Abimelech's Usurpation and Destruction
Judges 9:1-57
Jud.9.1 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירבעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שכמה: NOUN,f,sg,suff,3,f
- אל: NEG
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- אמו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- וידבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- ואל: CONJ+PREP
- כל: DET
- משפחת: NOUN,f,sg,cstr
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אבי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- אמו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
Parallels
- Judg.8:30-31 (verbal): Same identification of Abimelech as 'son of Jerubbaal' and the Shechem/maternal-concubine background that explains his appeal to his mother's kin.
- Judg.9:2-6 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: Abimelech secures support from his mother's relatives, buys followers, and acts to seize power—directly develops the action begun in 9:1.
- Gen.31:1-3 (thematic): Jacob turns to his mother's brother Laban and his household for refuge and resources—illustrates the broader Near Eastern pattern of relying on maternal kin for support and alliance.
- Gen.34:1-31 (thematic): The episode at Shechem (Dinah/Shechemite clan) highlights the political power of Shechem's local clans and the role of intermarriage/kinship ties in local alliances—background context for Abimelech's recruitment of his mother's family at Shechem.
Alternative generated candidates
- Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother's brothers and spoke to them and to all his mother's kin, saying,
- Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother's brothers and spoke with them and with all his mother's kin, saying,
Jud.9.2 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- דברו: INF,qal,inf+3ms
- נא: PART
- באזני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cstr
- כל: DET
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מה: PRON,int
- טוב: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- לכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- המשל: ADJ,m,sg,abs
- בכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- שבעים: NUM,card,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כל: DET
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ירבעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אם: CONJ
- משל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בכם: PREP,2,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- וזכרתם: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,2,mp
- כי: CONJ
- עצמכם: PRON,2,mp
- ובשרכם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss:2,mp
- אני: PRON,1,sg
Parallels
- Genesis 2:23 (verbal): Uses the foundational kinship formula “bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh,” which Judges 9:2 echoes in asserting close familial/communal ties (“I am your bone and your flesh”).
- Genesis 29:14 (verbal): Laban’s words to Jacob (“Are you not my bone and my flesh?”) employ the same kinship language to justify claims of belonging—parallel to Abimelech’s appeal to Shechem’s leaders.
- 1 Chronicles 11:1 (verbal): When Israel gathers to make David king they declare “We are your bone and your flesh,” linking kinship-language to the political act of elevating a single ruler—closely analogous to Abimelech’s argument for one leader.
- 1 Samuel 8:4-7 (thematic): Israel’s request for a single king and the rejection of decentralized judges echoes the tension in Judges 9 between collective/judicial leadership (many sons/elders) and concentration of power in one man (Abimelech).
Alternative generated candidates
- “Speak now in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem: Which is better for you—that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
- "Speak now in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem: Which is better for you—to have seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or to have one man rule over you? Remember also that I am flesh and bone with you."
Jud.9.3 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וידברו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- אמו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- באזני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,cstr
- כל: DET
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- הדברים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- האלה: DEM,pl
- ויט: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- לבם: NOUN,m,sg,poss
- אחרי: PREP
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- אמרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- אחינו: NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:1pl
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Judg.9.20 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel — the leaders of Shechem respond to the persuasion and make Abimelech king, showing the practical outcome of the kinship appeal in v.3.
- 2 Sam.15.6 (thematic): Absalom 'stole the hearts of the men of Israel' by cultivating popular sympathy; parallels Abimelech’s gaining of Shechem’s support by appeals to kin and brotherhood.
- 1 Kgs.12.16-17 (thematic): The northern tribes reject David’s house and rally around Jeroboam after a political break—another instance of a populace/leadership shifting allegiance and installing an alternative ruler.
- Gen.34.13-16 (thematic): Hamor and Shechem seek to bind the city to an outsider through intermarriage and mutual covenant (‘let us be one people’), paralleling Shechem’s willingness to unite with Abimelech for communal advantage.
Alternative generated candidates
- His mother's brothers spoke about him to all the leaders of Shechem all these words; and the heart of the leaders of Shechem inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
- And his mother's brothers spoke of him in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem all these words; and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother."
Jud.9.4 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויתנו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- שבעים: NUM,card,m,pl
- כסף: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מבית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ברית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וישכר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בהם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אנשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ריקים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- ופחזים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- וילכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- אחריו: PREP,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Matthew 27:3-10 (thematic): Thirty pieces of silver paid in connection with betrayal; parallels the motif of silver used to secure treachery or culpable support for a violent outcome.
- Zechariah 11:12-13 (thematic): The prophet is paid thirty pieces of silver and the payment is treated as contemptuous — thematically echoes the use of silver as a degrading price that effects or symbolizes betrayal.
- Genesis 37:28 (thematic): Joseph is sold by his brothers for silver; similar theme of human relationships overridden by money leading to violence, displacement, or illicit gain.
- 2 Samuel 15:1-6 (structural): Absalom wins followers by giving gifts and currying favor, mirroring Abimelech’s tactic of buying or securing support to build a power base.
- 1 Kings 21:8-16 (thematic): Jezebel arranges false witnesses and uses corrupt means to seize property and remove an opponent — comparable to hiring corrupt agents/using paid support to achieve unlawful political ends.
Alternative generated candidates
- They gave him seventy shekels of silver out of the house of his mother's kin; with these Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men, and they went with him.
- They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of their god, and Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows with them, and they followed him.
Jud.9.5 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אביו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- עפרתה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויהרג: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ירבעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שבעים: NUM,card,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- אבן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחת: NUM,f,sg
- ויותר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- יותם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירבעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקטן: ADJ,m,sg,def
- כי: CONJ
- נחבא: VERB,niphal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Judges 8:30-31 (structural): Background: Gideon had many sons and Abimelech was the son of a concubine—this context explains Abimelech's motive and claim to power that leads to the massacre in 9:5.
- 2 Kings 11:1-3 (thematic): Athaliah slaughters the royal seed but Joash is hidden and preserved; parallels a rulerly purge of kin and the saving of a youngest/hidden heir (compare Jotham’s escape).
- 2 Kings 10:12-14 (thematic): Jehu’s extermination/display of Ahab’s house (seventy men/heads brought) is a dynastic purge similar to Abimelech’s killing of Gideon’s sons—the number and motive (securing power) resonate with Judges 9:5.
- Genesis 4:8 (thematic): Cain’s murder of Abel is the archetypal fratricide motif—brother killing brother—which underlies Abimelech’s slaughter of his brothers in Judges 9:5.
Alternative generated candidates
- He went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal survived, for he hid himself.
- He went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal—seventy men—on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal escaped, for he hid himself.
Jud.9.6 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאספו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלוא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וילכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- וימליכו: VERB,piel,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עם: PREP
- אלון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מצב: VERB,pual,ptcp,-,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בשכם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 12:20 (thematic): Israelite assembly makes a rival king at Shechem (Jeroboam); parallels the popular enthronement of Abimelech in Shechem and the city's role in political breakaways.
- 1 Samuel 11:15 (structural): Public, communal inauguration of a king ('made Saul king before the LORD at Gilgal')—comparable ritual form to the people of Shechem making Abimelech king.
- 2 Samuel 2:4 (structural): The men of Judah anoint David king over the house of Judah—another example of a regional group assembling to appoint a ruler, echoing the local election of Abimelech.
- Genesis 12:6-7 (verbal): Mentions Shechem and the 'oak' (Allon Moreh); echoes the cultic/topographical motif of an oak or sacred tree at Shechem (cf. 'the oak of the pillar' where Abimelech is made king).
Alternative generated candidates
- Then all the leaders of Shechem and all the house of Millo gathered together and went and made Abimelech king beside the pillar oak that was at Shechem.
- All the leaders of Shechem and all the house of Millo gathered and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was at Shechem.
Jud.9.7 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויגדו: VERB,piel,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- ליותם: PREP+PN,prop,sg,m
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ויעמד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בראש: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,cstr
- הר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- גרזים: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- וישא: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- קולו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- שמעו: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,pl
- אלי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- אליכם: PREP+PRON,2,pl
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Deuteronomy 27:11-13 (allusion): Mount Gerizim (and Ebal) is the site of the covenantal blessing/curse ceremony; Jotham's address from Gerizim echoes that covenantal/hearing tradition and the mountain's judicial role.
- Joshua 8:30-35 (structural): Joshua publicly reads the law and pronounces blessings/curses from Gerizim/Ebal—a public proclamation from the same summit, framing Gerizim as a place for communal hearing and judgment.
- 2 Samuel 12:1-7 (structural): Nathan confronts David with a parable to expose guilt and provoke judgment; Jotham likewise uses a fable delivered publicly to indict Abimelech and the Shechemites.
- Isaiah 1:2 (verbal): Both openings employ an imperative summons (“Hear…”), a common prophetic device calling the audience to listen before a public rebuke or oracle.
- 1 Kings 18:21 (thematic): Elijah's public, high‑place confrontation of the people (‘How long halt ye…?’) parallels Jotham's bold mountaintop denunciation and challenge to public responsibility.
Alternative generated candidates
- When Jotham heard it, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice and cried out and said to them, “Hear me, leaders of Shechem; may God listen to you and judge.”
- When Jotham was told, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice and cried out and said to them, "Hear me, you leaders of Shechem; may God listen to you!"
Jud.9.8 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- הלוך: VERB,qal,part,3,m,sg
- הלכו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- העצים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- למשח: PREP+VERB,qal,inf,NA,NA,NA
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- לזית: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלכה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- עלינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Judg.9.9-15 (structural): Continuation of Jotham’s fable (olive, fig, vine, thornbush) — the full parable explains the point about rejecting proper leaders and accepting a worthless ruler (Abimelech).
