All the People Cutting Down Boughs - Judges 9:49

In the book of Judges we learned how, “it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. And Abimelech got 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 you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done”, and in chapter nine and verse forty-nine of Judges, we learn how, “all the people likewise cut down every man his bough”, where we read,

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.

The verse reads, “And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, …” The writer began with the words, “and all the people” whose name means “and each, the whole and everyone of the human beings” “likewise cut down every man his bough” which means ”similar and in like manner severed each, the whole and everyone of the male human beings his, their, branch”, “and followed Abimelech” or “and walked, departed and proceeded after Abimelech whose name mean ‘Melek is father or my father is king’ and was the son of Gideon by a concubine. The writer shared how “Abimelech’s” men followed his example and severed branches and pursued him. 

The verse continues, “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.” The writer added the words, “and put them to the hold” which means “and set, placed and appointed them, the branches, toward the underground chamber, cellar and room”, “and set the hold on fire” or “and put, placed and kindled the underground chamber on fiery fire” “upon them” which means “on the men of Shechem”; “so that all the men” or “which caused each, the whole one everyone of the male human beings” “of the tower of Shechem” which means “pertaining to the elevated stage or pulpit” “died also” or “were killed, executed and made lifeless even so and indeed”, “about a thousand men and women” which means “around one thousand male and female human beings”. The writer shared how “Abimelech” instructed the men who were with him to put their branches on the underground chamber, and they kindled a fiery fire upon the structure which caused the people who took refuge there to die. There were around one thousand people of “Shechem”, both male and female, who were murdered in that location.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how “Abimelech’s” men followed his example and severed branches to carry with them as they followed him. They took the branches to the underground chamber of the “house of the god Berith” and set the chamber on fire with the people hiding inside. Around one thousand men and women of “Shechem” died from the fire, and “Abimelech” used this to conquer them. God knew and observed all these things, and because He was purposed to deliver the people of Israel from oppression, He was working behind the scenes of these events. God was also determined to offer salvation from sin and death through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and rose from the grave after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us live according to that truth so we trust Him even when we cannot see Him working. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Daniel 2:22)

Next time we learn, “then went Abimelech to Thebez”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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