Judges 9:33 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them as your hand finds to do.”

NIV: In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.'

NASB: Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and attack the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to them whatever you can.'

CSB: Then get up early, and at sunrise attack the city. When he and the troops who are with him come out against you, do to him whatever you can."

NLT: In the morning, as soon as it is daylight, attack the city. When Gaal and those who are with him come out against you, you can do with them as you wish.'

KJV: And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

NKJV: And it shall be, as soon as the sun is up in the morning, that you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may then do to them as you find opportunity.”

Abimelech's authority as lord over Shechem and the region (Judges 9:1–6) has been challenged by the same leaders who appointed him (Judges 9:22–25). Their latest tool is a newcomer: a man named Gaal has openly bragged to the city leaders, that if he were in charge, he would remove Abimelech from power by force (Judges 9:26–29).

When this happens, Abimelech is away from the city. His officer Zebul hears all about it. He takes the threat with deadly seriousness and sends a messenger to warn Abimelech of a potential uprising. He also sends Abimelech a plan to quickly overcome the challenger (Judges 9:30–32).

Zebul wants Abimelech and his men to hide in the field outside the city's eastern gate by the cover of darkness. When the sun comes up it will shine directly into the eyes of anyone trying to defend the gate from an eastern attack. Abimelech and his men can rush the city to defeat Gaal and whomever else is with him at the gate. This is even more strategic in that the plain outside the gate is surrounded by hills. These would create strategic shadows even as the sun rose—giving even more cover to those charging the city. Zebul will take special advantage of this obscured view (Judges 9:36).

Judges 9:22–57 describes the brutal fulfillment of Jotham's curse against his brother, Abimelech, and the leaders of the city of Shechem. God allows the two sides to be split by an evil spirit. First, Shechem's leaders attempt to kill Abimelech. Then they plot with a man named Gaal to overthrow him. Helped by his officer in the city, Abimelech and his men ambush Gaal and Shechem. They kill all the people and destroy the city. They then move on to the town of Thebez to do the same, but Abimelech is killed. Jotham's prediction of divine vengeance (Judges 9:19–20) comes true.

Shechem's leaders conspire with a concubine's son to kill Gideon's other seventy sons. They make this man, Abimelech, their ruler. Gideon's youngest son survives, however, and delivers a curse. Using a fable, he says Abimelech and Shechem's leaders will destroy each other. God causes a division between Shechem's leaders and Abimelech. The noblemen attempt to kill Abimelech and unite behind a new leader. Abimelech discovers the plot and kills everyone in Shechem, destroying the city. When attacking a tower in a nearby town, however, Abimelech's skull is crushed by a thrown millstone. The curse is fulfilled.

Gideon successfully defeated Midianite raiders but declined to become Israel's official king. His sons, however, were held in high esteem during his remaining years (Judges 8). After Gideon's death, ambitious men conspire to kill almost all those heirs. This results in a series of bloody events. Eventually, judgment comes on those responsible. Israel fails to learn from the tragedies. Chapter 10 explains further idolatry and sin, before introducing the next major judge, Jephthah, in chapter 11.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).