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 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. And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt”, and in chapter nine and verse forty-six of Judges, we learn what happened, “when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that” where we read,
And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that,
they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
The verse reads, “And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, …” The writer began with the words, “and when all the men” which means “and at the time and moment each, the whole and everyone of the male human beings” “of the tower of Shechem” which means “belonging to the elevated stage or pulpit belonging to Shechem whose name means ‘back or shoulder’ and was a city in Manasseh; located in a valley between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, 34 miles (54 km) north of Jerusalem and 7 miles (10.5 km) southeast of Samaria” “heard that” or “were given the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding that Abimelech slew the people of Shechem, destroyed the city and spread salt across it”, they did the following. The writer shared at the time and moment the male human beings who belonged to the elevated stage belonging to “Shechem” perceived what “Abimelech” did to the people and city of “Shechem”, they did the following.
The verse goes on to say, “… they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.” The writer continued with the words, “they entered into an hold” which means “they, the people of the tower of Shechem, went and proceeded forth to an underground chamber, cellar or room” “of the house of the god Berith” or “pertaining to the habitation, abode or dwelling place belonging to the deity Berith whose name means ‘covenant’ and was in the name of Baal-berith, a foreign deity worshipped in Shechem”. The writer shared how “all the men of the tower of Shechem” proceeded to an underground chamber within the dwelling place of the deity named “Berith”.
When we think through the words in this verse, we discover how there were a few men within “Shechem” who were not defeated by Abimelech, and these men went to an underground cellar within the dwelling place of their deity “Berith”. We shall see what happens with them in our next verses, but for now let us be mindful that no one escapes the presence of God. God knows and loves everybody, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with all of us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and help us to always be aware of His working among us and with those who think they can hide. (See Deuteronomy 29:29)
Next time we learn how, “it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem”, 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".
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