Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
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Judges
Book: Judges
Chapter: 9
Overview:
Abimelech murders his brethren, and is made
King.
(1-6) Jotham
rebukes the Shechemites.
(7-21) The Shechemites conspire against
Abimelech.
(22-29) Abimelech destroys
Shechem.
(30-49) Abimelech
slain.
(50-57)
1-6 The men of
Shechem chose
Abimelech King.
God was not
consulted whether they should have any
King, much less who it
should be. If parents could see what their children would do,
and what they are to suffer, their joy in them often would be
turned into sorrow: we may be thankful that we cannot know what
shall happen. Above all, we should fear and watch against
Sin;
for our evil conduct may produce fatal effects upon our
families, after we are in our graves.
7-21 There was
No occasion for the trees to choose a
King, they
are all the trees of the
Lord which he has planted. Nor was
there any occasion for
Israel to set a
King over them, for the
Lord was their
King. Those who
Bear Fruit for the public good,
are justly respected and honoured
By all that are
Wise, more
than those who merely make a figure. All these
Fruit-trees gave
much the same reason for their refusal to be promoted over the
trees; or, as the margin reads it, to go up and down for the
trees. To rule, involves a
Man in a great
Deal both of toil and
care. Those who are preferred to public trust and power, must
forego all private interests and advantages, for the good of
others. And those advanced to honour and dignity, are in great
danger of losing their fruitfulness. For which reason, they that
desire to do good, are afraid of being too great.
Jotham
compares
Abimelech to the
Bramble or
Thistle, a worthless plant,
whose
End is to be burned. Such a one was
Abimelech.
22-29 Abimelech is seated in the
Throne his
Father refused. But
how long does this
Glory last? Stay but three years, and see the
Bramble withered and burned. The prosperity of the wicked is
short and fickle. The Shechemites are plagued
By No other
Hand
than
Abimelech's. They raised him unjustly to the
Throne; they
first feel the weight of his
Sceptre.
30-49 Abimelech intended to punish the Shechemites for
slighting him now, but
God punished them for their serving him
formerly in the
Murder of
Gideon's sons. When
God uses men as
instruments in his
Hand to do his work, he means one thing, and
they another. That, which they hoped would have been for their
welfare, proved a
Snare and a trap, as those will certainly
find, who run to idols for shelter; such will prove a
Refuge of
lies.
50-57 The Shechemites were ruined
By Abimelech; now he is
reckoned with, who was their leader in villany. Evil pursues
sinners, and sometimes overtakes them, when not only at ease,
but triumphant. Though wickedness may prosper a while, it will
not prosper always. The history of mankind, if truly told, would
greatly resemble that of this
Chapter. The records of what are
called splendid events present to us such contests for power.
Such scenes, though praised of men, fully explain the
Scripture
doctrine of the deceitfulness and desperate wickedness of the
human
Heart, the force of men's
Lust, and the effect of
Satan's
influence.
Lord, thou has given us thy
Word of
Truth and
Righteousness, O pour upon us thy
Spirit of purity, peace, and
Love, and write thy holy
Law in our hearts.