Judges 9:55

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(55) They departed.—The death of a leader was generally sufficient to break up an ancient army (1Samuel 17:51). “With Abimelech expired this first abortive attempt at monarchy. . . . The true King of Israel is still far in the distance” (Stanley).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:50-57 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The phrase "all" to is now obsolete, and means "quite," "entirely," as in Chaucer, Spenser, and Milton.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

51-53. all the men and women, … gat them up to the top of the tower—The Canaanite forts were generally mountain fastnesses or keeps, and they often had a strong tower which served as a last refuge. The Assyrian bas-reliefs afford counterparts of the scene here described so vivid and exact, that we might almost suppose them to be representations of the same historic events. The besieged city—the strong tower within—the men and women crowding its battlements—the fire applied to the doors, and even the huge fragments of stone dropping from the hands of one of the garrison on the heads of the assailants, are all well represented to the life—just as they are here described in the narrative of inspired truth [Goss].

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead,.... That is, those that were with him, the men of his army, who were all Israelites:

they departed every man to his place; disbanded themselves, and went everyone to their own home, and so the inhabitants of Thebez escaped the vengeance of Abimelech.

Geneva Study Bible

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

55. the men of Israel] Though A. was only half an Israelite, his force was made up of Israelites; he put himself at the head of the Israelite enterprise against the Canaanites—such were the natives of Thebez; and with his death united action of this kind seems to have ceased.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 55. - The men of Israel - Abimelech's followers (see ver. 22). Judges 9:55

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

After the death of Abimelech his army was dissolved. ישׂראל אישׁ are the Israelites who formed Abimelech's army. In Judges 9:56, Judges 9:57, the historian closes this account with the remark, that in this manner God recompensed Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem, who had supported him in the murder of his brothers (Judges 9:2), according to their doings. After the word "rendered" in Judges 9:56 we must supply "upon his head," as in Judges 9:57. Thus Jotham's curse was fulfilled upon Abimelech and upon the Shechemites, who had made him king.