Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 9:27

And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trod [the grapes], and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

27. held festival ] held a merry-making. The marg. offered a praise offering is based upon the special sense of the word in Lev 19:24; here, more generally, a vintage feast like the one described in Jdg 21:19 ff. Cf. the orgiastic feasts held by the Carthaginians, no doubt in the temples; North-Sem. lnscr., p. 121 f.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Seditious and lawless acts Jdg 9:25-26 now broke out into open rebellion. It was at an idolatrous feast in the house of Baal-berith, on occasion of the vintage, and when they were excited with wine, that the rebellion was matured. Those present began to curse Abimelech, to speak insultingly of him, and to revile him (compare Lev 20:9; 2Sa 19:21; Isa 8:21). Gaal, the son of Ebed, who was watching the opportunity, immediately incited them to revolt from the dominion of Abimelech, offering himself to be their captain; adding a message of defiance to Abimelech, addressed, probably, to Zebul, who was present but too weak to resent it on the spot.

Jdg 9:27

Made merry – The word translated merry occurs only here and in Lev 19:24. Its etymology gives the sense of praises, thanksgivings; and its use in these two passages rather indicates that the fruits themselves which were brought to the House of God with songs of praise, and eaten or drunken with religious service, were so called. The thank-offerings would be a portion of the new wine of the vintage which they had just gathered in.

Jdg 9:28

Shechem is another designation of Abimelech. Sheehem means the son and heir of Sheehem, Abimelechs mother being a Canaanite Jdg 9:18.

Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

They went out into the fields, which, till his coming, they durst not do, for fear of Abimelech; but now took confidence to do so, in contempt of him.

Made merry; partly from the custom of rejoicing and singing songs in vintage time, Lev 19:24; Isa 16:10; Jer 25:30; and partly for the hopes of their redemption from Abimelechs tyranny.

The house of their god, Baal-berith, Jdg 9:4; either to beg his help against Abimelech, or to give him thanks, either for the fruits of the earth now received, or for the hopes of recovering their former and lost liberty.

Did eat and drink, to the honour of their idols, and out of the oblations made to them, as they used to do to the honour of Jehovah, and out of his sacrifices.

Cursed Abimelech; either by reviling and reproaching him after their manner; or rather in a more solemn and religious manner, cursing him by their god, as Goliath did David, 1Sa 17:43; or calling upon their god to ratify their curses pronounced against him.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

Ver. 27 And they went into the fields, and gathered their vineyards,…. Before they kept within the city, and durst not stir out to gather in the vintage, the time being come, for fear of the troops of Abimelech; for their lying in wait for him, and the robberies committed being made known to him, he had prepared to raise some forces, and attack them, of which they had had information; but now being encouraged with the protection of Gaal, they ventured out to gather their grapes in their vineyards without fear:

and trode the grapes, and made merry: sung songs and danced, as was usual at the ingathering of the fruits of the earth, and treading the winepress, Isa 16:10 though Abendana thinks this joy and merriment were made to their idol, to whom they gave the praise of their vintage, they should have done to the true God, and what follows may seem to confirm it:

and they went into the house of their god; the temple of Baalberith, Jud 9:5

and did eat and drink; in their idol temple, as was the manner of idolaters to do, bringing their firstfruits to rejoice, and make glad with:

and cursed Abimelech; wished they had never seen him and known him, hoped they should be rid of him in a little time, and that he would meet with his deserved disgrace and punishment; and this they did in that very temple from whence they had taken money to assist him in making way for his government of them; so fickle and changeable were they.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(27) And made merry.The vintage was the most joyous festival of the year (Isa. 16:9-10; Jer. 25:30). The word rendered merry is hilllim, and occurs only here and in Lev. 19:24, where it is rendered praise. Some render it offered thank-offerings. The Chaldee renders it dances, and the Vulg. choirs of singers. The word evidently involves the notion of triumphant songs (LXX., elloulim and chorous).

Of their god.Baal-berith.

Did eat and drink.In some public feast, such as often took place in idol temples (Jdg. 16:23; 2Ki. 19:37; 1Co. 8:10). It is evident that this was a sort of heathen analogue of the Feast of Ingathering. The apostasy would be facilitated by a transference of customs of worship from Elohim to Baal.

Cursed Abimelech.Rather, abused. This seems to have been the first outburst of rebellion among the general population, and Gaal took advantage of it.

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

27. Went out into the fields To gather the vintage, as the context shows.

Made merry Rather, made a thanksgiving festival, as was the common custom at the time of the harvest.

House of their god The temple of Baal-berith. Jdg 9:4. They honoured their god with thanksgivings similar to those which the law prescribed for the praise of Jehovah. Lev 19:24.

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

‘ And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod the grapes, and held a festival, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.’

