Judges 9:55 kjv
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
Judges 9:55 nkjv
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed, every man to his place.
Judges 9:55 niv
When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.
Judges 9:55 esv
And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home.
Judges 9:55 nlt
When Abimelech's men saw that he was dead, they disbanded and returned to their homes.
Judges 9 55 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Judg 9:24 | "...that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come..." | Abimelech's actions lead to retribution. |
| Judg 9:56 | "Thus God repaid the evil of Abimelech, which he had done to his father..." | Divine justice against Abimelech confirmed. |
| Judg 9:57 | "...and all the evil of the men of Shechem God repaid upon their heads..." | Justice on Shechem also mentioned. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Abimelech's ambition led to his downfall. |
| Psa 7:16 | "His mischief shall return upon his own head..." | Wickedness recoils upon the wicked. |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | The principle of sowing and reaping evident. |
| Isa 13:14 | "And like a hunted gazelle, or like sheep with none to gather them..." | Dispersion after leadership collapses. |
| Jer 51:30 | "...their might is exhausted; they have become like women; their dwellings are set afire; their bars are broken." | Fear leading to weakened defenses and dispersion. |
| 1 Sam 31:7 | "When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley... saw that the army had fled..." | Dispersion of army after king's death (Saul). |
| 2 Sam 4:11-12 | "...how much more, when wicked men have slain a righteous person... should I not now demand his blood... and rid the earth of you?" | Avenging murder of a leader, though Saul was God's anointed. |
| 2 Sam 18:14-15 | "Then Joab said, 'I will not waste time like this with you.' And he took three javelins..." | Absalom's violent end and subsequent dispersion. |
| Prov 1:31 | "So they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be sated with their own devices." | Living by the sword leads to a violent end. |
| Judg 20:47-48 | "But 600 men turned and fled... and all that was found them they devoted to destruction..." | Dispersion of remnants of a defeated army. |
| Deut 32:35 | "Vengeance is mine, and recompense; in due time their foot shall slide..." | God's timing in judgment. |
| Rom 12:19 | "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God..." | God as the ultimate Avenger. |
| Psa 9:16 | "The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; by the work of his own hands the wicked is snared..." | God's justice displayed through their own actions. |
| Judg 8:27 | "And Gideon made an ephod of it... and all Israel prostituted themselves to it..." | Origins of Gideon's house's later sin. |
| Judg 9:1 | "Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem..." | Context of Abimelech's usurpation. |
| Matt 7:2 | "For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you." | Principle of proportional justice. |
| Judg 3:9 | "When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer..." | Contrast: God raising a deliverer vs. Abimelech's violent rise. |
Judges 9 verses
Judges 9 55 Meaning
Upon witnessing Abimelech's death, the Israelite soldiers who were allied with him immediately dispersed and returned to their homes. This verse marks the conclusive end of Abimelech's tyrannical rule and signifies the immediate aftermath of his downfall, reflecting the removal of an oppressive, self-appointed leader. It underscores the swiftness of divine judgment and the ephemeral nature of power gained through violent means, leaving no successor to his illegitimate throne.
Judges 9 55 Context
Judges chapter 9 vividly recounts Abimelech's ruthless ascent to power and his eventual downfall, demonstrating divine retribution for his atrocities. Following his father Gideon's death, Abimelech murdered 69 of his 70 brothers to seize kingship in Shechem. Jotham, the sole surviving brother, prophesied judgment on Abimelech and Shechem for their wickedness. Abimelech reigned as a self-proclaimed king for three years, marked by violence and treachery. Eventually, discord sown by God's hand led to open rebellion between Abimelech and the people of Shechem. Abimelech then engaged in campaigns of brutal suppression, culminating in his attack on the city of Thebez. There, as he attempted to burn a tower, a woman dropped a millstone on his head, fatally wounding him. He then ordered his armor-bearer to kill him to avoid the humiliation of being slain by a woman. Verse 55 immediately follows his death, describing the swift and decisive reaction of his assembled forces. This event closes the tragic narrative, highlighting the chaotic and unrighteous nature of Israel's attempt at kingship without God's appointment, and validating Jotham's earlier curse.
