Judges 9:56

Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(56, 57) Thus.—These impressive verses give the explanation of the whole narrative. They are inserted to show that God punishes both individual and national crimes, and that men’s pleasant vices are made the instruments to scourge them. The murderer of his brothers “on one stone” is slain by a stone flung on his head, and the treacherous idolaters are treacherously burnt in the temple of their idol.

Benson Commentary

Jdg 9:56. Thus God rendered, &c. — This and the following verse conclude the history of Abimelech with a divine admonition, that no man might think such things come to pass by chance. We see God, the judge of all, punished both Abimelech and the men of Shechem according to their deserts, and made them the instruments of each other’s destruction. And it is remarkable that this punishment overtook them speedily, within less than four years after their crime was committed. The wickedness of Abimelech — In rooting out, as far as he could, the name and memory of his father.

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

The wickedness which he did unto his father, in rooting out, as far as he could, the name, and memory, and remainders of his father.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech which he did unto his father,.... To the disgrace of his father's character, and to the hurt of his father's family:

in slaying his seventy brethren; excepting one, which was a piece of unheard of wickedness, attended with most sad aggravations; the shedding such blood required blood to be shed again, and it was righteous judgment God rendered to him; this, and the following verse contain the remarks made upon this history by the writer of it, who, as we have seen, in all probability, was the Prophet Samuel.

Geneva Study Bible

Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 56. - Which he did unto his father. It is remarkable that the sacred writer, in calling attention to the righteous vengeance which fell upon the head of Abimelech, marks especially the conduct of Abimelech as undutiful to his father (see Exodus 21:17; Matthew 15:4; cf. also Genesis 9:24-26). Judges 9:56

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.