Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 9:23

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

23. God sent an evil spirit ] i.e. an infatuation which led to their destruction, and so carried out the punishment which God determined. Where we speak of secondary causes, the ancients thought of the direct intervention of God; cf. 1Sa 16:14, 1Ki 22:21 ff., Amo 3:6. Elohim is thought to indicate that Jdg 9:22-25 come from the source E; Jdg 9:24 goes with Jdg 9:16-18.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Jdg 9:23

God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem.

Disunion

It is not said that he was judge over Israel, for they were raised up by God, but he ruled and usurped, as tyrants use to do. And to begin first with his prosperity in that God gave him this short time to enjoy his desire, and to domineer as he did, it is to teach us that He doth for some little time give wicked men their longed-for desires; and yet not for that He applaudeth them therein, but that they may have time to repent, and to bethink themselves what they have done, and how they have gone to work, and how many ways they have provoked God. But to go forward: this evil spirit that was sent betwixt them, being the first occasion of their overthrow, was the devil, by whose malice and subtlety ill-will and hatred were kindled betwixt them, and this, with the breaking their promise, doth show us clearly that the league and friendship of the wicked is soon broken off. For why? It hath no good ground. The use whereof is that we make no such wicked and cursed leagues. Secondly, that we account no otherwise of them where they be made, but as of the spiders web, soon swept down; and thirdly, praise God highly when we see them broken. And in that it is said that the Lord sent an evil spirit betwixt them, we may note, that though God be not the author of evil, yet that sin which is in the wicked, hidden in their hearts, and never so secret, He bringeth forth at His pleasure, and lets it break out at His commandment, ruling and overruling the same. And they that nourish it in themselves, and do not give it a vent by repentance, may ever justly fear, and do sometime too truly find, that as water pent in breaks out violently in some place or other, even so the sin that is entertained in mens hearts shall one time or other break out to their shame in their lives. But as the stink of the dunghill riseth not from the sun, no more doth sin proceed from God. Also, by this division betwixt them we may note, that when God suffers division among the wicked, or an evil spirit any way to lead them, it is to punish their lewd fellowship, and to revenge the sin of both parts, and to make each the others executioner. And yet, oh what a sweet liberty it is thought to be, to enjoy fellowship with such? And first, grudges secretly being conceived, they are nourished by jealousies and suspicions exasperated by daily injuries, till they break out into hatred, and end in extremity. These things are commonly seen, but who beholdeth Gods justice therein? or is thereby prevented from having anything to do with such? or made wise to lay a better foundation of their amity and friendship. Furthermore, by this, that God would have the blood of the innocent sons of Gideon revenged upon Abimelech and the men of Shechem, He teacheth us that He will revenge the innocents cause. The Lord will bless them that bless His, and curse them that curse His. (R. Rogers.)

Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

Verse 23. God sent an evil spirit] He permitted jealousies to take place which produced factions; and these factions produced insurrections, civil contentions, and slaughter.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

God gave the devil commission to enter into or work upon their minds and hearts; knowing that he of himself, and by his own inclination, would fill them with mistakes, and jealousies, and dissensions, and heart-burnings, which would end in civil wars and mutual ruin.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

23. Then God sent an evil spiritbetween Abimelech and the men of ShechemIn the course ofprovidence, jealousy, distrust, secret disaffection, and smotheredrebellion appeared among his subjects disappointed and disgusted withhis tyranny; and God permitted those disorders to punish thecomplicated crimes of the royal fratricide and idolatrous usurper.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem,…. Permitted, yea, gave a commission to Satan, the evil spirit, to go among them, who stirred up suspicions, jealousies, hatred, and ill will to one another, and sowed the seeds of discord and contention among them; or God gave them up to their own hearts’ lusts, to think ill of one another, grow jealous, and meditate revenge:

and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech; did not openly declare their minds, but secretly conspired against him, and privately consulted ways to find means to get rid of him, and shake off his government.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(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 (1Sa. 16:14), sometimes only an evil temper (Num. 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.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

