Judges 9:49 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Abimelech's men pile branches on the stronghold and burn it, killing about a thousand who sheltered there.
What Does Judges 9:49 Mean?
Following Abimelech's lead, the men each cut a branch, heap the wood against the stronghold, and set it ablaze, so that all who sheltered there die in the flames -- about a thousand men and women.
Jotham's words land with terrible exactness: fire has come from Abimelech and devoured the men of Shechem. The temple that was meant to save them becomes their pyre, their idol powerless to help. A thousand lives are lost to the violence Shechem first welcomed. The whole grim scene proclaims that what is sown is reaped, and that no false refuge can stand against the judgment a people have called down on themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 9:49
What does Judges 9:49 mean?
Abimelech's men pile branches on the stronghold and burn it, killing about a thousand who sheltered there.