The People in the Field - Judges 9:42

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 in chapter nine and verse forty-two of Judges, we learn how “the people went out into the field" where we read,

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; 

and they told Abimelech.

The verse reads, “And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field;” The writer began with the words, “and it came to pass” which means “and the following happened and occurred” “on the morrow” which means “upon the next day”, “that the people” or “that they human beings” “went out into the field” which means “proceeded forth and departed into the cultivated land and open country”. The writer shared how the day after “Zebul” expelled “Gaal and his brothers” from the city of “Shechem”, the human beings departed into the cultivated land. 

The verse continues, “and they told Abimelech.” The writer added the words, “and they told” which means “and they, the people, declared, made known and announced to” “Abimelech” whose name means “Melek is father or my father is king” and was “the son of Gideon by a concubine”. The writer shared how “Abimelech” became aware of the people departing from the city. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how the people of the city of “Shechem” departed from their city to go to battle, however, “Abimelech” was made aware of their plan. We shall see how he responds in our next verse, but for now let us keep in mind that Jehovah God was overseeing all these events, (See Judges 9:23) and He was determined to deliver Israel from their oppressors. God desires to deliver us from the power of sin and death, and He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days so 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 Sprit who will continually remind us that He is in control even as He uses people to carry out His will. (See Philippians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Next time we learn how, Abimelech “took the people, and divided them into three companies", so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".