Keraia
Judges 9

Judges 9:48

The Fall of Shechem · Judges 9:30–49
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Translations

Modern
…he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him, and Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and lifted it and set it on his shoulder, and he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I.”
Latin
…ascendit in montem Selmon cum omni populo suo: et arrepta securi, præcidit arboris ramum, impositumque ferens humero, dixit ad socios: Quod me videtis facere, cito facite.

Original

Hebrew
English
…he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”

Notes

Judges 9:48

Mount Zalmon is likely another name for Mount Ebal. It is the mountain opposite Gerizim and near Shechem.

Judges 9:46–49

The leaders (literally lords) of Shechem, who first plotted against Abimelech, gathered in the temple of Baal-berith. The temple then burned around them. Archaeologists have confirmed this destruction at the site.

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

Events

People

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

Places

Mount Ebal: A mountain in Canaan, site of curses and blessings ceremony

Glossary

Abimelech Beth-Millo Citadel Curse, Cursed Judges, Book of Shechem (Place) Tower of Shechem Warfare Zalmon (Place)

Topics

Judge: Abimelech Zalmon: Also Called Salmon, Probably: A Hill in Samaria