Judges 9 47

Judges 9:47 kjv

And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

Judges 9:47 nkjv

And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

Judges 9:47 niv

When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there,

Judges 9:47 esv

Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.

Judges 9:47 nlt

Someone reported to Abimelech that the citizens had gathered in the temple,

Judges 9 verses

Judges 9 47 Meaning

Judges 9:47 details the intelligence received by Abimelech concerning the men of Shechem who had fled the initial destruction of their city. These survivors had gathered within the confines of a fortified tower, a stronghold within or adjacent to Shechem, as a final refuge against Abimelech's relentless assault. This verse marks a crucial pivot, setting the stage for Abimelech's subsequent decisive act against these remaining adversaries, thus continuing the tragic fulfillment of Jotham's curse upon the unrighteous king and the treacherous Shechemites.

Judges 9 47 Context

Judges chapter 9 recounts the brief, violent, and illegitimate reign of Abimelech, the son of Gideon by a concubine. Following Gideon's death, Abimelech, driven by ruthless ambition, conspires with the leaders of Shechem and brutally murders 70 of his half-brothers on one stone, aspiring to kingship (Jdg 9:1-6). Only Jotham, the youngest, escapes and delivers a prophetic fable from Mount Gerizim (Jdg 9:7-21). This fable, featuring trees seeking a king and ultimately selecting the bramble, prophesies that fire would come forth from Abimelech to consume the men of Shechem, and fire from Shechem to consume Abimelech. After three years, God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, fulfilling the curse (Jdg 9:22-24). The Shechemites eventually betray Abimelech (Jdg 9:25-41), leading to his retaliation where he attacks the city, kills its inhabitants, and even sows salt on its ruins (Jdg 9:42-45), symbolizing permanent desolation. Verse 46 indicates that a group of Shechemites sought refuge in the stronghold associated with "the house of the god Berith" (Baal-Berith). Judges 9:47 specifically narrates that Abimelech received a report concerning another, or a consolidated, group of Shechemites who had gathered for defense in a general "tower of Shechem," highlighting their continued resistance and Abimelech's relentless pursuit to completely annihilate them. The chapter starkly illustrates the chaos and violence prevalent in Israel during the time of the Judges due to spiritual apostasy and lack of central, God-ordained leadership, serving as a cautionary tale against human-instigated kingship.

Judges 9 47 Word analysis

• And it was told (וַיֻּגַּד - wayyuggad): This Hophal imperfect form means "it was made known" or "it was reported." It highlights that information was actively brought to Abimelech, suggesting a network of informants or direct witnesses reporting on the Shechemites' movements. This detail underscores Abimelech's operational efficiency in pursuing his adversaries, a grim contrast to righteous leaders whose authority might derive from divine guidance.
• Abimelech (אֲבִימֶלֶךְ - 'Avimelekh): His name, meaning "my father is king," ironically foreshadows his ambition to rule despite Gideon (his father, Jerubbaal) having rejected kingship over Israel (Jdg 8:22-23). Abimelech represents an ungodly attempt at kingship, attained through murder and treachery rather than divine appointment. His rule illustrates the consequences of human-centered leadership apart from God's will, characterized by violence and mutual destruction. His name also bears a resemblance to ancient Philistine kings, suggesting a non-Israelite or syncretistic pattern of governance.
• all the men (כָל-אַנְשֵׁי - kol-'anshey): This emphasizes the complete concentration of the remaining population who survived the initial massacre. They were not merely a scattered few but a significant contingent hoping to withstand Abimelech's assault, underscoring the gravity of their collective last stand.
• of the tower (מִגְדַּל - migdal): A common Hebrew word for a fortified structure or stronghold, implying a place designed for defense. In ancient Near Eastern warfare, towers provided significant defensive advantage and were often the last bastion of resistance in a besieged city. This specific tower of Shechem (distinct from the "house of El-berith" in verse 46, though possibly contiguous or referring to a general defensive structure in the city) was where the surviving Shechemites sought what they believed was unbreachable security.
• of Shechem (שְׁכֶם - Shekhem): An ancient and historically significant Canaanite city in Israelite territory. It was where Abraham first built an altar to the Lord (Gen 12:6-7) and where Joshua gathered Israel to renew the covenant with God (Josh 24). Its association with idolatry, specifically Baal-Berith (Jdg 9:4), marks a severe spiritual decline, highlighting how a place once central to covenant faith became a hotbed of apostasy, making it a target for divine judgment. The destruction of Shechem reflects God's response to its idolatry and betrayal, even if carried out through human instruments.
• were gathered together (נִקְבְּצוּ - niqbətsu): This Niphal imperfect form indicates they "assembled themselves" or "were congregated." It conveys their deliberate act of coalescing in a place they deemed safe, showcasing a final, desperate act of collective survival. Their gathering underscores their perceived vulnerability elsewhere and their hope in the physical strength of the tower, a false hope given their ultimate demise.

• "it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together": This phrase reveals the military intelligence network at Abimelech's disposal, enabling his efficient and relentless campaign of annihilation. It underscores the ongoing conflict and the immediate lead-up to the next destructive phase. This information prompts Abimelech's strategic response. This phrase serves as a setup for the direct divine retribution through human agents, fulfilling Jotham's prophetic curse. It also contrasts the human perception of security in a strong tower with God's ultimate sovereignty and judgment.

Judges 9 47 Bonus section

The story of Abimelech and Shechem in Judges 9 is a powerful cautionary tale about the dangers of human ambition when unchecked by divine will, illustrating the chaotic results of a people without proper spiritual leadership. The Shechemites, having initially embraced a treacherous, illegitimate king like Abimelech (after Gideon refused to rule), ultimately suffered his wrath, demonstrating the bitter fruit of ungodly alliances and the violation of the covenant. Their trust in physical fortifications, whether the tower of El-Berith (Jdg 9:46) or this general "tower of Shechem," ultimately proved vain against the inevitable outworking of divine judgment on their collective sin and idolatry. The emphasis on the report given to Abimelech signifies divine allowance, as God used Abimelech's ruthless ambition to bring judgment upon a people who had forsaken Him and embraced a "king" chosen in treachery.

Judges 9 47 Commentary

Judges 9:47 is a concise, yet crucial, informational verse that serves as a direct prelude to Abimelech's final act of retribution against the Shechemites. Having destroyed the city itself, Abimelech learns that a substantial number of survivors have consolidated within a key tower in or near Shechem. This intelligence highlights Abimelech's determination to utterly eliminate any resistance, a chilling pursuit characteristic of his violent reign. The gathering of the Shechemites in this stronghold speaks to their desperate hope for survival, yet this false security proves futile against God's ultimate plan for justice, orchestrated through Abimelech's vengeful hands. The very means by which Abimelech came to power—brutal ambition and alliance with a rebellious city—are the means through which divine judgment is wrought upon both him and Shechem, validating Jotham's earlier curse.