Judges 9:23
New International Version
God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.

New Living Translation
God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted.

English Standard Version
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

Berean Standard Bible
God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,

King James Bible
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

New King James Version
God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

New American Standard Bible
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

NASB 1995
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

NASB 1977
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem; and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

Amplified Bible
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem acted treacherously against Abimelech,

Christian Standard Bible
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully,

American Standard Version
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

English Revised Version
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then God sent an evil spirit to cause problems between Abimelech and citizens of Shechem. So citizens of Shechem turned against Abimelech.

Good News Translation
Then God made Abimelech and the men of Shechem hostile to each other, and they rebelled against Abimelech.

International Standard Version
Then God sent an evil spirit to divide Abimelech and the "lords" of Shechem

Majority Standard Bible
God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,

NET Bible
God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech.

New Heart English Bible
And God sent a spirit of hostility between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem; and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

Webster's Bible Translation
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

World English Bible
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and God sends an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech,

Young's Literal Translation
and God sendeth an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech,

Smith's Literal Translation
And God will send an evil spirit between Abimelech and between the lords of Shechem; and the lords of Shechem will act deceitfully with Abimelech,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord sent a very evil spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Sichem: who began to detest him,

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord put a very grievous spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to detest him,

New American Bible
God put an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem, and the lords of Shechem broke faith with the house of Abimelech.

New Revised Standard Version
But God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem; and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then God sent an evil spirit upon Abimeleck and upon the lords of Shechem; and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimeleck,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And God sent an evil spirit upon Abimelek and upon the Lords of Shekeem, and the Masters of Shekeem were treacherous toward Abimelek
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Sicima; and the men of Sicima dealt treacherously with the house of Abimelech:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Gaal Conspires with the Shechemites
22After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years, 23God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully, 24in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 16:14
Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.

1 Kings 22:22-23
And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ / So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

2 Thessalonians 2:11
For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they believe the lie,

1 Samuel 18:10
The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,

1 Samuel 19:9
But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp,

1 Kings 12:15
So the king did not listen to the people, and indeed this turn of events was from the LORD, to fulfill the word He had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat through Ahijah the Shilonite.

2 Chronicles 18:21-22
And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’ / So you see, the LORD has put a lying spirit in the mouths of these prophets of yours, and the LORD has pronounced disaster against you.”

Romans 1:28
Furthermore, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

1 Samuel 16:23
And whenever the spirit from God came upon Saul, David would pick up his harp and play. Then Saul would find relief and feel better, and the spirit of distress would depart from him.

1 Samuel 28:15
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

2 Samuel 24:1
Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.”

1 Kings 11:14
Then the LORD raised up against Solomon an adversary, Hadad the Edomite, from the royal line of Edom.

1 Kings 11:23
And God raised up against Solomon another adversary, Rezon the son of Eliada, who had fled from his master, Hadadezer king of Zobah,

1 Kings 11:26
Now Jeroboam son of Nebat was an Ephraimite from Zeredah whose mother was a widow named Zeruah. Jeroboam was a servant of Solomon, but he rebelled against the king,

2 Samuel 17:14
Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.


Treasury of Scripture

Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

A.

Judges 9:15,20
And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon…

1 Samuel 16:14-16
But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him…

1 Samuel 18:9,10
And Saul eyed David from that day and forward…

dealt

Judges 9:16
Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

Isaiah 33:1
Woe to thee that spoilest, and thou wast not spoiled; and dealest treacherously, and they dealt not treacherously with thee! when thou shalt cease to spoil, thou shalt be spoiled; and when thou shalt make an end to deal treacherously, they shall deal treacherously with thee.

Matthew 7:2
For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

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Abimelech Abim'elech Acted Citizens Deal Dealt Evil Masters Shechem Spirit Townsmen Treacherously
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Judges 9
1. Abimelech by conspiracy with the Shechemites, and murder of his brothers, is made king
7. Jotham by a parable rebukes them, and foretells their ruin
22. Gaal conspires with the Shechemites against him
30. Zebul reveals it
34. Abimelech overcomes them, and sows the city with salt
46. He burns the hold of the god Berith
50. At Thebez he is slain by a piece of a millstone
56. Jotham's curse is fulfilled.














