Judges 9 48

Judges 9:48 kjv

And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

Judges 9:48 nkjv

Then Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it and laid it on his shoulder; then he said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done."

Judges 9:48 niv

he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, "Quick! Do what you have seen me do!"

Judges 9:48 esv

And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a bundle of brushwood and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men who were with him, "What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done."

Judges 9:48 nlt

so he led his forces to Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and chopped some branches from a tree, then put them on his shoulder. "Quick, do as I have done!" he told his men.

Judges 9 verses

Judges 9 48 Meaning

Judges 9:48 depicts Abimelech's cunning and ruthless leadership as he prepares to attack the Tower of Shechem. Having heard that the people of Shechem had fled into the tower, he goes up Mount Zalmon, known for its dense trees, and demonstrates a specific destructive action for his troops to imitate. He personally takes an ax, cuts down a tree branch, shoulders it, and commands his men to quickly do the same, setting an example for them to gather wood to burn the tower. This action directly illustrates his determination to violently subjugate or destroy his former allies, embodying the destructive "fire" prophesied in Jotham's parable.

Judges 9 48 Context

Judges chapter 9 recounts the brief, tyrannical, and ultimately destructive reign of Abimelech, son of Gideon's concubine. Following Gideon's death, Abimelech conspired with the citizens of Shechem, murdered seventy of his half-brothers (leaving only Jotham alive), and crowned himself king. Jotham responded with a vivid fable comparing Abimelech to a bramble, prophesying that "fire will come out from the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon" (Jdg 9:15) and "fire will come out from Abimelech and devour the citizens of Shechem, and fire will come out from the citizens of Shechem and devour Abimelech" (Jdg 9:20). Verse 48 occurs after Shechem rebels against Abimelech, and he exacts brutal revenge, culminating in his siege of the Tower of Shechem, where many inhabitants sought refuge. Abimelech's actions here are a direct fulfillment of Jotham's prophetic warning of consuming fire, highlighting his cruel and decisive military tactics.

Judges 9 48 Word analysis

• And Abimelech: (Hebrew: וַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ, va'Avimelech) - "My father is king." The name ironically contrasts with his illegitimate and murderous rise to power. His actions reflect a self-appointed, tyrannical rule rather than one ordained by God or by honorable lineage.
• went up: (Hebrew: וַיַּעַל, vayya'al) - Implies ascending a physical height, common for military operations to gain advantage or material.
• to Mount Zalmon: (Hebrew: צַלְמוֹן, Tsalmon) - Means "shady" or "dark place," likely due to its dense forests. The irony of seeking destructive material (firewood) from a "shady" or "cool" place underscores the chilling intent of Abimelech.
• he and all the people who were with him: Emphasizes the collective action under Abimelech's direct command. His authority is absolute, and his army is obedient, willing participants in his brutality.
• and Abimelech took: Demonstrates Abimelech's hands-on leadership style. He isn't merely issuing orders; he is performing the action himself, setting a direct example. This can be seen as an appeal to his men's loyalty, but also as a powerful and intimidating display of his ruthless determination.
• an ax: (Hebrew: גַּרְזֶן, garzen) - A tool of utility and destruction, used here for aggressive military purposes.
• in his hand: Indicates immediate, personal control and action.
• and cut down: (Hebrew: וַיִּכְרֹת, vayyikhrot) - Implies decisive action; also has connotations of "cutting off," or "cutting a covenant." Here, it signifies a forceful severance and destructive intent.
• a branch from the trees: (Hebrew: עֲנַף עֵצִים, anaf etsim) - Literally "a bough of trees" or "wood." Easily accessible fuel source for fire, common in siege warfare.
• and picked it up and laid it on his shoulder: (Hebrew: וַיִּשָּׂא וַיָּשֶׂם עַל־שִׁכְמוֹ, vayyisa vayyasem al-shikhmo) - Abimelech personally carries the load. This demonstrates his zeal and intent, demanding a visible effort from himself before requiring it of his men. The shoulder often symbolizes responsibility, burden, or strength. Here, it is associated with the burden of destructive acts.
• and said to the people who were with him: His speech is a direct command following his demonstrative act.
• What you have seen me do: (Hebrew: אֵת אֲשֶׁר רְאִיתֶם אֹתִי עֹשֶׂה, et asher re'item oti oseh) - Highlights leadership by direct visual instruction. He expects immediate and precise imitation.
• make haste and do likewise!: (Hebrew: מַהֲרוּ וַעֲשׂוּ כָמוֹנִי, maharu va'asu kamoni) - A command for swift and exact replication. This imperative reveals his desire for speed and uniform, collective destruction. It is a perversion of leadership, using influence to incite immediate wickedness.

Judges 9 48 Bonus section

The scene of Abimelech carrying wood up a mountain to burn a city contrasts sharply with other biblical instances of wood-carrying. For example, Abraham carried the wood for Isaac's sacrifice up Mount Moriah (Gen 22:6), and Christ carried His cross to Calvary. In both those cases, the wood symbolized obedience to God's will and ultimate sacrificial deliverance. Here, Abimelech's act is one of ultimate self-will and destructive power. His personal involvement underscores his deep-seated desire for vengeance and control, perverting the very concept of "leadership by example" into an instrument of terror and wickedness.

Judges 9 48 Commentary

Judges 9:48 captures a decisive moment in Abimelech's campaign, demonstrating his effective but brutal leadership. He leads by example, not through moral guidance, but through a visible, hands-on demonstration of destructive action. His personal act of felling a branch and carrying it galvanizes his soldiers to swift, unquestioning obedience. This scene vividly fulfills Jotham's earlier prophetic fable, portraying Abimelech as the bramble igniting a destructive fire against his own people, highlighting the grim reality of a reign based on ambition, murder, and tyranny, rather than divine appointment or righteous principles.