Judges 9:20

Translations

Modern

But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

Traditional

But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

Literal

But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let come fire from the men of Shechem and Beth-millo, and devour Abimelech.”

Latin

Sin autem perverse: egrediatur ignis ex eo, et consumat habitatores Sichem, et oppidum Mello: egrediaturque ignis de viris Sichem, et de oppido Mello, et devoret Abimelech.

Original

Hebrew

English

But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

Notes

Judges 9:19–20

The Shechemites were asked to decide if their actions deserved blessing or cursing. It implied they acted in bad faith, leading to mutual destruction with Abimelech. The Lord is a consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29), and those who act unfaithfully show his justice.

Judges 9:7–21

Jotham shared a fable, where plants and animals act like humans, to illustrate the situation (Judges 9:7–15). He then cursed Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem (Judges 9:16–21). If they had acted dishonestly, it would become clear (Judges 9:56–57).

Judges 9:1–57

Abimelech's reign marked a shift from the relative peace of the early judges (Judges 3:7–8:35) to the decline of the later years (10:1–16:31).

Theme notes and profiles

Gideon Preaching to a Tough Crowd Shechem

Events

Usurpation by Abimelech

Related verses

Judges 9:15
But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
Judges 9:56–57
In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
Psalm 140:10
May burning coals fall on them; may they be thrown into the fire, into the miry pits, never to rise again.
Psalm 28:4
Repay them according to their deeds and for their works of evil. Repay them for what their hands have done; bring back on them what they deserve.
2 Chronicles 20:22–23
The moment they began their shouts and praises, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir who had come against Judah, and they were defeated.
Judges 9:23
God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,
Psalm 21:9–10
You will place them in a fiery furnace at the time of Your appearing. In His wrath the LORD will engulf them, and the fire will consume them.
Psalm 120:3–4
What will He do to you, and what will be added to you, O deceitful tongue?
Psalm 52:1–5
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long.
Judges 7:22
And when the three hundred rams’ horns sounded, the LORD set all the men in the camp against one another with their swords. The army fled to Beth-shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel-meholah near Tabbath.

People

Abimelech: Son of Gideon, self-proclaimed king of Shechem

Places

Beth-millo: Fortified place in Shechem, associated with Abimelech's rule Shechem: City in Canaan, later allotted to Ephraim

Glossary

Arumah Baal-Berith Beth-Millo Curse, Cursed Judges, Book of Millo Shechem (Place) Warfare

Topics

Fatherless: Jotham Jotham: Son of Gideon: Rebukes the Shechemites with the Parable About the Trees Judge: Abimelech Millo: The House of Millo, Possibly a Clan at Shechem Orphan: Jotham

Judges 9:20

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