- 1 Sam.8:4-22 (thematic): Israel’s demand for a king and Samuel’s warning about the costs of kingship — both texts critique popular choice of a human monarch and explore the consequences of that choice.
- 1 Sam.10:1; 16:1,13 (thematic): Narratives of anointing Saul and David as king — parallels the theme of ‘anointing/appointing a king’ (the trees seek to anoint a ruler).
- Isa.5:1-7 (thematic): The parable of the vineyard and its failure links plant imagery to Israel’s leaders and God’s judgment, similar use of cultivated trees/vines to make a political/theological point.
- Matt.7:16-20 (thematic): New Testament use of tree-and-fruit imagery to evaluate character and leadership — like Jotham’s fable, trees symbolize agents judged by their fruit/role rather than by titles.
Alternative generated candidates
- The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, “Reign over us.”
- The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, "Reign over us."
Jud.9.9 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- הזית: NOUN,m,sg,def
- החדלתי: VERB,hiph,perf,1,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- דשני: NOUN,m,sg,abs,poss:1,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- יכבדו: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,pl
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואנשים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- והלכתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- לנוע: VERB,qal,inf
- על: PREP
- העצים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Judg.9.8-15 (structural): The immediate context — Jotham’s fable of the trees (fig, vine, olive, bramble). Verse 9 is one line in this larger satirical parable about refused and sought-after rulership.
- Isa.5.1-7 (thematic): The 'Song of the Vineyard' uses personified plants to criticize leadership and social failure; like Jotham’s parable it employs cultivated-plant imagery to make a moral/political point.
- Rom.11.17-24 (verbal): Paul’s extended olive-tree metaphor treats the olive as emblematic of God’s honored people and their place before God — resonant with the olive’s portrayed value and honor in Judges 9:9.
- Ps.52:8 (verbal): The psalmist’s ‘I am like a green olive tree in the house of God’ uses olive imagery to signify honored flourishing before God and men, echoing the olive’s honorable role in Judges 9:9.
- 1 Sam.8:4-9 (thematic): Israel’s demand for a king and the prophetic warning about human kingship correspond to Jotham’s critique of desire for rulership and the dangers of elevating unsuitable leaders.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the olive tree answered them, “Shall I leave my oil that makes gods and men honored and go to sway over the trees?”
- But the olive tree said to them, "Shall I cease giving my oil, by which both gods and men are honored, and go to sway over the trees?"
Jud.9.10 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- העצים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- לתאנה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לכי: VERB,qal,imp,2,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- מלכי: NOUN,pl,m,cons
- עלינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Judges 9:8 (structural): Immediate parallel in the same parable: the olive tree is first asked to be king, showing the same pattern of trees petitioning a ruler before the fig is approached.
- 1 Samuel 8:4-7 (thematic): Israel’s demand for a human king parallels the trees’ choice of a king—both scenes explore popular choice of leadership and its problematic consequences.
- Isaiah 5:1-7 (thematic): The Song of the Vineyard uses vineyard/tree imagery to portray Israel’s leadership and fruitlessness; thematically related to the trees’ metaphor for kingship and judgment.
- Ezekiel 17:1-10 (allusion): A political parable using a cedar and vine to represent kings and alliances; parallels Judges 9’s use of arboreal imagery to comment on rulers and political choices.
- Luke 13:6-9 (thematic): The parable of the barren fig tree uses a fig tree as a moral/political symbol and expectations about productivity—echoing the fig tree’s symbolic role in Judges 9.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the trees said to the fig tree, “You come, reign over us.”
- Then the trees said to the fig tree, "You come, reign over us."
Jud.9.11 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- התאנה: NOUN,f,sg,def
- החדלתי: VERB,hiph,perf,1,common,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- מתקי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,common,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- תנובתי: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,1,common,sg
- הטובה: ADJ,f,sg,def
- והלכתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- לנוע: VERB,qal,inf
- על: PREP
- העצים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Judges 9:8 (structural): Introduces the fable’s frame — the trees’ quest to anoint a king, which sets up the successive refusals (including the fig in v.11).
- Judges 9:9 (verbal): The olive tree’s refusal uses the same logic as the fig (it cannot abandon its productive role); parallel wording and motif of productive trees declining kingship.
- Judges 9:10 (verbal): The vine likewise refuses on the basis of its fruitfulness (giving wine); closely parallels the fig’s concern for leaving behind sweetness and good produce.
- Judges 9:15 (thematic): The bramble’s response and acceptance of kingship provides the contrast to the fig’s refusal, completing the fable’s moral about unworthy rulers chosen when the proper, productive ones decline.
- Isaiah 5:1-7 (allusion): The ‘Song of the Vineyard’ personifies vine/plant imagery to critique Israel’s leadership and fruitlessness; thematically parallels the use of productive trees/vines to signify social function and suitability for rule.
Alternative generated candidates
- The fig tree said to them, “Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go to sway over the trees?”
- And the fig tree answered them, "Shall I cease my sweetness and my good fruit and go to sway over the trees?"
Jud.9.12 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- העצים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- לגפן: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לכי: VERB,qal,impv,2,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- מלכי: NOUN,pl,m,cons
- עלינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Judg.9:8-15 (structural): Immediate context — Jotham’s fable in which the trees inquire of olive, fig, and vine to ‘be king’ (the vine’s response continues the same satirical narrative).
- Isa.5:1-7 (thematic): The Song of the Vineyard uses the vine as a symbol for Israel and God's expectations; like Jotham’s vine, the vineyard motif links fertility, leadership and divine judgment on failure.
- Ps.80:8-16 (verbal): Psalmist depicts Israel as a vine brought out of Egypt and planted to flourish; shared vine imagery and concerns about rulership, protection and fruitfulness.
- Ezek.17:5-10 (allusion): Ezekiel’s allegory of a planted shoot/vine among the trees functions as a political parable about kingship and dependency, echoing the tree/vine metaphor for authority and alliance.
- Matt.21:33-41 (thematic): The Parable of the Wicked Tenants uses vineyard imagery to address leadership, stewardship and judgment — related thematic material about land, caretakers (leaders) and accountability.
Alternative generated candidates
- So the trees said to the vine, “You come, reign over us.”
- So the trees said to the vine, "You come, reign over us."
Jud.9.13 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ותאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- להם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- הגפן: NOUN,f,sg,def
- החדלתי: INTERR+VERB,qal,perf,1,com,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- תירושי: NOUN,m,sg,poss1
- המשמח: ADJ,ptc,masc,sg,def
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ואנשים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- והלכתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,sg
- לנוע: VERB,qal,inf
- על: PREP
- העצים: NOUN,m,pl,def
Parallels
- Isaiah 5:1-7 (thematic): The ‘song of the vineyard’ uses vine imagery to represent Israel’s expected fruitfulness and God’s disappointment and judgment—parallel to Jotham’s vine as a symbolic actor and the theme of leadership and failure.
- John 15:1-8 (thematic): Jesus’ ‘I am the true vine’ discourse uses vine-and-fruit imagery to describe right relationship, fruitfulness, and authority—echoing the vine as a moral/relational symbol found in Jotham’s fable.
- Matthew 21:33-41 (Parable of the Tenants) (thematic): The vineyard parable depicts stewardship of a vineyard and failure of those entrusted with it; while not a speaking vine, it shares the symbolic vineyard/vine motif relating to kingship, responsibility, and judgment.
- Psalm 80:8-11 (verbal): The psalmist’s language of a vine transplanted (brought out of Egypt, planted) and expected to flourish parallels the biblical use of vine imagery to characterize the nation’s vocation and hoped-for fruitfulness.
- Ezekiel 15:1-8 (allusion): Ezekiel’s portrayal of the vine as valueless timber—only fit to be burned—offers a contrasting image of the vine’s failure and futility that resonates with Jotham’s fable about a vine refusing rulership.
Alternative generated candidates
- The vine said to them, “Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go to sway over the trees?”
- But the vine answered them, "Shall I cease my wine that cheers God and men, and go to sway over the trees?"
Jud.9.14 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,pl
- כל: DET
- העצים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אל: NEG
- האטד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לך: PRON,2,m,sg
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- עלינו: PREP+PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Judg.9:8 (structural): Immediate context: earlier verse in the same parable where the trees seek a king (vv.8–12), setting up the bramble’s appointment and response.
- Ezek.17:2-10 (thematic): A political parable using a tree/planting image to represent kingship and alliances — similar symbolic use of trees to critique rulers and national leadership.
- Matt.7:17-20 (thematic): Jesus’ saying that trees are known by their fruit parallels the moral/judicial logic behind the trees’ choice of a worthless bramble as a critique of bad leadership.
- Luke 13:6-9 (thematic): The barren fig-tree parable uses tree imagery to condemn unfruitful leadership and to demand accountability, echoing the expectations behind the trees’ search for a king.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then all the trees said to the bramble, “You come, you be our king.”
- Then all the trees said to the bramble, "You come, reign over us."
Jud.9.15 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- האטד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אל: NEG
- העצים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אם: CONJ
- באמת: ADV
- אתם: PRON,2,m,pl
- משחים: VERB,piel,ptcp,NA,m,pl
- אתי: PRON,1,sg
- למלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עליכם: PREP+PRON,2mp
- באו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- חסו: VERB,qal,impv,2,pl
- בצלי: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- ואם: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- תצא: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms
- אש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מן: PREP
- האטד: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ותאכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ארזי: NOUN,m,pl,cstr
- הלבנון: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Judges 9:13 (structural): Immediate context in Jotham’s fable: the olive (and other trees) refuse kingship, setting up the bramble’s speech and threat in 9:15; part of the same narrative unit.
- Ezekiel 31:12 (verbal): Ezekiel speaks of sending fire into the cedars (‘I will send fire into the cedars’), echoing the image of fire consuming the cedars of Lebanon found in Judges 9:15.
