Judges 9:22

Translations

Modern

After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,

Traditional

When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

Literal

And Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years,

Latin

Regnavit itaque Abimelech super Israël tribus annis.

Original

Hebrew

English

After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,

Notes

Judges 9:22–23

It took three years to fulfill what God had planned. The spirit that caused trouble found people ready to listen. Those punished for their foolishness actively contributed to their downfall; they caused it themselves.

Judges 9:22–25

As predicted in the story (Judges 9:8–15), Abimelech could not meet the Shechemites’ expectations, so they plotted against him.

Judges 9:22–57

Theological statements in Judges 9:23–24 and 9:56–57 frame the story of the civil conflict that caused the destruction of Abimelech and Shechem. This event fulfilled the curse that Jotham declared (Judges 9:19–20).

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 Shechem