Judges 9 55 Word analysis
- And all the men of Israel: (Hebrew: וְכָל־אִ֣ישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל, Ve-chol-ish Yisrael) This refers to the armed forces that were campaigning under Abimelech, likely from Shechem, Beth-Millo, and those who joined his faction. It emphasizes a broad representation of Israelite men involved in his campaign, underscoring the collective witness and collective, immediate withdrawal, indicating a significant force. The term "Israel" here is not necessarily all twelve tribes but denotes the unified faction under Abimelech's leadership, perhaps implying those loyal to Shechem or his cause.
- when they saw: (Hebrew: כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר רָא֛וּ, ka'asher ra'u) This phrase signifies direct observation and immediate comprehension. Their decision to depart was not based on rumor or order but on the direct visual confirmation of Abimelech's demise. It implies that his person was the focal point of their campaign.
- that Abimelech was dead: (Hebrew: כִּי־מֵ֥ת אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ, ki-met Avimelekh) The absolute nature of his death is key. Abimelech, the violent usurper who had no divine right to rule and killed his brothers for power, met a humiliating and complete end. This fulfilled Jotham's prophetic curse (Judg 9:56). His demise instantly dismantled the command structure.
- departed: (Hebrew: וַיֵּֽלְכוּ֙, va-yielkhu) This simple verb indicates an action of leaving, moving away. The immediate and collective departure reveals the absence of continued purpose or unified loyalty once the central figure was gone. There was no natural successor or alternative command.
- every man unto his place: (Hebrew: אִ֥ישׁ לִמְקֹמֹֽו, ish limqomo) This signifies a complete disbandment. "His place" (מְקוֹמוֹ, m'qomov) refers to their respective towns, homes, and regions. It emphasizes the tribal, localized nature of alliances during the Judges period; cohesion was temporary and tied to specific leaders or threats, rather than a national identity or unified cause for Israel. This reflects the fragmented and disunity among Israel's tribes at that time.
- "And all the men of Israel... departed every man unto his place": This entire phrase encapsulates the swift, unceremonious dissolution of Abimelech's forces upon his death. It underscores that their allegiance was purely opportunistic, based on his dominant personality and military strength, rather than a deeper commitment to a legitimate cause or a God-ordained leader. This highlights the chaos and lack of stable leadership in Israel during this era, where unity was fragile and quickly dissipated. The immediate dispersion signifies that his 'kingship' had no institutional or spiritual foundation.
Judges 9 55 Bonus section
- The phrase "every man unto his place" also signifies a return to a pre-conflict state of affairs in that region, implying an end to the immediate large-scale hostilities instigated by Abimelech.
- This verse provides a crucial literary and theological parallel: just as Abimelech's power stemmed from and led to death, his own death directly leads to the dispersal of his forces, demonstrating the fragile and ultimately self-destructive nature of sin and ungodly ambition.
- The absence of any mention of a successor or further conflict highlights the personalistic nature of Abimelech's "kingdom." It collapsed because it was founded solely on his will and power, not on a divine covenant or communal support.
Judges 9 55 Commentary
Judges 9:55 serves as a poignant conclusion to the tragic tale of Abimelech's ambition and subsequent fall. It portrays the abrupt and definitive end of his tyrannical rule, confirming that power acquired through violence and illegitimate means is inherently unstable and ultimately unsustainable. The immediate dispersion of his "men of Israel" upon seeing him dead underscores the nature of their loyalty—it was based solely on Abimelech's presence and power, not on principle or national unity. His death fulfilled Jotham's prophecy, demonstrating God's sovereign hand in bringing justice to those who practice wickedness, ensuring that no act of evil goes unpunished in His perfect timing. The scene starkly contrasts Abimelech's violent grasp for kingship with God's ultimate authority over earthly rulers, and reinforces that the lack of a true, God-appointed leader leaves people scattered and vulnerable.