- Psalm 80:8-11 (thematic): The psalm portrays a planted vine whose growth fills the land and reaches the cedars of Lebanon—parallel tree/vegetation imagery and the prominent motif of the cedars as a symbol of majesty.
- Nahum 1:10 (thematic): Uses the image of thorns/brambles and burning (thorns folded together and consumed like dry stubble), thematically resonating with the bramble’s threat of fire in Jotham’s parable.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the bramble said to the trees, “If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out from the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.”
- And the bramble said to the trees, "If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon."
Jud.9.16 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- אם: CONJ
- באמת: ADV
- ובתמים: ADV
- עשיתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- ותמליכו: VERB,hif,impf,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואם: CONJ
- טובה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- עשיתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- עם: PREP
- ירבעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועם: CONJ+PREP
- ביתו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואם: CONJ
- כגמול: PREP
- ידיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs,suff:3,m,sg
- עשיתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Judg.9.6 (verbal): Immediate narrative parallel: earlier verse describes the same act of the Shechemites 'making Abimelech king,' linking the account of how he was installed to the question posed in 9:16.
- Judg.9.7-15 (quotation): Jotham's parable (the speech addressed to the men of Shechem) thematically anticipates and condemns the people's decision to exalt Abimelech—the moral challenge behind 9:16.
- Judg.9.20 (verbal): Continues the same episode and rhetoric about Abimelech and the townsmen; echoes the social-political dynamics and mutual obligations raised in 9:16.
- 1 Sam.11.14-15 (thematic): Parallel example of an assembly 'making' a man king (Saul); highlights the recurring Israelite practice and communal dimension of choosing a ruler, which 9:16 invokes.
- 2 Sam.5.3 (thematic): All-Israel recognition of David as king by the elders and tribes echoes the theme of popular/tribal legitimation of kingship implicit in the question posed in 9:16 about making Abimelech king.
Alternative generated candidates
- “Now therefore, if you have acted faithfully and truly in making Abimelech king, and if you have done well to Jerubbaal and to his house—
- Now therefore, if you acted truly and sincerely, and if you made Abimelech king for good, and if you dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have repaid him according to the deeds of his hands,
Jud.9.17 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- אשר: PRON,rel
- נלחם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אבי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- עליכם: PREP+PRON,2mp
- וישלך: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- נפשו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- מנגד: ADV
- ויצל: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אתכם: PRT+PRON,2,m,pl
- מיד: PREP
- מדין: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judges 6:14 (verbal): God commissions Gideon: “Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites,” directly paralleling the claim that the speaker’s father fought to save Israel from Midian.
- Judges 7:19-22 (thematic): Narrative of Gideon’s night attack and the LORD’s intervention (men striking one another) — the concrete military deliverance behind the statement that the father ‘fought for you’ and rescued Israel from Midian.
- Judges 8:28 (thematic): Summary of Gideon’s success: Midian was subdued and Israel’s oppression ended — a later account that corroborates the claim that the father saved Israel from Midian.
- Judges 9:15 (structural): Immediate context in Jotham’s speech: the earlier clause identifying ‘my father’ as a mighty man who delivered Israel provides the same evaluative claim that verse 9:17 reiterates (that the father risked himself and saved them from Midian).
Alternative generated candidates
- for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian,
- (which my father fought for you, and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian,
Jud.9.18 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואתם: CONJ+PRON,2,pl
- קמתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- על: PREP
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אבי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ותהרגו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- בניו: NOUN,m,pl,cs
- שבעים: NUM,card,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- אבן: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחת: NUM,f,sg
- ותמליכו: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אמתו: NOUN,f,sg,poss3m
- על: PREP
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- אחיכם: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2,m,pl
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Judges 9:5 (verbal): Earlier statement that Abimelech “slew his brothers, seventy men on one stone” — essentially the same claim repeated; direct verbal parallel within the same narrative.
- Judges 9:6 (verbal): Immediate sequel in the chapter: the people of Shechem make Abimelech king — repeats and corroborates the detail in 9:18 about his being set over the men of Shechem.
- Judges 9:22-24 (structural): Later section describing Abimelech’s subsequent attack on Shechem and the brutal suppression of its leaders — continuation and consequence of the fratricidal rise to power described in 9:18.
- Genesis 34:25-29 (thematic): Simeon and Levi’s massacre at Shechem (killing the city’s males) parallels the motif of mass slaughter associated with Shechem and familial vengeance/violence against a city.
- 2 Samuel 15:6 (thematic): Absalom’s public campaign to ‘win the hearts’ of Israel and set himself as a rival leader parallels the theme of a kinsman/almost-royal figure gaining local support to claim authority (usurpation and intra-family political violence).
Alternative generated candidates
- and you have risen against the house of my father this day and killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and made Abimelech son of his slave-wife king over the leaders of Shechem—because he is your kinsman—
- and you have risen up against the house of my father this day and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech son of his maidservant king over the leaders of Shechem—because he is your kinsman),
Jud.9.19 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואם: CONJ
- באמת: ADV
- ובתמים: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
- עשיתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- עם: PREP
- ירבעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ועם: CONJ+PREP
- ביתו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- שמחו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- באבימלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישמח: CONJ+VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- גם: ADV
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- בכם: PREP,2,m,pl
Parallels
- Judg.9:21-24 (structural): Immediate context in the same episode: continues the argument about Shechem's support for Abimelech and the consequences of siding with a usurper who killed Jerubbaal’s sons.
- Judg.9:5-6 (structural): Earlier account of Abimelech’s rise (his murder of Gideon’s sons and the Shechemites’ backing) provides the background that makes the call to 'rejoice in Abimelech' morally and politically charged.
- Proverbs 17:15 (thematic): Condemns justifying the wicked or condemning the righteous; thematically opposes taking pleasure in or defending a leader who gained power by violence.
- Psalm 37:12-13 (thematic): Describes the apparent prosperity and rejoicing of the wicked and promises divine reversal — parallels the irony of celebrating Abimelech’s success despite his wrongdoing.
- Romans 12:15 (thematic): The New Testament injunction 'rejoice with those who rejoice' highlights the moral ambiguity here: the verse’s call to rejoice with Abimelech raises ethical questions about sharing in communal joy when that joy rests on injustice.
Alternative generated candidates
- if then you have acted honestly and sincerely toward Jerubbaal and his house today, rejoice in Abimelech and let him also rejoice in you.
- if then you have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and his house today, rejoice in Abimelech and let him also rejoice in you.
Jud.9.20 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואם: CONJ
- אין: PART,neg
- תצא: VERB,qal,impf,2,ms
- אש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מאבימלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותאכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ואת: CONJ
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלוא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- אש: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- מבעלי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,const
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ומבית: CONJ+PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלוא: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותאכל: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judg.9:8-21 (structural): Jotham’s parable/curse in which the conditional image of ‘fire going out’ is articulated — 9:20 is part of this larger speech predicting mutual destruction between Abimelech and Shechem.
- 2 Kings 1:10-12 (verbal): Elijah calls down fire from heaven to consume the captains and their men — uses the motif of fire sent to destroy human opponents, echoing the ‘fire… and devour’ language.
- 1 Kings 18:38 (thematic): God sends fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice and demonstrate judgment — parallels the idea of divine or destructive fire as decisive punishment.
- Proverbs 26:27 (thematic): ‘Whoever digs a pit will fall into it’ — a proverb expressing reciprocal harm/retribution comparable to the mutual-devouring imagery of Judges 9:20.
- Galatians 6:7 (thematic): ‘You reap what you sow’ — a New Testament articulation of reciprocal consequence that parallels the principle underlying the mutual destruction pictured in Judges 9:20.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and the house of Millo and consume Abimelech.”
- But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and from the leaders of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and consume you, even that Abimelech and all who are his."
Jud.9.21 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וינס: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- יותם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויברח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בארה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- שם: ADV
- מפני: PREP
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Kings 19:3 (verbal): Elijah 'ran for his life' and went a day's journey into the wilderness to Beersheba — uses the same verbs of fleeing and a refuge named with Beer/Beersheba, a close verbal and geographical echo.
- Genesis 27:43-45 (thematic): Jacob is sent away to Haran to escape Esau's wrath — a motif of fleeing to another place to avoid violence from a close kin (brother).
- 2 Samuel 13:37-38 (thematic): After murdering Amnon, Absalom flees to Geshur and stays there to avoid retribution — another instance of intra-family violence producing exile/fleeing.
- 1 Samuel 22:1 (thematic): David 'went down' to the cave of Adullam and gathered followers while fleeing Saul — parallels the theme of seeking refuge from a more powerful rival/king.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Jotham fled and went to Beer, and he lived there because of Abimelech his brother.
- Then Jotham fled and went to Beer, and lived there for fear of Abimelech his brother.
Jud.9.22 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וישר: CONJ+ADJ,m,sg,abs
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שלש: NUM,card,f,sg
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Judg.9:1-6 (structural): Immediate narrative context: these verses narrate how Abimelech was made king by the leaders of Shechem, providing the setting for v.22's statement that he reigned.
- Judg.8:33-35 (thematic): Describes Israel's apostasy after Gideon's death and the social conditions that lead to Abimelech's rise—connects the moral/political background of his reign.
- 1 Kings 15:2 (verbal): Gives the reign-length formula ('reigned three years') for Abijam—verbal parallel in biblical summaries that note short, numbered reigns.
- 1 Sam.8:4-7 (thematic): The people's demand for a human king anticipates the recurring theme of Israel accepting human rulers (as in Abimelech) rather than direct rule by YHWH.
Alternative generated candidates
- Abimelech reigned over Israel three years.
- Abimelech reigned over Israel three years.
