Juízes 9

Juízes 9

Poole on El-Berith - Hither they fled out of the town belonging to it, fearing the same event with Shechem; and here they thought to be secure; partly by the strength of the place, as the temples of idols were ofttimes built in the highest and strongest places, as the capitol at Rome, and the temple at Jerusalem; and such this place seems to have been, because they laid their treasure here, partly by the religion of it, thinking that either their god would protect them there, or that Abimelech would spare them there, if not out of piety to that god, yet out of thankfulness for the benefit which he received thence. George Bush - The men of the tower of Shechem. Heb. בעלי מגדל baalë migdol, the lords or masters of the tower. How these persons were distinguished from the other inhabitants of Shechem, or how this tower stood related to the city, it is extremely difficult to determine. It is not unlikely that it was a castle belonging to the city and situated in its vicinity, to which a considerable portion of the population had previously betaken themselves to escape the fury of their invader. Whatever it were, it was now deemed too insecure an asylum to trust to, and its occupants withdrew to a strong-hold in the precincts of the temple, where they promised themselves safety if not from its strength, at least from its sacredness. But in putting themselves under the protection of their idol, that which they hoped would have been for their welfare, proved to them a snare and a trap. It is highly probable that this was no other than the place called, v. 6, ‘the house of Millo,’ which was to be involved in the catastrophe predicted in Jotham’s curse, v. 20, an event most strikingly accomplished when the place was set on fire by Abimelech. (Judges 9 Commentary) A R Fausset - And when all the men [baale, ‘masters’ or inhabitants] of the tower of Shechem [the “house of Millo” (ver. 6, note)] heard (that), they entered into a hold [tzeriach, ‘high place’ (1 Sam. 13:6] of the house [temple] of the god Berith [the covenant-god Baal-berith, to seek safety in the sanctuary. They, with the folly of idolaters, thought their god would defend his temple and them. The place too was strong, as temples often were, especially when used as treasuries. Moreover, Abimelech, they hoped, Would remember the debt of gratitude he owed for the money he received out of that very temple, and would spare them there, notwithstanding their having subsequently joined the Shechemites in revolt (ver. 4)]. Judges 9:47 And it was told Abimelech that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. Judges 9 Resources It was told Abimelech that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. - Abimelech had his spies out and about, particularly to observe the motions of the men in this tower Peter Pett - The news reached Abimelech that all the priests of Baal-berith were there in the fortified tower, together with their attendants and priestesses, the cult prostitutes. These were men who had participated in his coronation. But instead of respect for them there was only hatred. Judges 9:48 So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, hurry and do likewise." Zalmon: Ps 68:14 Then he said to the people who were with him: Jdg 7:17,18 Pr 1:11,12 Judges 9 Resources So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, hurry and do likewise - NLT - "so he led his forces to Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and chopped some branches from a tree, and he put them on his shoulder. "Quick, do as I have done!" he told his men." Pulpit Commentary - Mount Zalmon, i.e. the shady mount, so called from the thick wood which grows upon it. It was in the neighbourhood of Shechem, and is perhaps the same as that mentioned in Psalm 68:14 as famous for its snow-storms.