Judges 9:43

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Judges 9:43 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; And he rose up against them, and smote them.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; And he rose up against them, and smote them.
Judges 9:43 — American Standard Version

Context — Judges 9

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
43And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; And he rose up against them, and smote them.

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 he took the people, etc.] That is, the forces he had with him at Arumah: and divided them into three companies: each having a separate leader, and the command of one of them he had himself: and laid wait in the field; in the field of Shechem, one company in one part, and one in another part of the field: and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; he watched them when they did: and he rose up against them, and smote them; the companies rose up out of their ambush, in different parts, and killed them.”
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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
“Three companies - Whereof he kept one with himself, Jdg 9:44, and put the rest under other commanders. Judges 9:44”
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Related study paths

Sources and verification