Jud.9.23 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רוח: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- רעה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בין: PREP
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ובין: CONJ+PREP
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ויבגדו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- באבימלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- 1 Samuel 16:14 (verbal): Uses the same language and theological motif: 'the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him' — God sending an 'evil' or troubling spirit to affect human behavior.
- 1 Kings 22:22-23 (thematic): Depicts God/Heaven dispatching a spirit (a 'lying spirit') to entice leaders to act against their own interest — a parallel theme of divine agency in producing deception and discord among leaders.
- Isaiah 19:14 (verbal): Speaks of the LORD mingling a 'perverse' or misleading spirit among a nation, similar language and concept of God causing a spirit that leads to error and internal disruption.
- Acts 5:3 (thematic): Though NT and attributing agency to Satan, Peter charges that Ananias allowed a hostile spirit to fill his heart — thematically related to biblical motifs of invisible spirits influencing human betrayal and treachery.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech.
- God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem; so that the leaders of Shechem acted treacherously against Abimelech.
Jud.9.24 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- לבוא: VERB,qal,inf
- חמס: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שבעים: NUM,card,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ירבעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ודמם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,suff3mp
- לשום: VERB,qal,inf
- על: PREP
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחיהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs,suff,3,m,pl
- אשר: PRON,rel
- הרג: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אותם: PRON,3,m,pl,obj
- ועל: CONJ+PREP
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- אשר: PRON,rel
- חזקו: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- ידיו: NOUN,f,pl,abs,suff:3,m,sg
- להרג: PREP+VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 4:10 (thematic): The imagery of blood that ‘cries’ or alleges guilt — Abel’s blood crying from the ground — parallels the idea of shed blood calling for retribution placed upon those responsible.
- Matthew 27:25 (verbal): The crowd’s formula ‘His blood be on us and on our children’ parallels Judges’ language of placing the blood/guilt of slain kin upon specific persons or communities (Abimelech and the men of Shechem).
- 2 Samuel 3:28-29 (thematic): David’s words assigning the guilt of Abner’s murder to Joab and his household echo the notion of holding particular individuals or groups responsible for the blood of slain men.
- Ezekiel 33:8-9 (thematic): The prophetic principle that blood-guilt can be required of another (’I will require his blood at your hand’) parallels Judges’ placing the blame for the brothers’ blood on Abimelech and the men of Shechem.
Alternative generated candidates
- They dealt with Abimelech acts of violence so that the blood of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, whose blood Abimelech had shed, might come upon their head and upon the head of Abimelech himself.
- The wickedness of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal their blood was laid upon Abimelech, and upon the leaders of Shechem who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.
Jud.9.25 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וישימו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- מארבים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- על: PREP
- ראשי: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,1,sg
- ההרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ויגזלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כל: DET
- אשר: PRON,rel
- יעבר: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- בדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויגד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לאבימלך: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Joshua 8:3-11 (verbal): Joshua arranges an ambush in the hills behind Ai (setting men on the heights to attack those who come out), paralleling the tactic of placing marauders on mountain-tops to intercept travelers.
- Judges 6:3-5 (thematic): The Midianite/Amalekite raids that devastated Israel’s crops and waylaid people on the roads echo the motif of banditry and ambushing travelers described in Judges 9:25.
- 1 Samuel 30:1-6 (thematic): The Amalekite raid on Ziklag—pillaging, taking captives and spoil—is a related example of marauding groups robbing communities and those who travel, akin to the robbers on the mountain-tops.
- Genesis 34:25-30 (structural): The episode involving Shechem and the men of the city (deceit, violence and ruthless action against Jacob’s family) resonates as a background motif for the later violent/treacherous behavior attributed to the men of Shechem in Judges 9.
Alternative generated candidates
- The leaders of Shechem set men in ambush on the tops of the mountains and robbed whatever came along them on the road; and they reported it to Abimelech.
- The leaders of Shechem set ambushes on the tops of the mountains and robbed all who passed by them on the road; and they reported it to Abimelech.
Jud.9.26 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- געל: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ואחיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- ויעברו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בשכם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויבטחו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
Parallels
- Judges 9:4 (verbal): The leaders of Shechem earlier support Abimelech — similar language and situation of the town’s leaders placing their trust in a local strongman.
- Judges 9:6 (thematic): All the men of Shechem and Beth-millo gather to make Abimelech king, showing the same pattern of Shechem rallying behind a human leader.
- Judges 9:41 (structural): Abimelech’s subsequent attack on Shechem illustrates the consequence of the city’s political alignment and trust in rival leaders (a narrative continuation of 9:26).
- 1 Samuel 8:4-8 (thematic): Israel’s demand for a king and the people’s turning to a human ruler echoes the theme of placing trust in a human leader rather than relying on God or existing structures.
Alternative generated candidates
- Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and they passed by Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.
- Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers, and they came to Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem put their trust in him.
Jud.9.27 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- השדה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויבצרו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- כרמיהם: NOUN,m,pl,prsuf
- וידרכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- ויעשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- הלולים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- א: PRT
- להיהם: PRON,3,m,pl,poss
- ויאכלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- וישתו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ויקללו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Isaiah 63:2-3 (verbal): Both texts use the image of treading the winepress (דָּרַךְ/treading) — Judges describes literal vintage-treading and revelry, Isaiah uses the winepress motif as vivid language of divine action/vengeance, creating a verbal echo and shared imagery.
- 2 Samuel 16:5-8 (thematic): Shimei publicly curses King David as he passes by; thematically parallels the episode in Judges where townspeople ‘ate and drank and cursed Abimelech’ — a motif of subjects or citizens directing curses at a king/leader.
- 1 Kings 18:26-29 (thematic): The prophets/worshippers of Baal engage in intense cultic activity and ecstatic behavior at their shrine; parallels Judges 9:27’s scene of entering the house of their god to eat, drink and engage in religiously charged communal behavior.
- Amos 9:13-14 (thematic): Describes harvest, abundant vintage and rejoicing after restoration — thematically related to Judges 9:27’s sequence of going out to the fields, harvesting vineyards, treading winepresses and feasting (though Amos frames harvest as a positive, restorative blessing).
Alternative generated candidates
- They went out into the fields, and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and made merry and went into the house of their god and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.
- They went out into the fields and harvested their vineyards and trod their winepresses, and made merry and went into the house of their god, ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
Jud.9.28 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- געל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ומי: PRON,interr
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- כי: CONJ
- נעבדנו: VERB,qal,yiqtol,1,pl
- הלא: PART
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירבעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וזבל: CONJ+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- פקידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+SUFF,3,m,sg
- עבדו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אנשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- חמור: PNOUN,m,sg
- אבי: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ומדוע: CONJ+ADV,interr
- נעבדנו: VERB,qal,yiqtol,1,pl
- אנחנו: PRON,1,pl
Parallels
- Genesis 34:2,4,11 (verbal): Mentions Shechem and Hamor (Shechem son of Hamor); the same persons/linguistic cluster ('men of Hamor, father of Shechem') appear, linking the Shechem/Hamor family and its local identity.
- Judges 9:2 (structural): Earlier in the chapter Abimelech is made leader by the men of Shechem—this verse poses the opposite question ('Who is Abimelech…that we should serve him?') and directly responds to the political act narrated in v.2.
- Judges 9:21–24 (structural): Gaal’s revolt against Abimelech and Zebul’s countermeasures are narrated here; these verses form the immediate narrative parallel explaining the conflict behind the challenge to serving Abimelech.
- Judges 8:30–31 (allusion): Refers to Gideon/Jerubbaal’s numerous sons and the household power from which Abimelech (a son of Jerubbaal) arises; the verse’s appeal to 'ben-yerubaal' echoes this wider family/power background.
- 1 Samuel 8:5–7 (thematic): The people’s demand for a human king (appoint a king over us) parallels the theme of preferring local human rulers or leaders over existing deliverers or divine appointment—similar social/theological dynamics to the Shechem/Abimelech episode.
Alternative generated candidates
- Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem? Why should we serve him?
- Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and isn't Zebul his officer? Serve the sons of Hamor, go and choose men for yourselves.
Jud.9.29 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ומי: PRON,interr
- יתן: VERB,qal,imperf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- הזה: DEM,m,sg
- בידי: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,suff1s
- ואסירה: VERB,qal,impf,1,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לאבימלך: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- רבה: ADJ,f,sg,abs
- צבאך: NOUN,m,sg,prsfx,2,m
- וצאה: VERB,qal,ptcp,ms,sg
Parallels
- Judges 9:25 (structural): Immediate context: Gaal's taunt and the rising of the Shechemites set the scene for the challenge in 9:29 to put Abimelech to death; this verse is part of that same exchange and movement toward open conflict.
- Judges 9:41–45 (thematic): The ensuing combat between Abimelech's forces and the city (including Gaal and his supporters) shows the outcome of the challenge in 9:29 and the larger theme of internecine civil strife and attempts to seize or eliminate a leader.
- Judges 9:53–55 (thematic): Ironic reversal: although opponents sought to put Abimelech to death (as in 9:29), Abimelech later meets his end by a woman dropping a millstone and a servant’s sword—an example of violent retribution and unexpected downfall of a ruler.
- 2 Samuel 3:27 (thematic): Political assassination amid civil war: Abner’s murder during the struggle for control in Israel parallels the motif in Judges 9 of factional violence and attempts to eliminate rival leaders to secure power.
Alternative generated candidates
- Whoever will lead this people, let him put Abimelech and his men in bonds; I will lead the people, and I will take Abimelech.”
- Why should we serve him? Who will give this people into my hand, that I may put Abimelech to death?" Then he spoke, "Assemble your army and come down."
