Judges 9:43 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Abimelech ambushes the Shechemites in three companies as they come out, and strikes them down.
What Does Judges 9:43 Mean?
Abimelech takes his forces, divides them into three companies, and sets an ambush in the field. When he sees the people coming out of the city, he rises against them and strikes them down.
The same tactic that defeated Gaal is now turned on the citizens themselves. There is no mercy here, only calculated slaughter of the people who once crowned him. The bond of 'bone and flesh' has become a killing field. Jotham's prophecy advances mercilessly: the king devours the city, and the city's choice to crown a murderer comes back upon their own heads.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 9:43
What does Judges 9:43 mean?
Abimelech ambushes the Shechemites in three companies as they come out, and strikes them down.