Then God sent
This phrase underscores the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men. The Hebrew word for "sent" is שָׁלַח (shalach), which implies a deliberate action by God. In the biblical narrative, God often intervenes directly in human history to accomplish His purposes, even using means that may seem perplexing to human understanding. This highlights the belief that God is actively involved in the world and that His plans are ultimately for the good, even when they involve judgment or discipline.

an evil spirit
The term "evil spirit" in Hebrew is רוּחַ רָעָה (ruach ra'ah). This does not necessarily imply a demonic entity as understood in later Christian theology but can refer to a spirit of discord or ill will. In the ancient Near Eastern context, spirits were often seen as agents of divine will, used by God to bring about His purposes. This reflects the biblical theme that God can use even negative forces to achieve His divine justice and to bring about repentance or correction.

between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem
Abimelech, the son of Gideon, had seized power through violence and treachery, and the leaders of Shechem had supported him. The Hebrew word for "between" is בֵּין (bein), indicating a division or separation. This division was orchestrated by God as a form of judgment against both parties for their previous actions. Historically, Shechem was a significant city in Israel, and its leaders' betrayal of Abimelech signifies the unraveling of alliances that were not founded on righteousness.

and they acted treacherously
The Hebrew root for "acted treacherously" is בָּגַד (bagad), which means to betray or act deceitfully. This treachery is a direct consequence of the evil spirit sent by God, illustrating the biblical principle of sowing and reaping. Abimelech's own treacherous rise to power is mirrored in the betrayal he experiences, serving as a divine retribution for his earlier sins. This serves as a moral lesson on the dangers of ambition and the inevitable consequences of sin.

against Abimelech
Abimelech's account is a cautionary tale about the perils of seeking power through unrighteous means. His name, meaning "my father is king," reflects his ambition and desire for authority. The leaders of Shechem turning against him is a fulfillment of divine justice, as Abimelech's rule was marked by violence and murder, including the killing of his seventy brothers. This phrase emphasizes the biblical theme that God opposes the proud and brings down those who exalt themselves unjustly.

(23) An evil spirit.--Whether the word used for spirit (ruach) is here meant to be personal or not we cannot say. Sometimes it seems to mean an evil being (1Samuel 16:14), sometimes only an evil temper (Numbers 14:24). The later Jews would have made little or no difference between the two, since they attributed almost every evil to the direct agency of demons.

Dealt treacherously.--The word is used for the beginning of a defection.

Verses 23, 24. - These two verses contain the summary of what is related in detail in the rest of the chapter, and we arc told that it all happened providentially, that the violence done to the sons of Jerubbaal, and their blood, might come to be laid (literally, for some one to lay) upon Abimelech, etc. Which aided him - literally, strengthened his hands, by giving him money, and encouraging him to make way to the throne by killing his brothers.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
God
אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

sent
וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח (way·yiš·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

an evil
רָעָ֔ה (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

spirit
ר֣וּחַ (rū·aḥ)
Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

between
בֵּ֣ין (bên)
Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

Abimelech
אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ (’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 40: Abimelech -- 'father is king', a Philistine name, also an Israelite name

and
וּבֵ֖ין (ū·ḇên)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

the leaders
בַּעֲלֵ֣י (ba·‘ă·lê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1167: A master, a husband, owner

of Shechem
שְׁכֶ֑ם (šə·ḵem)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7927: Shechem -- 'ridge', a district in Northern Palestine, also a son of Hamor

and caused them
בַעֲלֵי־ (ḇa·‘ă·lê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1167: A master, a husband, owner

to treat Abimelech
בַּאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ (ba·’ă·ḇî·me·leḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 40: Abimelech -- 'father is king', a Philistine name, also an Israelite name

deceitfully,
וַיִּבְגְּד֥וּ (way·yiḇ·gə·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 898: To cover, to act covertly, to pillage


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OT History: Judges 9:23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 9:22
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