Jud.9.30 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמע: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- זבל: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- שר: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- את: PRT,acc
- דברי: NOUN,m,pl,abs+PRON,1,c,sg
- געל: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ויחר: VERB,qal,imf,3,m,sg
- אפו: NOUN,m,sg,abs,suff3ms
Parallels
- Judg.9.31 (structural): Immediate narrative response: Zebul's anger leads him to send secret messengers to Abimelech to counter Gaal—continuation of the same incident.
- Judg.9.25 (verbal): Gaal's seditious speech in Shechem ('Who is Abimelech...?') is the provocation that Zebul hears and to which he reacts angrily.
- 1 Kings 12:13-17 (thematic): Rehoboam's hostile reaction to counsel produces a political rupture and popular revolt—parallel theme of a leader's words/reaction triggering civic upheaval.
- Acts 19:28-29 (thematic): A city's leaders and populace are inflamed after hearing incendiary speech (Demetrius' complaint), producing public anger and disorder—similar motif of spoken agitation sparking civic anger.
Alternative generated candidates
- When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, his anger burned.
- When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was very angry.
Jud.9.31 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וישלח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- מלאכים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- אל: NEG
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בתרמה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- לאמר: INF,qal,infc
- הנה: PART
- געל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ואחיו: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,abs,poss:3,m,sg
- באים: VERB,qal,part,3,m,pl
- שכמה: NOUN,f,sg,suff,3,f
- והנם: CONJ+DEM,3,m,pl
- צרים: VERB,qal,ptcp,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- עליך: PREP+2ms
Parallels
- Judg 9:26 (verbal): Same incident introduced earlier: Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers enter the city and take positions—directly identifies the rebels mentioned in v.31.
- Judg 9:30 (structural): Immediate narrative consequence: Abimelech hears the commotion and organizes his forces—shows the military response triggered by the report in v.31.
- Judg 9:33 (verbal): Zebul secretly sends word to Abimelech about Gaal’s plotting—another instance of messengers/secret communication concerning the same revolt.
- Judg 9:50 (thematic): Thebez episode (Abimelech at Thebez) continues the siege context and the motif of a city under threat and a leader besieged in a stronghold—the place named in v.31.
Alternative generated candidates
- He sent messengers secretly to Abimelech at Arumah, saying, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and now they are fortifying the city against you.
- He sent messengers to Abimelech at Arumah, saying, "Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and now they are in the city, plotting against you.
Jud.9.32 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ועתה: CONJ
- קום: VERB,qal,impv,2,m,sg
- לילה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- והעם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אתך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- וארב: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- בשדה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Genesis 34:25 (thematic): A sudden, covert attack on a city/people after a prior incident—both passages describe lying in wait and striking unexpectedly.
- Judges 7:19 (structural): Gideon's night-time surprise assault on the Midianite camp; parallels the tactic of rising at night and attacking by ambush.
- 1 Samuel 26:7 (thematic): Discussion of a night operation against an enemy in his camp; shares the motif of preparing to lie in wait and exploit the cover of night.
- Psalm 10:9 (thematic): Uses the imagery of lying in wait to trap the innocent; thematically parallels the idea of enemies ambushing others under cover.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now therefore arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in ambush in the field.
- Now therefore arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the plain.
Jud.9.33 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- והיה: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- בבקר: PREP
- כזרח: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- השמש: NOUN,f,sg,def
- תשכים: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- ופשטת: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- על: PREP
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- והנה: ADV
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- והעם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- יצאים: VERB,qal,ptc,3,mp,pl
- אליך: PREP+PRON,2,m,sg
- ועשית: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- כאשר: CONJ
- תמצא: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- ידך: NOUN,f,sg,abs,poss:2,f,sg
Parallels
- Judges 9:34 (structural): Direct continuation of the scene: the watchmen on the tower see the coming force and give the alarm—completes the tactical instruction given in 9:33.
- Joshua 8:3-11 (thematic): Describes a planned ambush against a city at dawn and instructions to be ready when the inhabitants come out—parallels the tactic of watching early and striking when men exit the city.
- 2 Samuel 18:24-27 (verbal): A watchman on a tower sights a runner and reports to those in the city/king—similar imagery and function of a tower-watchman observing movements and sounding an alarm.
- Ezekiel 33:2-6 (thematic): Presentation of the watchman motif: one appointed to keep watch and warn of approaching danger—echoes the responsibility and tactical role of observers in Judges 9:33.
Alternative generated candidates
- In the morning, when the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city; behold, when he and the people who are with him come out to meet you, do to them whatever your hand finds to do.”
- It shall be in the morning, as the sun rises, that you shall rise early and show yourself to the people; then, behold, they will come out to you; you shall do to them whatever your hand finds to do."
Jud.9.34 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עמו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- לילה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויארבו: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ארבעה: NUM,card,m,sg
- ראשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- Judg.9.45 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation of the same campaign against Shechem; both verses describe Abimelech’s military action and the capture/destruction of the city (same episode, same tactics).
- Joshua 8:9-10 (structural): Joshua sends men by night to lie in ambush behind the city of Ai; parallels the tactic and sudden nocturnal assault described in Judg 9:34 (night ambush against a city).
- Judg.21:10-11 (verbal): Describes Israel arising and attacking Jabesh-gilead by night to strike down its inhabitants; uses similar language and the same motif of a nocturnal surprise attack on a town/people.
- Gen.14:15 (thematic): Abram divides his forces and attacks by night to rescue Lot—another early example of a decisive nocturnal military maneuver, thematically comparable to Abimelech’s night ambush.
Alternative generated candidates
- So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night and lay in ambush against Shechem in four companies.
- So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night and lay in wait against Shechem, in four companies.
Jud.9.35 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- געל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עבד: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ויעמד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שער: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויקם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והעם: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- מן: PREP
- המארב: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Judg.9.24 (verbal): Immediate parallel within the same episode: earlier Abimelech and his men lie in ambush (מארב), the same ambush motif continued in v.35 when they rise up against those at the gate.
- 2 Sam.15.2 (thematic): Absalom 'stood by the way of the gate' to win the people’s favor—parallel use of the city gate as a place for political maneuvering and rallying support (like Gaal standing at the gate).
- Ruth 4.1 (structural): Boaz goes to sit at the city gate and convene elders; highlights the gate as the public forum for civic decisions and encounters—context for understanding Gaal’s presence there as a public claim to influence.
- Gen.34.25-26 (thematic): Violent conflict centered on Shechem in an earlier narrative—like the uprising in Judges 9, Genesis 34 records bloodshed and communal rupture associated with Shechem’s inhabitants and leaders.
Alternative generated candidates
- Gaal went out and stood in the gate of the city; Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush.
- Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city; Abimelech rose and the people who were with him from the ambush.
Jud.9.36 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- געל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- זבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הנה: PART
- עם: PREP
- יורד: VERB,qal,part,ms,sg
- מראשי: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,cons
- ההרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- זבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- צל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ההרים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- אתה: PRON,2,m,sg
- ראה: VERB,qal,imperat,2,m,sg
- כאנשים: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs
Parallels
- 2 Kings 7:6-7 (thematic): A scene of military misperception—Arameans hear sounds and flee, having mistaken a divinely caused noise for a large army. Both passages hinge on people erroneously perceiving an approaching force.
- 2 Kings 6:15-17 (thematic): Contrast in "sight" in warfare: Elisha opens his servant's eyes to see the unseen heavenly host. Judges 9:36 likewise revolves around what is (or is not) seen—men versus shadows—and the consequences of perception.
- Numbers 13:28-33 (thematic): The Israelite spies report enemy inhabitants on the hills and provoke fear by exaggerated perception. Like Gaal’s alarm at figures on the heights, this passage shows panic/overestimation of a threat seen from the hills.
- Judges 9:37-41 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation in the same episode: Zebul's dismissal of Gaal's sighting is followed by actions that expose and rout Gaal. These verses show the same incident’s outcome and the role of perception and deception in the conflict.
Alternative generated candidates
- When Gaal saw the company, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You mean the shadow of the mountains that you see as men.”
- When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains." But Zebul said to him, "You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men."
Jud.9.37 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויסף: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- עוד: ADV
- געל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לדבר: INF,qal
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- הנה: PART
- עם: PREP
- יורדים: VERB,qal,ptc,0,m,pl
- מעם: PREP
- טבור: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- וראש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אחד: NUM,card,m,sg
- בא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מדרך: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אלון: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מעוננים: VERB,qal,ptc,0,m,pl
Parallels
- Judg.9.36 (verbal): The immediately preceding verse is part of the same scene and shares the same report of people and movements around Shechem—close verbal and narrative continuity.
- Judg.9.38 (structural): Continues the same episode (Gaal’s speech and the rising tension); the sequence shows the approaching forces that 9:37 announces and sets up the coming confrontation.
- Judg.9.41 (thematic): Describes Abimelech’s tactical response (setting an ambush and marching against the town); thematically linked as the military reaction to the movement of people described in 9:37.
- Judg.9.43 (thematic): Relates to the attack on Shechem and the rout of its defenders—this passage shows the outcome that the approaching forces in 9:37 precipitate.
- 1 Sam.11.11 (thematic): A parallel instance of sudden mass movement and pursuit in battle language (the people mustering and pursuing the enemy); thematically comparable as a report of troops descending and engaging in a swift encounter.
Alternative generated candidates
- And he spoke again, and said, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company comes from the way of the terebinth trees.”
- Gaal continued to speak, and said, "Behold, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the way of the Oak of the Meadows."
Jud.9.38 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אליו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- זבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- איה: ADV,interr
- אפוא: PART
- פיך: NOUN,m,sg,abs+2ms
- אשר: PRON,rel
- תאמר: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- מי: PRON,interr,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- נעבדנו: VERB,qal,impf,1,pl
- הלא: PART
- זה: PRON,dem,m,sg
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- מאסתה: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,sg
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- צא: VERB,qal,imp,2,m,sg
- נא: PART
- עתה: ADV
- והלחם: VERB,piel,impv,2,m,sg
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Judg.9.28-29 (verbal): Gaal’s earlier challenge uses the identical taunt “Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?” — Zebul’s remark in 9:38 directly recalls and mocks that very speech.
