Abimelech Rushing Forward - Judges 9:44

In the book of Judges we learned how, “Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them”, and in chapter nine and verse forty-four of Judges, we learn how, “Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward” where we read,

And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

The verse reads, “And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city:” The writer began with the words, “and Abimelech” whose name means “Melek is my father or my father is king’ and was the son of Gideon by a concubine”, “and the company that was with him” which means “and the choice band or division who were alongside and accompanied him, Abimelech”, “rushed forward” or “made a dash, raided and spread out”, “and stood in the entering of the gate of the city” which means “and made a stand, remained and endured within the opening, doorway and entrance belonging to the habitation, abode and dwelling place”. The writer shared how “Abimelech” and the choice division who accompanied him made a stand at the entryway of the dwelling place of “Shechem”.

The verse continues, “and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.” The writer added the words, “and the two other companies” which means “and the two additional choice divisions” “ran upon all the people” or “made a dash and invaded each, the whole and everyone of the human beings” “that were in the fields” which means “who existed with the cultivated lands or open country”, “and slew them” or “and hit, beat and killed them, the people of the city”. The writer shared how the two other choice divisions of “Abimelech” hurriedly attacked the human beings who were within the cultivated lands and beat and killed them. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how “Abimelech” continued his slaughter of the people who lived within “Shechem”. Once the people of the city were in the open land, “Abimelech” and his choice divisions attacked them. God’s involvement was behind the scene of this activity, but He was at work to deliver His people Israel. (See Judges 9:23) When we realize God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, we may receive Him as our “Lord and Savior” to have our sins forgiven, be granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us understand that even when we don’t know or cannot see, we can always trust Him because He’s always in control. (See Proverbs 3:5-6)

Next time we learn how, “Abimelech fought against the city all that day”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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