Judges 9 49

Judges 9:49 kjv

And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

Judges 9:49 nkjv

So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, put them against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

Judges 9:49 niv

So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.

Judges 9:49 esv

So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1,000 men and women.

Judges 9:49 nlt

So each of them cut down some branches, following Abimelech's example. They piled the branches against the walls of the temple and set them on fire. So all the people who had lived in the tower of Shechem died ? about 1,000 men and women.

Judges 9 verses

Judges 9 49 Meaning

Judges 9:49 vividly describes the decisive and brutal action of Abimelech and his forces in annihilating the people of Shechem who had sought refuge in the "stronghold" or tower. After besieging and destroying the city, this verse details the final act of genocide: all of Abimelech's followers, mimicking his earlier action of cutting wood, cut branches, piled them against the tower where approximately a thousand Shechemites (both men and women) were sheltering, and then set the structure ablaze. This act completely consumed the tower and all its occupants, sealing the fate of the remaining inhabitants and marking the gruesome climax of Abimelech’s vengeance upon Shechem for its shifting loyalty, thereby fulfilling Jotham's curse of fire.

Judges 9 49 Context

Judges chapter 9 recounts the tragic and brutal reign of Abimelech, the illegitimate son of Gideon and a concubine from Shechem. After Gideon's death, Abimelech conspired with his Shechemite relatives, murdered seventy of his brothers (excluding Jotham who escaped) to establish himself as king over Shechem, becoming Israel's first (self-proclaimed) king. Jotham, the sole survivor, prophesied a "fire" from Abimelech that would devour the men of Shechem, and a "fire" from Shechem that would devour Abimelech (Judges 9:20). Three years later, enmity arose between Abimelech and Shechem. Shechemite leaders conspired against him, resulting in battles that saw Abimelech eventually besiege and utterly destroy the city of Shechem, fulfilling the first part of Jotham's prophecy. Verse 49 details the gruesome end of a large contingent of Shechemites who had sought their final refuge in a fortified tower or citadel within the city. This specific act highlights the completeness of the retribution against Shechem for their part in his initial ascent to power and their later betrayal, an act that underscores the self-destructive cycle of violence and unrighteous leadership present throughout the period of the Judges.

Judges 9 49 Word analysis

• So: Implies a consequence or continuation from the preceding actions (Abimelech cutting a branch in Judg 9:48).
• all: Indicates a complete and unified effort, emphasizing the collective complicity in the act.
• the people: Refers to Abimelech's followers, his army and supporting forces, who are now participating in the final phase of destruction.
• likewise: Signifies imitation; they mimicked Abimelech's immediate preceding action (cutting branches for fuel). This points to followers adopting the methods and mindset of their leader.
• cut down: (Hebrew: karath - כָּרַת) - To cut off, to cut down, implying a forceful and decisive severing. This is an active and intentional act.
• each his branch: Individually gathering the fuel, showcasing personal participation and contribution to the mass killing. It suggests personal ownership in the destructive act.
• and followed Abimelech: Demonstrates loyalty, obedience, and alignment with Abimelech’s ruthless purpose. It highlights their consent and active participation under his command, leading to catastrophic outcomes.
• and put them: Refers to the branches they had gathered. The simple act of placement becomes an integral step in the execution.
• to the stronghold: (Hebrew: migdal - מִגְדָּל) - Meaning "tower" or "fortress." This was likely a prominent fortified structure, providing a perceived place of safety and final refuge for the people of Shechem after the main city was destroyed. Its name suggests strength and defense.
• and burned: (Hebrew: sarap - שָׂרַף) - To burn, consume by fire. This word implies a complete and destructive conflagration, often used in the context of judgment or annihilation in the Old Testament.
• the stronghold: The very structure intended for defense becomes the instrument of their demise.
• over them: Explicitly stating that the fire enveloped those trapped inside the tower. This confirms the intentional act of incinerating the occupants along with the structure.
• so that: Indicates the direct result and intended consequence of the preceding actions.
• all the people: Re-emphasizes the totality of the victims, indicating a lack of discrimination in the slaughter.
• of the Tower of Shechem: Clarifies precisely which inhabitants died and where.
• also died: Confirms the gruesome fate of the trapped Shechemites. The word "also" implies this was another phase of death after the general city destruction.
• about a thousand: A specific, significant, yet approximate number. It quantifies the immense loss of life, painting a picture of mass atrocity. This round number might signify a large, round estimate.
• men and women: Highlights that the destruction spared no one, neither age nor gender, showcasing the absolute brutality and thoroughness of Abimelech’s vengeance.

Judges 9 49 Bonus section

The destruction of the Tower of Shechem by fire echoes biblical themes of divine judgment, where fire often symbolizes God's cleansing or wrath (e.g., Sodom and Gomorrah, Korah's rebellion). While Abimelech acts as the agent of destruction, the narrative subtly frames it as a fulfillment of Jotham's prophetic curse, suggesting an underlying divine hand in the unfolding tragedy as a consequence of Shechem's treachery and unfaithfulness. The imagery of people themselves gathering the wood to destroy others points to an active, shared responsibility in carrying out cruelties under ungodly leadership, emphasizing the ease with which large numbers can be led to participate in horrifying acts. This event in Shechem, a significant location in Israel's history (site of Abraham's first altar, Jacob's settlement, Joshua's covenant renewal), marked a profound desecration and the consequences of their unholy alliance with a tyrannical king, revealing a cycle of violence where those who sought to benefit from wickedness ultimately become its victims.

Judges 9 49 Commentary

Judges 9:49 serves as a chilling testament to the self-destructive consequences of unrighteous leadership and alliances made apart from God's will. The Shechemites, having elevated Abimelech – a 'bramble' according to Jotham's fable – as their king, now experience his full, fiery vengeance. Their attempt to seek safety in the "migdal," a tower of their own construction and pride, ironically becomes their collective funeral pyre, demonstrating that false security apart from the LORD is ultimately vain. The imagery of "all the people" (Abimelech’s followers) diligently participating in this horrific act of burning, by cutting down branches and applying them to the tower, underscores the dark reality of collective human sin and the brutal efficacy of mob violence led by a ruthless individual. This verse profoundly illustrates the direct fulfillment of Jotham's curse (Judg 9:20), where fire comes out from Abimelech and consumes the men of Shechem, setting the stage for Abimelech's own subsequent downfall, as the very violence he meted out would return upon him. It is a powerful reminder that "whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap," vividly demonstrating the Lord's retributive justice unfolding in the history of Israel.

• Example for Practical Usage: When groups or individuals blindly follow a leader or ideology without discernment, particularly those promoting division and destruction, they can become complicit in widespread harm, often leading to their own ruin, mirroring how Abimelech's followers and the Shechemites met a common doom despite being on different sides.
• Example for Practical Usage: Seeking ultimate security in human strength, fortifications, or worldly powers ("stronghold") rather than in God can prove to be a fatal delusion, as demonstrated by the Shechemites who found their supposed refuge turned into a death trap.