- Judg.9.6 (thematic): Background: the men of Shechem chose and made Abimelech king. Zebul’s “is not this the people whom you despised?” alludes to the role and attitude of the Shechemites in founding Abimelech’s rule.
- Judg.9.33-36 (structural): Immediate narrative context: Zebul becomes angry, sends word to Abimelech, and maneuvers against Gaal. Verse 9:38 is part of this sequence of taunting and tactical provocation.
- Judg.9.39-41 (structural): Direct aftermath: Gaal, urged to fight, confronts Abimelech’s forces and is routed. The taunt in 9:38 precipitates the military engagement and Gaal’s defeat.
Alternative generated candidates
- Zebul said to him, “Where now is your mouth with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him’? Are these not the people you despised? Go out now and fight with them.”
- Zebul said to him, "Where now is your mouth that said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are not these the men whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them!"
Jud.9.39 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- געל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לפני: PREP
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- וילחם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- באבימלך: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judg.9.26-29 (structural): Immediate narrative lead-up: Gaal rallies in Shechem and Abimelech prepares to march against the city, setting the scene for the clash described in 9:39.
- Judg.9.41-42 (structural): Direct continuation: describes the actual engagement in which Abimelech pursues and routs Gaal after the battle mentioned in 9:39.
- Judg.9.45 (structural): Later consequence in the same episode: Abimelech retaliates against Shechem (burning and punishment) after the defeat of Gaal and the city's leaders.
- 2 Sam.15:1-12 (thematic): Absalom’s conspiracy: local leaders and popular supporters rally behind a charismatic rebel to challenge central authority, paralleling Gaal’s mobilization of Shechemites against Abimelech.
- Gen.34:7-13 (thematic): Shechemite civic leadership and collective action: the city's leaders negotiate and act on behalf of the town, reflecting the motif of communal leadership and city-based conflict seen in Shechem’s support of Gaal.
Alternative generated candidates
- Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech.
- Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech.
Jud.9.40 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וירדפהו: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וינס: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מפניו: PREP+3ms
- ויפלו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- חללים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- רבים: ADJ,m,pl,abs
- עד: PREP
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- השער: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Judges 9:45 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same episode: Abimelech attacks the city after the rout, showing the same sequence—pursuit, many slain, and subsequent assault on the city.
- Joshua 8:24-26 (verbal): Describes a rout of a city in which the defenders are put to the sword and the king’s body is dealt with at the entrance/gate—parallel language and imagery of pursuit and slaughter up to the gate.
- 1 Samuel 17:52 (verbal): After David’s defeat of the Philistines, Israel pursues and smites them 'until they came to the gate of Ekron,' echoing the motif of pursuit and killing extending to a city gate.
- 2 Samuel 5:20 (thematic): David pursues the Philistines and slays many, leading to a named victory at the place of pursuit (Baal-perazim) — similar theme of pursuit producing a decisive slaughter and divine vindication.
- Judges 4:15-22 (thematic): The LORD routs Sisera’s host, Sisera flees, and is killed—parallel theme of enemy flight after a rout and death resulting from the pursuit, highlighting divine action in battle.
Alternative generated candidates
- Abimelech pursued him, and they fled before him; many fell wounded and died, and the slaughter reached as far as the entrance of the gate.
- Abimelech pursued him, and they fled before him; many fell wounded as far as the entrance of the gate.
Jud.9.41 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בארומה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויגרש: VERB,qal,impf,3,sg
- זבל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- געל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואת: CONJ
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
- משבת: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- בשכם: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judg.9.22-25 (structural): Same episode: Gaal's challenge to Abimelech and Zebul's counter-maneuver set the stage for Gaal's ouster from Shechem, directly leading to 9:41.
- Judg.9.42 (structural): Immediate sequel in the narrative—Abimelech's movements and military actions follow the expulsion of Gaal and frame the continuing conflict over Shechem and Arumah.
- Judg.9.50-56 (thematic): Later climax of the Abimelech story: siege of Thebez and Abimelech's death—parallels the cycle of violent contest for cities and the motif of retributive downfall begun in the Shechem episode.
- Judg.8.22-28 (thematic): Contrast and background: Gideon's rejection of kingship and the crime of fratricide that gives rise to Abimelech (Judg.9:1–6); thematically connects issues of leadership, violence, and family betrayal behind the struggle over Shechem.
- Gen.34.25-30 (thematic): Another violent episode centered on Shechem—massacre and expulsion in response to local offense. Provides a thematic parallel of city-centered intra-Israelite violence and communal retribution.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Abimelech returned to Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
- Abimelech returned and dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers from Shechem.
Jud.9.42 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויהי: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- ממחרת: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- השדה: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויגדו: VERB,piel,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- לאבימלך: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Ruth 2:2 (verbal): Both verses use the simple movement 'went out into the field' (Heb. יצא/יצאה אל השדה); shared verbal motif of people leaving town/household activity to go into the fields.
- 2 Samuel 18:19-20 (verbal): Ahimaaz runs 'by the way of the plain/field' to bring tidings to the king—verbal and functional parallel of messengers/people moving through the field to report to a leader.
- Judges 7:19-22 (structural): Gideon’s surprise attack exploits enemy movements and vulnerability outside the city—structural/military parallel in which action depends on people being in the field rather than fortified places.
- 2 Kings 7:3-4 (thematic): The lepers go out from the besieged city to the Syrian camp in the field and then report back, triggering decisive action—thematic parallel of leaving the city, encountering events in the field, and reporting with major consequences.
Alternative generated candidates
- On the next day the people went out into the fields, and told Abimelech.
- The next day the people went out into the field, and it was reported to Abimelech.
Jud.9.43 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויחצם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg,suff:3,m,pl
- לשלשה: PREP+NUM,card
- ראשים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- ויארב: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בשדה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וירא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- והנה: ADV
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- יצא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מן: PREP
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויקם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- ויכם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg,suff:3,m,pl
Parallels
- Judges 7:16 (verbal): Uses the same military phrasing—division of forces into three companies—when Gideon organizes his men, a close verbal parallel to the tactic in Judg. 9:43.
- Joshua 8:3-9 (thematic): Describes a deliberate ambush laid in the field and a feigned retreat to draw out the enemy (the ambush tactic and sudden rising against the foe are structurally similar to Judg. 9:43).
- Judges 9:21-24 (structural): Earlier episodes in the same chapter depict Abimelech’s assaults on the Shechemites and the use of force and stratagems against the city—providing immediate narrative context and repeated motifs of divided forces and sudden attacks.
- Judges 9:44-45 (structural): The verses immediately following 9:43 continue the same engagement—rising against the people and striking them—showing the close continuity of the ambush and slaughter motif within the passage.
Alternative generated candidates
- Abimelech took the men and divided them into three companies and lay in ambush in the field; and when he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose against them and struck them down.
- He took the people and divided them into three companies and lay in wait in the field; and when he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and struck them.
Jud.9.44 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואבימלך: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- והראשים: CONJ+NOUN,m,pl,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עמו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- פשטו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ויעמדו: CONJ+VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שער: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ושני: CONJ+NUM,card,m,pl
- הראשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- פשטו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- כל: DET
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בשדה: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויכום: CONJ+VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl+OBJSUFF,3,m,pl
Parallels
- Judges 9:45 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: after standing at the city gate Abimelech and his men destroy the city — same episode showing the purpose of their deployment at the gate.
- Judges 9:50-54 (thematic): Later scene in the same chapter where Abimelech assaults Thebez, takes up position by a fortified place/tower and is struck down — parallel siege/tower/gate combat motif and outcome of close urban assault.
- Joshua 8:16-22 (thematic): Account of the ambush at Ai: Israel positions men to lie in wait while others engage outside the city and then stand at the gate to complete the assault — similar tactic of forces arrayed at gates and in the field.
- Nehemiah 4:16-22 (thematic): Defensive deployment at gates and along the walls with armed men standing guard while workers labored — parallels the military posture of men standing at gateways to control access and protect/attack the city.
Alternative generated candidates
- Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the other two companies rushed upon the people in the field; so they were put to the sword.
- Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate; the two other companies rushed upon all who were in the field and put them to the sword.
Jud.9.45 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואבימלך: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נלחם: VERB,nifal,perf,3,m,sg
- בעיר: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כל: DET
- היום: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ההוא: DEM,ms,sg
- וילכד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ואת: CONJ
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- בה: PREP+PRON,3,f,sg
- הרג: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- ויתץ: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויזרעה: CONJ+VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- מלח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judg.9.46 (verbal): Immediate parallel/variant within the same episode: repeats the sequence of fighting all day, taking the city, killing the people, razing it and sowing it with salt (minor verbal/sequence differences in textual witnesses).
- Joshua 8:28-29 (structural): Joshua captures Ai, kills its inhabitants and burns the city, then makes it a desolation — a comparable structure of siege, slaughter and utter destruction of a city.
- Joshua 6:21 (thematic): The conquest of Jericho: 'they utterly destroyed all in the city, both man and woman,' reflecting the motif of total annihilation of a city and its people found in Judges 9:45.
- 1 Samuel 15:3 (allusion): God's command to Saul to 'utterly destroy' Amalek and put everything to the sword shares the same lexical/thematic field of divinely or militarily mandated annihilation and killing of inhabitants.
- 2 Kings 25:9 (thematic): The Babylonian destruction of Jerusalem—burning the house of the LORD, breaking down the city and slaying inhabitants—parallels the themes of siege, capture, burning and destruction described in Judges 9:45.
Alternative generated candidates
- Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were in it and razed the city and sowed it with salt.