Gaal stayed until the time for gathering the grape harvest came, and when the harvest was gathered they all held a festival, as would occur yearly at that time, and began to enjoy the fruits of the vine. In process of it they went into the house of their god, Baal-berith, eating heartily and getting drunk, and in the course of this, their tongues running freely, they cursed Abimelech. They had become disillusioned with him. This probably includes the idea that they discussed ways of getting rid of him. He was getting in the way of their profitable highway robbery. Gaal would have listened to this with interest.

Of course at this time they should have been gathering at the central sanctuary to worship Yahweh at the feast of Tabernacles. That may well have been where Abimelech, as a prince of Israel, was. But their support of that covenant was now non-existent.

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

Jdg 9:27. Did eat and drink They probably offered sacrifices, and afterwards feasted together upon those sacrifices.

REFLECTIONS.For a time the wickedness of Abimelech seemed to prosper, and three years he enjoyed in peace his ill gotten dignity; but the triumphing of the wicked is short, like sunshine before the thunder-storm. For,

1. There was a spirit of dissention sworn between him and the Shechemites; God, in just judgment for the blood which was shed, visiting their sins upon them by the hands of one another. They who set up Abimelech, now, tired of his government, conspire to slay him; so tottering is that throne which has been established by cruelty and bloodshed. Note; (1.) They, who have once acted a perfidious part are seldom or never again to be trusted. (2.) Blood will cry for vengeance. (3.) Conspiracies in iniquity have usually but feeble bands. (4.) They who promise themselves comfort in ill gotten rule will be deceived, and find that the crown they wear is lined with thorns.

2. Gaal the son of Ebed, hearing of the discontent of the men of Shechem, comes, in hopes to turn it to his own use, and fish for himself in these troubled waters; they entertain him gladly, and he seeks to foment the dissention, and to inflame the minds of the people more against their king. At their entertainments, inflamed with wine and feasting, he boldly broaches the treason, speaks contemptuously of Abimelech, his family, and his officers; vaunting his own courage, if they would make him their captain; and challenging Abimelech to assert his title; intimating, that it would be more eligible to serve a Canaanitish king than such a one. Note; (1.) An artful leader, with an inflamed populace, can do a world of mischief. (2.) When men are intoxicated with wine, then they are fit for murders, treason, and every evil work. (3.) To speak evil of dignities, is highly criminal. (4.) They who are most valiant over a bottle often prove cowards when the sword must decide.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Jdg 9:27 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode [the grapes], and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

Ver. 27. And they went out into their vineyards. ] Which till Gaal came they durst not do, belike, for fear of Abimelech, who was Hannibal ad portas.

And made merry. ] Or, Made songs. See Isa 16:10 . The Septuagint renders it , they danced; little thinking how soon that merry dance would end in a miserable downfall The Hebrew is, praises: for at first God was thereby praised.

And cursed Abimelech. ] Which they ought not to have done, since they had made him ruler of the people. Exo 22:28 So Dr Story cursed Queen Elizabeth in his daily grace before eating, and was worthily executed at Tyburn: Sanders railed bitterly against her, calling her Lupam Anglicanam, &c., and had his mouth stopped with famine in Ireland.

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

merry: or, songs, Isa 16:9, Isa 16:10, Isa 24:7-9, Jer 25:30, Amo 6:3-6

the house: Jdg 9:4, Jdg 16:23, Exo 32:6, Exo 32:19, Dan 5:1-4, Dan 5:23

did eat: Isa 22:12-14, Luk 12:19, Luk 12:20, Luk 17:26-29

cursed: Lev 24:11, 1Sa 17:43, Psa 109:17

Reciprocal: Jdg 9:46 – an hold Jdg 16:25 – their hearts Jdg 19:6 – let thine heart Psa 4:7 – the time Psa 10:5 – he puffeth Pro 11:12 – that Hos 2:8 – her corn Hos 3:1 – love flagons Hos 7:14 – assemble Amo 2:8 – they drink Amo 6:13 – which 1Co 8:10 – sit Jam 3:9 – therewith curse

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jdg 9:27. They went out into the fields Which, till his coming, they durst not do, for fear of Abimelech. Made merry Both from the custom of rejoicing, and singing songs in vintage time, and for the hopes of their redemption from Abimelechs tyranny. Went into the house of their god Baal-berith, (Jdg 9:4,) either to beg his help against Abimelech, or to give him thanks for the hopes of recovering their liberty. And did eat and drink To the honour of their idol, and out of the oblations made to him, as they used to do to the honour of Jehovah, and out of his sacrifices. And cursed Abimelech Either by reviling him after their manner, or, rather, in a more solemn and religious manner, cursing him by their god, as Goliah did David.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

9:27 And they {i} went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode [the grapes], and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

(i) Before they were afraid of Abimelech’s power, and did not dare go out of the city.

Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes