Bible/Judges/9

Judges 9:20

9:19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

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but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.”

But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

9:21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

What does Judges 9:20 mean?

Judges 9:20 is a verse in the book of Judges, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אֵשׁ (ʼêsh), יָצָא (yâtsâʼ), אֲבִימֶלֶךְ (ʼĂbîymelek). It connects to 14 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

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But
if
not,
let
fireאֵשׁʼêsh/aysh/H784fire (literally or figuratively)
come
outיָצָאyâtsâʼ/yaw-tsaw'/H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
from
Abimelech,אֲבִימֶלֶךְʼĂbîymelek/ab-ee-mel'-ek/H40Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites
and
devourאָכַלʼâkal/aw-kal'/H398to eat (literally or figuratively)
the
menבַּעַלbaʻal/bah'-al/H1167a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense)
of
Shechem,שְׁכֶםShᵉkem/shek-em'/H7927Shekem, a place in Palestine
and
the
houseבַּיִתbayith/bah'-yith/H1004a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
of
Millo;מִלּוֹאmillôwʼ/mil-lo'/H4407a rampart (as filled in), i.e. the citadel
and
let
fireאֵשׁʼêsh/aysh/H784fire (literally or figuratively)
come
outיָצָאyâtsâʼ/yaw-tsaw'/H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.
from
the
menבַּעַלbaʻal/bah'-al/H1167a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense)
of
Shechem,שְׁכֶםShᵉkem/shek-em'/H7927Shekem, a place in Palestine
and
from
the
houseבַּיִתbayith/bah'-yith/H1004a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.)
of
Millo,מִלּוֹאmillôwʼ/mil-lo'/H4407a rampart (as filled in), i.e. the citadel
and
devourאָכַלʼâkal/aw-kal'/H398to eat (literally or figuratively)
Abimelech.אֲבִימֶלֶךְʼĂbîymelek/ab-ee-mel'-ek/H40Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites

Commentary on Judges 9:20

HENRY_FULL · Judges 9:20–22
="gen4663" The Israelites Enslaved by Jabin. ( b. c. 1285.) 1 And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord , when Ehud was dead. 2 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles. 3 And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord : for he had nine hundred chariots of iron; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. Here is, I. Israel backsliding from God: They again did evil in his sight, forsook his service, and worshipped idols; for this was the sin which now most easily beset them, v. 1 . See in this, 1. The strange strength of corruption, which hurries men into sin notwithstanding the most frequent experience of its fatal consequences. The bent to backslide is with great difficulty restrained. 2. The common ill effects of a long peace. The land had rest eighty years, which should have confirmed them in their religion; but, on the contrary, it made them secure and wanton, and indulgent of those lusts which the worship of the false gods was calculated for the gratification of. Thus the prosperity of fools destroys them. Jeshurun waxeth fat and kicketh. 3. The great loss which a people sustains by the death of good governors. The did evil, because Ehud was dead. So it may be read. He kept a strict eye upon them, restrained and punished every thing that looked towards idolatry, and kept them close to God's service. But, when he was gone, they revolted, fearing him more than God. II. Israel oppressed by their enemies. When they forsook God, he forsook them; and then they became an easy prey to every spoiler. They alienated themselves from God as if he were none of theirs; and then God alienated them as none of his. Those that threw themselves out of God's service threw themselves out of his protection. What has my beloved to do in my house when she has thus played the harlot? Jer. xi. 15 . He sold them into the hand of Jabin, v. 2 . This Jabin reigned in Hazor, as another of the same name, and perhaps his ancestor, had done before him, whom Joshua routed and slew, and burnt his city, Josh. xi. 1 , 10 . But it seems, in process of time, the city was rebuilt, the power regained, the loss retrieved, and, by degrees, the king of Hazor becomes able to tyrannize over Israel, who by sin had lost all their advantage against the Canaanites. This servitude was longer than either of the former, and much more grievous. Jabin, and his general Sisera, did mightily oppress Israel. That which aggravated the oppression was, 1. That this enemy was nearer to them than any of the former, in their borders, in their bowels, and by this means had the more opportunity to do them a mischief. 2. That they were the natives of the country, who bore an implacable enmity to them, for invading and dispossessing them, and when they had them in their power would be so much the more cruel and mischievous towards them in revenge of the old quarrel. 3. That these Canaanites had formerly been conquered and subdued by Israel, were of old sentenced to be their servants ( Gen. ix. 25 ), and might now have been under their feet, and utterly incapable of giving them any disturbance, if their own slothfulness, cowardice, and unbelief, had not suffered them thus to get head. To be oppressed by those whom their fathers had conquered, and whom they themselves had foolishly spared, could not but be very grievous. III. Israel returning to their God: They cried unto the Lord, when distress drove them to him, and they saw no other way of relief. Those that slight God in their prosperity will find themselves under a necessity of seeking him when they are in trouble.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Deuteronomy 28:29

And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.

Deuteronomy 28:33

The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

Deuteronomy 28:47

Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things;

Deuteronomy 28:48

Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.

Joshua 17:16

And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.

Judges 1:19

And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. drave: or, possessed the mountain

Judges 3:9

And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. deliverer: Heb. saviour

Judges 3:15

But when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite, a man lefthanded: and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. a Benjamite: or, the son of Jemini lefthanded: Heb. shut of his right hand

Judges 5:8

They chose new gods; then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand in Israel?

Judges 10:16

And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. strange: Heb. gods of strangers grieved: Heb. shortened

1 Samuel 7:8

And the children of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us, that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. Cease: Heb. Be not silent from us from crying

Psalms 50:15

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Jeremiah 2:27

Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us. brought: or, begotten me their back: Heb. the hinder part of the neck

Jeremiah 2:28

But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah. trouble: Heb. evil

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Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with Judges 9:20.

Judges 9:6

And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem. plain: or, oak

Judges 9:18

And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

Judges 9:23

Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

Judges 9:24

That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren. aided: Heb. strengthened his hands to kill

Judges 9:25

And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

Judges 9:3

And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. to follow: Heb. after

Genesis 19:3

And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

Genesis 20:18

For the LORD had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech, because of Sarah Abraham's wife.

Frequently asked questions

What does Judges 9:20 say?

Judges 9:20 (King James Version) reads: "But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech."

Is Judges 9:20 in the Old or New Testament?

Judges 9:20 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of Judges.

Reflect

As you read Judges 9:20, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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