- That day Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and took the city and killed the people who were therein; he razed the city and sowed it with salt.
Jud.9.46 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וישמעו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- מגדל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- ויבאו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- אל: NEG
- צריח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בית: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- ברית: NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judg.9.4 (verbal): The same locale and institutional name appear earlier in the episode (the leaders/inhabitants of Shechem and the house of El‑berith), repeating language and setting used in 9:46.
- Judg.9.26 (structural): Immediate narrative parallel: Abimelech's mustering and movement against Shechem (mount Zalmon) sets the military context that prompts the men of the tower to withdraw to the house of El‑berith.
- Judg.9.41 (structural): Continuation of the same episode—this verse describes the assault on Shechem and the fate of its inhabitants, showing the outcome for those who sought refuge in the town’s strongholds.
- Judg.9.50 (thematic): A recurring motif in the Abimelech narrative: people taking refuge in a strong tower (here at Thebez) during a siege, with violent consequences—parallels the motif of seeking safety in a tower/stronghold seen in 9:46.
Alternative generated candidates
- When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-berith.
- When all the leaders of Mount Shechem heard of it, they gathered and went into the stronghold of the house of El-berith.
Jud.9.47 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויגד: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- לאבימלך: PREP+NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- התקבצו: VERB,hitp,perf,3,m,pl
- כל: DET
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- מגדל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
Parallels
- Judges 9:6 (thematic): Abimelech's initial dealings with the leaders/people of Shechem — both verses highlight the city’s elite as a political constituency whose support or resistance shapes the conflict.
- Judges 9:33 (thematic): Description of Gaal's mobilization and the threatened clash at Shechem; thematically parallels the report that the city's tower-lords have gathered in preparation for confrontation.
- Judges 9:46 (verbal): Mentions the inhabitants taking refuge in 'the tower of Shechem' and the defensive gathering there — closely related language and situation to 9:47’s report of the tower-men assembling.
- Genesis 34:8-12 (thematic): Hamor and the leaders of Shechem assemble to negotiate after Dinah’s violation; parallels the motif of Shechem’s civic leaders gathering to deliberate or respond to a crisis.
Alternative generated candidates
- And it was told Abimelech that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem had gathered together.
- Abimelech was told that they had gathered together at the tower of Shechem.
Jud.9.48 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעל: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הר: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- צלמון: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- הוא: PRON,3,m,sg
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- אתו: PRON,3,m,sg,acc
- ויקח: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הקרדמות: NOUN,f,pl,def
- בידו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- ויכרת: VERB,qal,imperf,3,m,sg
- שוכת: NOUN,f,pl,abs
- עצים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- וישאה: VERB,qal,imperf,3,m,sg
- וישם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- שכמו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אל: NEG
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עמו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- מה: PRON,int
- ראיתם: VERB,qal,perf,2,m,pl
- עשיתי: VERB,qal,perf,1,_,sg
- מהרו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- עשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- כמוני: PREP+PRON,1,_,sg
Parallels
- Judg.9.49 (verbal): Immediate continuation — the people with Abimelech 'did likewise' (וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כְּמֹו), echoing 9:48's call to copy his action and showing the tactic's immediate effect.
- Judg.9.50–55 (structural): Narrative sequence describing the assault on Shechem (setting fire to towers, slaughtering the people) that follows the preparatory action in 9:48–49; shows the tactical purpose of cutting branches and mobilizing the men.
- 1 Sam.17:40–51 (thematic): David's initiative in arming himself and engaging Goliath parallels Abimelech's leading-by-example preparation for combat — a leader acting first and others following into battle.
- Exod.17:11–13 (thematic): Moses' visible action (holding up his hands) affects the battle's outcome and requires supporters to act (Aaron and Hur supporting him), paralleling the motif of a leader's demonstrative act prompting and enabling the people's success.
Alternative generated candidates
- So Abimelech went up Mount Zalmon, he and all the people with him. Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a branch of a tree and lifted it and put it on his shoulder and said to the people who were with him, “What you see me do, do quickly.”
- Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him, and took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough and laid it on his shoulder and said to the people who were with him, "What you see I have done; do quickly as I have done."
Jud.9.49 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויכרתו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- גם: ADV
- כל: DET
- העם: NOUN,m,sg,def
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שוכה: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וילכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- אחרי: PREP
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וישימו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- הצריח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- ויציתו: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,pl
- עליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הצריח: NOUN,m,sg,def
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וימתו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- גם: ADV
- כל: DET
- אנשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- מגדל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- כאלף: NUM,card,sg
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ואשה: CONJ+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judges 9:45 (structural): Immediate narrative lead-in: earlier actions by Abimelech against Shechem (capture and slaughter) form part of the same siege sequence that culminates in the burning of the tower in v.49.
- Judges 9:53-54 (structural): Immediate narrative aftermath: continues the episode of assaults on fortified refuges (another tower at Thebez) and records Abimelech’s fate—both scenes frame the pattern of siege, refuge in towers, and violent death.
- 2 Kings 10:18-28 (thematic): Jehu’s purge of Baal worshippers: mass slaughter and the burning/clearing of a rival center to secure political/religious control—parallels Abimelech’s violent elimination of a city’s populace to consolidate power.
- 2 Kings 25:8-9 (thematic): Nebuchadnezzar’s burning and destruction of Jerusalem in the context of siege warfare: use of fire in siege operations to destroy defenders and the urban center, comparable to the burning of the tower at Shechem.
Alternative generated candidates
- All the people likewise cut down branches and followed him, and they put them against the tower and set the tower on fire with the branches; thus all the men of the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, perished.
- So each of the people cut down his bough and followed Abimelech, and they placed them against the tower and set the tower on fire with them; thus they died, about a thousand men and women.
Jud.9.50 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וילך: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- תבץ: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויחן: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,sg
- בתבץ: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וילכדה: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Judg.9:53-54 (structural): Immediate continuation of the same episode at Thebez; describes the fall from the tower and Abimelech’s death, completing the narrative begun in 9:50 (encamping and taking the town).
- Judg.9:45 (structural): Earlier episode in the Abimelech cycle where he attacks and takes Shechem; parallels 9:50 in motive and method—an ambitious leader besieging and capturing a city in order to secure power.
- Judg.9:1-6 (thematic): Abimelech’s rise to power in Shechem and the political alliances that lead to his campaigns; provides context for his subsequent military actions such as the encampment and capture of Thebez.
- Josh.8:1-29 (thematic): Joshua’s campaign against Ai (encamping, ruse, and capture of the city); similar language and military pattern of approaching a city, encamping, and seizing it.
- 2 Sam.20:15-22 (thematic): Siege and capture of Abel-beth-maacah (flight to a tower, city taken); thematically parallels urban siege, tower refuge, and violent resolution found in the Thebez episode.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and took it.
- Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it.
Jud.9.51 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ומגדל: CONJ+NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עז: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- היה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- בתוך: PREP
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- וינסו: CONJ+VERB,qal,wayy,3,m,pl
- שמה: ADV
- כל: DET
- האנשים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- והנשים: CONJ+NOUN,f,pl,def
- וכל: CONJ+PRON,indef
- בעלי: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- העיר: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ויסגרו: CONJ+VERB,nifal,wayy,3,m,pl
- בעדם: PREP+PRON,3,m,pl
- ויעלו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- על: PREP
- גג: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המגדל: NOUN,m,sg,def
Parallels
- Judg.9.52-55 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: Abimelech burns the tower and the people on its roof are killed — directly completes the scene of inhabitants fleeing to and going up on the tower.
- Genesis 11:4 (thematic): City-centred tower motif — people building/using a tower in a city as a focal, communal structure; parallels the motif of a tower in an urban setting and ascent to it.
- Nehemiah 4:16-20 (thematic): Community using walls/towers and placing defenders and noncombatants behind/upon them during an attack — similar idea of refuge, defense and occupation of elevated city structures.
- Micah 4:8 (allusion): Mention of a named tower (Migdal‑eder) as a symbolic tower of the community; parallels the use of a named tower (Migdal‑oz) as a place tied to the city's fate and security.
- 2 Samuel 11:2 (verbal): Uses the image of people going up onto a roof — the roof as a narrated setting for important, often vulnerable, scenes; echoes the rooftop refuge/location in Judges 9:51.
Alternative generated candidates
- There was a strong tower within the city, and all the people and the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in and went up to the top of the tower.
- There was a strong tower within the city; all the people fled there and shut themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.
Jud.9.52 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויבא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- עד: PREP
- המגדל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- וילחם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- בו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
- ויגש: VERB,qal,wayy,3,m,sg
- עד: PREP
- פתח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- המגדל: NOUN,m,sg,def
- לשרפו: VERB,qal,inf,3,m,sg
- באש: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judg.9.46 (structural): Immediate narrative context: earlier fighting in Thebez—part of the same assault sequence on the city and its stronghold.
- Judg.9.53 (structural): Direct sequel: outcome of the assault on the tower (the woman drops a millstone that mortally wounds Abimelech).
- Joshua 8:28 (thematic): The burning of a captured place after assault (Ai is burned), paralleling the tactic of setting an enemy stronghold on fire.
- 2 Samuel 20:15-22 (thematic): Siege and assault on a fortified place (Abel‑beth‑maachah) where attackers undermine/assault walls and towers to capture a rebel—comparable military operations against fortified positions.
- 2 Kings 25:9 (thematic): Destruction by fire of urban strongholds and houses during a siege (Babylonian burning of Jerusalem), reflecting the lethal and destructive consequences of siege warfare described in Judges 9:52.
