And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.
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
Then said Zebul unto him,.... Not being able to put him off any longer, and willing to take the opportunity to upbraid him with what he had said: where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? darest thou say the same thou hast done, and utter the contemptuous language concerning Abimelech, asking who he was, that he should be served?
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