23. God sent an evil spirit Not merely “permitted jealousies to take place, which produced factions, but actually sent, or permitted to go, a personal evil demon, to generate discords among the Shechemites, and thus bring judgment on them for their wickedness. The Scriptures everywhere recognise a kingdom of darkness, as well as a kingdom of light; and it is contrary to reason and experience, as well as Scripture, to assume the impossibility of personal evil spirits having influence over the human soul. But these powers of darkness are held in check, and their agency is circumscribed, by the mightier power of God, who sometimes sends them, as a huntsman sends his dog after the game, by unbinding their powers and letting them loose to their own route. See note on Mar 5:13. The evil spirit that troubled Saul came by permission and command of God, (1Sa 16:14,) and even Satan goes forth to afflict pious Job by permission of Jehovah. Job 1:12; Job 2:6.

Dealt treacherously The very men who had been so ready to make Abimelech king are the first to seek his overthrow.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

‘ And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech.’

Satan and his minions are ever at work, active in the sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2), but the former prophets had no difficulty in asserting that they were under Yahweh’s control, for they believed rightly that all things were finally under His control. Such activity of an evil spirit produced animosity and enmity between Abimelech and the chief men of Shechem (compare 1Sa 16:14). Indeed here Yahweh is seen as active in the process. He can influence evil spirits as He influences wicked men. And it was His purpose to punish both Abimelech and the chief men.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Observe, when the triumphs of the wicked begin to draw to an end, how we are taught to mark the Lord’s hand in it. An evil spirit sowed dissention among them: but it was the Lord which sent this evil spirit. The Lord never wants instruments to accomplish the purposes of his own righteous will. It is always profitable to eye the hand of God, in every providence both of mercy and judgment. None but God’s people, however, can sing of both, and none but them can sing that song to the Lord. Psa 101:1 .

Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

Jdg 9:23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

Ver. 23. Then God sent an evil spirit. ] The devil, that troubler, that seedsman of sedition, that great kindle coal and mischief maker of the world, who, working upon these men’s corruptions, whom God had justly given over to a reprobate mind, filled them with “envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity,” &c. Rom 1:28-29

Dealt treacherously with Abimelech. ] Whom themselves had chosen and set up. What a fickle tenure holdeth he by, who holdeth of the multitude! Neutrum modo, mas modo Vulgus. So the English were soon weary of Richard III, who yet was a good prince though an evil man, and made many good laws against those evils in others which himself practised.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

God = Elohim. Not Jehovah.

an evil spirit = an evil ruach. App-9.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

am 2771, bc 1233

God: That is, God permitted the evil spirit of jealousy, treachery, and discord, to break out between Abimelech and the Shechemites. Jdg 9:15, Jdg 9:20, 1Sa 16:14-16, 1Sa 18:9, 1Sa 18:10, 1Ki 12:15, 1Ki 22:22, 1Ki 22:23, 2Ch 10:15, 2Ch 18:19-22, Isa 19:2, Isa 19:14, 2Th 2:11, 2Th 2:12

An: Ex, Is, 258

dealt: Jdg 9:16, Isa 33:1, Mat 7:2

Reciprocal: 2Sa 19:43 – the words 2Ch 18:21 – Thou shalt Mar 3:24 – General

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jdg 9:23-24. God sent an evil spirit That is, gave Satan permission to work upon their minds. That the cruelty done to the sons of Jerubbaal, &c. That is, the punishment of the cruelty. Men may do evil, and think they have profited themselves; may imagine they have strengthened themselves in their wickedness, and are quite secure; that they have procured themselves friends, who will stand by them, and save them: but God can, with the greatest ease, make all the devices of the wicked of none effect; can turn their best contrivances to their ruin, and punish them by those on whom they depended for help and security. The example of Abimelech and the men of Shechem, recorded in this chapter, may assure us, that God will not suffer the murderer to escape even in this world; but will punish him in some grievous manner or other.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

9:23 Then God {h} sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

(h) Because the people consented with the king in shedding innocent blood, therefore God destroys both one and the other.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes