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Judges 9:34

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 9:34 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Judges 9:34 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
31And he sent messengers unto Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against thee.
32Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
33and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and rush upon the city; and, behold, when he and the people that are with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambushment.
36And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
37And Gaal spake again and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of the oak of Meonenim.
← Judges 9:33Judges 9:35 →
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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 Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, etc.] According to the advice of Zebul: and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies; he divided his army into four parts, which he placed on the four sides of the city, at some distance from it, to act as they should have opportunity, to find ways and means of getting into it on either quarter.”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“On receiving this intelligence, Abimelech rose up during the night with the people that were with him, i.e., with such troops as he had, and placed four companies ("heads" as in Jdg 7:16) in ambush against Shechem. Judges 9:35”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification