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

Other Translations of Judges 9:23

New International Version

23 God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.

English Standard Version

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

The Message

23 Then God brought bad blood between Abimelech and Shechem's leaders, who now worked treacherously behind his back.

New King James Version

23 God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

New Living Translation

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

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 9:23

Commentary on Judges 9:22-29

(Read Judges 9:22-29)

Abimelech is seated in the throne his father refused. But how long does this glory last? Stay but three years, and see the bramble withered and burned. The prosperity of the wicked is short and fickle. The Shechemites are plagued by no other hand than Abimelech's. They raised him unjustly to the throne; they first feel the weight of his sceptre.

4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim: and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites.

Other Translations of Judges 12:4

New International Version

4 Jephthah then called together the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. The Gileadites struck them down because the Ephraimites had said, "You Gileadites are renegades from Ephraim and Manasseh."

English Standard Version

4 Then Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and fought with Ephraim. And the men of Gilead struck Ephraim, because they said, "You are fugitives of Ephraim, you Gileadites, in the midst of Ephraim and Manasseh."

The Message

4 So Jephthah got his Gilead troops together and fought Ephraim. And the men of Gilead hit them hard because they were saying, "Gileadites are nothing but half-breeds and rejects from Ephraim and Manasseh."

New King James Version

4 Now Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, "You Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites and among the Manassites."

New Living Translation

4 The people of Ephraim responded, "You men of Gilead are nothing more than fugitives from Ephraim and Manasseh." So Jephthah gathered all the men of Gilead and attacked the men of Ephraim and defeated them.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Judges 12:4

Commentary on Judges 12:1-7

(Read Judges 12:1-7)

The Ephraimites had the same quarrel with Jephthah as with Gideon. Pride was at the bottom of the quarrel; only by that comes contention. It is ill to fasten names of reproach upon persons or countries, as is common, especially upon those under outward disadvantages. It often occasions quarrels that prove of ill consequence, as it did here. No contentions are so bitter as those between brethren or rivals for honour. What need we have to watch and pray against evil tempers! May the Lord incline all his people to follow after things which make for peace!

17 And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.

Other Translations of 2 Chronicles 13:17

New International Version

17 Abijah and his troops inflicted heavy losses on them, so that there were five hundred thousand casualties among Israel's able men.

English Standard Version

17 Abijah and his people struck them with great force, so there fell slain of Israel 500,000 chosen men.

The Message

17 Abijah and his troops slaughtered them - 500,000 of Israel's best fighters were killed that day.

New King James Version

17 Then Abijah and his people struck them with a great slaughter; so five hundred thousand choice men of Israel fell slain.

New Living Translation

17 Abijah and his army inflicted heavy losses on them; 500,000 of Israel's select troops were killed that day.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 13:17

Chapter Contents

Abijah overcomes Jeroboam.

Jeroboam and his people, by apostacy and idolatry, merited the severe punishment Abijah was permitted to execute upon them. It appears from the character of Abijah, 1 Kings 15:3, that he was not himself truly religious, yet he encouraged himself from the religion of his people. It is common for those that deny the power of godliness, to boast of the form of it. Many that have little religion themselves, value it in others. But it was true that there were numbers of pious worshippers in Judah, and that theirs was the more righteous cause. In their distress, when danger was on every side, which way should they look for deliverance unless upward? It is an unspeakable comfort, that our way thither is always open. They cried unto the Lord. Earnest prayer is crying. To the cry of prayer they added the shout of faith, and became more than conquerors. Jeroboam escaped the sword of Abijah, but God struck him; there is no escaping his sword.