And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.
Three years Abimelech wore the crown without service to the country, and the people were foolish enough to love him for it. But the triumph of the wicked is brief as a hireling's year. God sent discord between him and Shechem, they grew jealous, he slighted them, and mutual hatred did the rest. Their own lusts were evil spirits; God gave them up to these, and so the blood of Gideon's sons came upon them both.
AI summary
Commenting on Judges 9:22-49
Now therefore up by night,.... The night following, that no time might be lost: and the people that is with thee; the troops he had with him; not only such he had for his own guards, but what he had been raising, having intelligence before this of the revolt of the Shechemites from him: and lie in wait in the fields; he thought it most...
His despotism spread by creeping encroachment from Shechem outward to neighboring towns. True reign in Israel comes only from God; what Abimelech claimed was mere usurped tyranny, not the mild and divinely authorized rule of a judge, the very word for his reign marks it as despotism, not governance.
AI summary
Commenting on Judges 9:22-49