King James Version

What Does Judges 9:48 Mean?

“And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done. me do: Heb. I have done”

Context

And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done. me do: Heb. I have done

And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

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Commentary

Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers

(48) **To mount Zalmon.**—Evidently the nearest spot where he could get wood for his hideous design. Zalmon means *shady. *In Psalm 68:14 we find “as white as snow in Zalmon,” but whether the same mountain is referred to we cannot tell. It may be any of the hills near Gerizim. **An axe.**—Literally, *the axes*—i.e., he took axes for himself and his army. **Cut down a bough.**—The word for “a bough” is *socath, *which does not mean “a bundle of logs,” as the LXX. render it. Every one will recall the scene in *Macbeth *where Malcolm says:— “Let every soldier hew him down a bough, And bear’t before him; thereby shall we shadow The numbers of our host, and make discovery Err in report of us.”—Acts 5, sc. 4. But Abimelech merely wanted combustible materials. **What ye have seen me do.**—Comp. what Gideon says in Judges 7:17.

Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 9:48 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 9:48

Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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