Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 9:44
And Abimelech, and the company that [was] with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two [other] companies ran upon all [the people] that [were] in the fields, and slew them.
44. the companies that were ] Read the company that was, with Vulgate and some mss. of LXX; rushed forward, as the same word in Jdg 9:33 is to be rendered.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
This verse explains the purpose of both the present and the former division of Abimelechs forces into several companies, namely, that while some of the companies attacked the men of Shechem in the field, another company, starting from their ambush, might occupy the approach to the city gate, and so cut off their retreat.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Stood in the entering of the gate of the city, to prevent their retreat into the city, and give the other two companies opportunity to cut them off.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Abimelech, and the company that was with him,…. Which he had the particular command of; or “the heads” m, for in the company with him, as Kimchi observes, were great men; and so the Septuagint renders it, the princes that were with him:
rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city; to prevent the people that were in the field getting into it, and any from coming out of it to their relief:
and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them; so that by this means none escaped.
m “et capita”, Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius; “et principes”, Vatablus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
That is to say, Abimelech and the companies with him spread themselves out and took their station by the city gate to cut off the retreat of the Shechemites into the city, whilst the other two companies fell upon all who were in the field, and slew them.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(44) In the entering of the gate of the city.This time he was able to intercept the people before they could get back, and he had reserved the post of honour and peril for himself.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘And Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city, and the two other companies ran on all the people that were in the field and smote them.’
This now explains the attack in more detail, as commonly happens in ancient writings. Before attacking the people, now out in the countryside, they seized the gates to prevent them being closed against them, and then two of the companies smote the people outside, while the third held the gate.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jdg 9:44 And Abimelech, and the company that [was] with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two [other] companies ran upon all [the people] that [were] in the fields, and slew them.
Ver. 44. Ran upon all the people. ] Omnia sunt misera in bellis civilibus, saith Cicero. Civil war is a woe which no words, how wide soever, are able to express.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
ran = rushed
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
rushed forward: Jdg 9:15, Jdg 9:20, Gal 5:15
Reciprocal: Jdg 9:35 – the people