Albert Barnes Commentary Judges 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
Judges 9
Albert Barnes Commentary
Judges 9
"And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother`s brethren, and spake with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother`s father, saying," — Judges 9:1 (ASV)
We are not told how soon after the death of Gideon these events happened. There must have been time for the apostasy and establishment of Baal-worship, and for the development of ill-will between Abimelech and his brothers.
"Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh." — Judges 9:2 (ASV)
The men of Shechem - literally, “the masters.” Compare (Joshua 24:11); (1 Samuel 23:11–12).
"And his mother`s brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother." — Judges 9:3 (ASV)
The Ephraimite pride revolted from Abi-ezrite rulers, and inclined them to one who was a Shechemite by birth (compare the same spirit in the time of David and Rehoboam, 2 Samuel 20:1; 1 Kings 12:16).
"And he went unto his father`s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself." — Judges 9:5 (ASV)
Such wholesale slaughters have always been common in Eastern monarchies, and are among the fruits of polygamy.
"And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem." — Judges 9:6 (ASV)
Millo must have been a fortified place close to, but separate from, Shechem, and perhaps the same as the tower of Shechem mentioned in (Judges 9:46–47). The building or enlarging of the better-known Millo, at Jerusalem was one of Solomon’s great works (1 Kings 9:15, 24).
The population dwelling in Millo, though perhaps numerically small, had great weight from possessing the stronghold. Their giving Abimelech the title of king indicates the strong Canaanite influence at Shechem. All the Canaanite chiefs were called kings, but it was a title previously unknown in Israel. This title had not been named by those Israelites who offered to make Gideon their hereditary ruler (Judges 8:22–23).
The plain of the pillar ... - Rather, “the oak of the garrison which is in Shechem.” The oak in question was probably called the “garrison oak,” from a garrison being stationed near it.
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