Judges 9:48 — Meaning and Application

King James Version

“And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that {were} with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid {it} on his shoulder, and said unto the people that {were} with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, {and} do as I {have done}. {me do: Heb. I have done}”

Judges 9:48

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Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:

And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard {that}, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that {were} with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid {it} on his shoulder, and said unto the people that {were} with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, {and} do as I {have done}. {me do: Heb. I have done}

And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put {them} to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

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From This Chapter

Judges 9:1

"And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,"

Judges 9:2

"Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether {is} better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, {which are} threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I {am} your bone and your flesh. {Whether...: Heb. What is good? whether, etc}"

Judges 9:3

"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. {to follow: Heb. after}"

Judges 9:4

"And they gave him threescore and ten {pieces} of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him."

Judges 9:5

"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: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself."

Judges 9:6

"And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that {was} in Shechem. {plain: or, oak}"

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