Alternative generated candidates
- Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
- Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
Jud.9.53 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ותשלך: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- אחת: NUM,f,sg
- פלח: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רכב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- על: PREP
- ראש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותרץ: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- גלגלתו: NOUN,f,sg,abs+3,m,sg
Parallels
- Judg.9.54 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: Abimelech is mortally wounded and his armor-bearer finishes him off; explains aftermath and motive for concealing that a woman struck him.
- 2 Kgs.9.33 (thematic): Jezebel is thrown from a window and her head is crushed/dashed — a parallel motif of a violent death in which the victim's head is smashed.
- Matt.18.6 (verbal): Uses the image of a millstone to convey violent harm ('it would be better to have a millstone hung...') — echoes the lethal use of a millstone/stone imagery in Judges 9:53.
- Rev.18.21 (allusion): A great millstone is thrown into the sea to signify decisive destruction; parallels the act of hurling a heavy stone as a means of violent overthrow or judgment.
Alternative generated candidates
- But a certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.
- But a certain woman cast an upper millstone and dropped it on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull.
Jud.9.54 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויקרא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- מהרה: ADV
- אל: NEG
- הנער: NOUN,m,sg,def
- נשא: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- כליו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+3ms
- ויאמר: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לו: PRON,3,m,sg
- שלף: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- חרבך: NOUN,f,sg,abs+2ms_suff
- ומותתני: VERB,qal,impf,2,m,sg
- פן: CONJ
- יאמרו: VERB,qal,imprf,3,m,pl
- לי: PREP+PRON,1,sg
- אשה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- הרגתהו: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg+obj:3,m,sg
- וידקרהו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg+obj:3,m,sg
- נערו: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וימת: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Judg.9.53 (structural): Immediate context: the preceding verse describes the woman dropping an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, causing the wound that prompts his command to his young attendant to finish him off.
- Judg.4.21-22 (thematic): Jael, a woman, kills the military commander Sisera with a tent peg—a parallel instance of a woman delivering the fatal blow to a leader; Judges 9:54 reacts with shame at such an outcome rather than the honor Jael receives.
- 1 Sam.31.4-6 (thematic): Saul begs his armor-bearer to kill him to avoid capture and dishonor; the motif of a leader asking an attendant to end his life to prevent humiliation closely parallels Abimelech’s command.
- Judg.16.28-30 (thematic): Samson’s deliberate death—pulling down the temple to die with his enemies—echoes the theme of preferring death over capture or disgrace and using death as a way to control the manner of one’s end.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then he called quickly to his young man and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him,’ and thus bring reproach upon me.” So his young man thrust him through, and he died.
- Then he called hastily to the young man who carried his armor and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest it be said of me, 'A woman killed him.'" So the young man thrust him through, and he died.
Jud.9.55 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ויראו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- כי: CONJ
- מת: ADJ,m,sg
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וילכו: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,pl
- איש: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- למקמו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Judg.9.56 (structural): Immediate narrative continuation: explains the theological/ moral outcome of Abimelech’s death and functions as the closing judgment on his house—direct structural parallel within the same episode.
- Judg.4.21-22 (allusion): A woman delivers the fatal blow to an enemy commander (Jael killing Sisera); both scenes feature an unexpected, domestic instrument of death that ends the pursuit of the enemy commander.
- 1 Sam.31.4-7 (thematic): Death of a leader on the battlefield (Saul) and the ensuing cessation of immediate military action and attention to the corpse; parallels the end of hostilities and the communal response when a chief is found dead.
- 2 Sam.4.8-12 (thematic): The killing of a rival leader (Ish‑bosheth) and the political aftermath: recognition of the leader’s death brings an end to a competing claim and triggers consequences for the perpetrators—similar dynamics to Abimelech’s death halting pursuit and closing the episode.
Alternative generated candidates
- When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, each went to his own home.
- When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went each to his own place.
Jud.9.56 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- וישב: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- רעת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- אבימלך: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אשר: PRON,rel
- עשה: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- לאביו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs,3,m,sg
- להרג: VERB,qal,inf
- את: PRT,acc
- שבעים: NUM,card,m,pl
- אחיו: NOUN,3,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judges 9:5 (structural): Same narrative episode: earlier report that Abimelech killed his seventy brothers—the crime to which God’s retribution in v.56 responds.
- Psalm 7:15-16 (verbal): Image of a man's evil/plot returning on his own head (‘his mischief returns upon his own head’) parallels the wording and idea that God returned Abimelech’s wickedness to him.
- Deuteronomy 32:35 (thematic): “Vengeance is mine, and recompense” asserts divine repayment of wrongs, thematically matching God’s punishment of Abimelech.
- Romans 12:19 (quotation): New Testament citation of Deut 32:35—‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay’—used to affirm that God, not humans, repays evil, echoing the principle behind Judg 9:56.
- Genesis 9:6 (thematic): Principle of bloodguilt—those who shed human blood deserve recompense—provides legal/theological background for divine retribution against a man who murdered his brothers.
Alternative generated candidates
- Thus God repaid the evil of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers.
- God repaid the evil of Abimelech that he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers.
Jud.9.57 - Details
Translation
Original Text
Morphology
- ואת: CONJ
- כל: DET
- רעת: NOUN,f,sg,cons
- אנשי: NOUN,m,pl,cons
- שכם: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- השיב: VERB,hiphil,perf,3,m,sg
- אלהים: NOUN,m,pl,abs
- בראשם: PREP+NOUN,m,pl,abs+SUFF,3,m,pl
- ותבא: VERB,qal,impf,3,f,sg
- אליהם: PREP,3,m,pl
- קללת: NOUN,f,sg,const
- יותם: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ירבעל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Obadiah 1:15 (verbal): Uses the same idea and near-verbatim language — “as ye have done, it shall be done unto you; thy reward shall return upon thine own head,” echoing God’s returning evil on the heads of the men of Shechem.
- Psalm 7:16 (Heb. 7:17) (verbal): Explicitly states that a wicked man’s mischief will ‘return upon his own head,’ a close verbal and conceptual parallel to God returning the men of Shechem’s evil to them.
- Proverbs 26:27 (thematic): Proverbial image of retributive justice — one who digs a pit or rolls a stone brings the harm back upon himself — parallels the motif of perpetrators suffering their own devices.
- Deuteronomy 32:35 (thematic): God’s declaration of divine retribution (“Vengeance is mine, and recompense... I will repay”) frames the same theological principle: God repays evil to evildoers.
Alternative generated candidates
- And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned upon their own heads; and the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
- And all the evil of the leaders of Shechem God returned upon their own heads; and the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother's brothers and spoke to them and to all his mother's kin, saying,
“Speak now in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem: Which is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.” And his mother's brothers spoke all these words in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem; and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the house of Baal-berith, and Abimelech hired reckless, worthless fellows, and they went with him.
He came to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men on one stone; and Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
All the leaders of Shechem and all the house of Millo gathered together and went and made Abimelech king by the pillar beside the oak that is at Shechem.
When it was told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice and cried out and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you.”
The trees went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I cease my oil, by which both gods and men are honored, to go hold sway over the trees?’
Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’ And the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I cease my sweetness and my good fruit to go hold sway over the trees?’
Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’ And the vine said to them, ‘Shall I cease my wine, which gladdens both gods and men, to go hold sway over the trees?’
Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come, you reign over us.’
The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
“Now therefore, if you have truly and sincerely acted and have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have repaid him according to the deeds of his hands,
—which my father fought for you and put his life in his hand and delivered you from the hand of Midian—
and you have risen up today against my father's house and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech son of his maidservant king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your kinsman,
if then you have acted truly and sincerely toward Jerubbaal and his house today, rejoice in Abimelech and let him also rejoice in you;
but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and the house of Millo and devour Abimelech.”
Then Jotham escaped and fled and went to Beer, and lived there because of Abimelech his brother.
Abimelech reigned over Israel three years.
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem betrayed Abimelech.
It was to repay the wickedness done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, whose blood Abimelech had shed, and to lay their blood upon Abimelech their brother, who killed them; and upon the leaders of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
The leaders of Shechem set ambushes for him on the tops of the mountains; they robbed all who passed by them on the road, and it was told Abimelech.
Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers passed by Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem put their trust in him.
They went out into the field and gathered their grapes and trod them and made merry, and went into the house of their god, ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
Gaal said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? And indeed Zebul is his officer. Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem; why should we serve him?” And who will deliver this people into my hand, that I may put Abimelech in his place? Abimelech said, “Make your men great, and go out.”
Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger was kindled.
He sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah, saying, “Behold, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you. Now therefore, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field. And it shall be at morning that, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush upon the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to him whatever your hand finds to do.”
Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
Gaal went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush.
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see the shadow of the mountains as if it were men.”
Gaal continued and said, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the way of the oak.”
Zebul said to him, “Where now are your arrogant words, by which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Do you not see him? Go out now and fight with him.”
Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.
Abimelech pursued him, and he fled before him; many were struck down, even to the entrance of the gate.
Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
On the next day the people went out into the field, and told Abimelech.
He took his men and divided them into three companies and laid an ambush in the field. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose against them and struck them.
Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed and stood at the entrance of the gate; the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and destroyed them.
Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he captured the city, killed the people who were in it, razed the city, and sowed it with salt.
When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they went and entered the stronghold of the house of their god. And it was told Abimelech that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem had assembled.
Abimelech went up Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a branch, carried it on his shoulder, and said to the people who were with him, “See what I have done; do likewise.”
All the people likewise cut down every man his branch and followed Abimelech; and they put them to the stronghold and set the stronghold on fire, and all the people who were in the stronghold died—about a thousand men and women.
Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it.
There was a strong tower within the city; all the people and women and all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in, and went up to the top of the tower.
Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to set it on fire.
A certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull.
Then he called quickly to the young man who carried his armor and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, that men may not say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man thrust him through, and he died.
When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each went to his own home.
God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers. And all the wickedness of the leaders of Shechem God also returned upon their own heads, and the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.