separate leader, and the command of one of them he had himself:
and laid wait in the field; in the field of Shechem, one company in one part, and one in another part of the field:
and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; he watched them when they did:
and he rose up against them, and smote them; the companies rose up out of their ambush, in different parts, and killed them.
Keil & Delitzsch on Judges 9:42-43
The next day the people of Shechem went into the field, apparently not to make war upon Abimelech, but to work in the field, possibly to continue the vintage. But when Abimelech was informed of it, he divided the people, i.e., his own men, into three companies, which he placed in ambush in the field, and then fell upon the Shechemites when they had come out of the city, and slew them.
