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Judges 8:31

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 8:31 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, and he called his name Abimelech.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, and he called his name Abimelech.
Judges 8:31 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 8

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
28So Midian was subdued before the children of Israel, and they lifted up their heads no more. And the land had rest forty years in the days of Gideon.
29And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house.
30And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body begotten; for he had many wives.
31And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, and he called his name Abimelech.
32And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age, and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
33And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and played the harlot after the Baalim, and made Baal-berith their god.
34And the children of Israel remembered not Jehovah their God, who had delivered them out of the hand of all their enemies on every side;
← Judges 8:30Judges 8:32 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And his concubine that was in Shechem, etc.] Which was not an harlot, but a secondary or half wife; such were generally taken from handmaids, and of the meaner sort, and were not in such esteem as proper wives, had not the management of household affairs, only a share in the bed, and their children did not inherit. This concubine of Gideon’s seems not to have been taken into his house at all, but lived at Shechem, perhaps in her father’s house, and here Gideon met with her when he went to Shechem as a judge to try causes; her name, according to Josephus f187, was Druma: she also bare him a son; as his other wives did; perhaps all the children he had were sons, and this was one over and above…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Abimelech’s mother was not reckoned among the wives, being, probably, one of the Canaanite population in Shechem Judges 9:28 : neither was Abimelech himself reckoned with the 70 other sons of Jerubbaal (Judges 9:24. Compare Judges 11:1-2). return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Shechem - She dwelt there, and he often came thither, either to execute judgment, or upon other occasions. Abimelech - That is, my father the king; so he called him, probably, to gratify his concubine, who desired it either out of pride, or design. Judges 8:32”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“concubine: Jdg 9:1-5; Gen 16:15, Gen 22:24 called: Heb. set Abimelech: Jdg 9:18; Gen 20:2 Judges 8:32”
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Sources and verification