Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, August 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible
THE MESSAGE
Judges 9:34
Abimelech and his troops, four companies of them, went up that night and waited in ambush approaching Shechem. Gaal son of Ebed had gotten up and was standing in the city gate. Abimelech and his troops left their cover. When Gaal saw them he said to Zebul, "Look at that, people coming down from the tops of the mountains!" Zebul said, "That's nothing but mountain shadows; they just look like men." Gaal kept chattering away.
Bible Study Resources
Concordances:
- Nave'sDictionaries:
- AmericanEncyclopedias:
- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
So Abimelech and all the troops with him got up at night and waited in ambush for Shechem in four units.
So Abimelech and all the troops with him got up at night and waited in ambush for Shechem in four units.
Hebrew Names Version
Avimelekh rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shekhem in four companies.
Avimelekh rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shekhem in four companies.
King James Version
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Lexham English Bible
So Abimelech and all the army that was with him got up by night, and they lay in ambush against Shechem in four divisions.
So Abimelech and all the army that was with him got up by night, and they lay in ambush against Shechem in four divisions.
English Standard Version
So Abimelech and all the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies.
So Abimelech and all the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies.
New Century Version
So Abimelech and all his soldiers got up during the night and hid near Shechem in four groups.
So Abimelech and all his soldiers got up during the night and hid near Shechem in four groups.
New English Translation
So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem—they divided into four units.
So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem—they divided into four units.
Amplified Bible
So Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up during the night, and set up an ambush against Shechem, in four companies.
So Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up during the night, and set up an ambush against Shechem, in four companies.
New American Standard Bible
So Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up at night, and lay in wait against Shechem, in four units.
So Abimelech and all the people who were with him got up at night, and lay in wait against Shechem, in four units.
Geneva Bible (1587)
So Abimelech rose vp, and all the people that were with him by night: and they lay in wayte against Shechem in foure bandes.
So Abimelech rose vp, and all the people that were with him by night: and they lay in wayte against Shechem in foure bandes.
Legacy Standard Bible
Daarop het Abiméleg en al die manskappe wat by hom was, in die nag klaargemaak en hinderlae in vier dele by Sigem opgestel.
Daarop het Abiméleg en al die manskappe wat by hom was, in die nag klaargemaak en hinderlae in vier dele by Sigem opgestel.
Contemporary English Version
So one night, Abimelech led his soldiers to Shechem. He divided them into four groups, and they all hid near the town.
So one night, Abimelech led his soldiers to Shechem. He divided them into four groups, and they all hid near the town.
Complete Jewish Bible
Avimelekh and all the men with him came up by night and lay in wait against Sh'khem in four groups.
Avimelekh and all the men with him came up by night and lay in wait against Sh'khem in four groups.
Darby Translation
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in ambush against Shechem in four companies.
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in ambush against Shechem in four companies.
Easy-to-Read Version
So Abimelech and all his soldiers got up during the night and went to the city. The soldiers separated into four groups. They hid near the city of Shechem.
So Abimelech and all his soldiers got up during the night and went to the city. The soldiers separated into four groups. They hid near the city of Shechem.
George Lamsa Translation
And Abimeleck and all the people that were with him rose up by night, and they laid in ambush against Shechem in four companies.
And Abimeleck and all the people that were with him rose up by night, and they laid in ambush against Shechem in four companies.
Good News Translation
So Abimelech and all his men made their move at night and hid outside Shechem in four groups.
So Abimelech and all his men made their move at night and hid outside Shechem in four groups.
Literal Translation
And Abimelech rose up by night, and all the people with him; and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
And Abimelech rose up by night, and all the people with him; and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Abimelech stode vp by night, and all the people that was with him, and layed wayte for Sichem with foure companies of men of warre.
Abimelech stode vp by night, and all the people that was with him, and layed wayte for Sichem with foure companies of men of warre.
American Standard Version
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Bible in Basic English
So Abimelech and the people with him got up by night, in four bands, to make a surprise attack on Shechem.
So Abimelech and the people with him got up by night, in four bands, to make a surprise attack on Shechem.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Abimelech rose vp, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they layde awayte against Sichem in foure companies.
And Abimelech rose vp, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they layde awayte against Sichem in foure companies.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
King James Version (1611)
And Abimelech rose vp, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in foure companies.
And Abimelech rose vp, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in foure companies.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Abimelech and all the people with him rose up by night, and formed an ambuscade against Sychem in four companies.
And Abimelech and all the people with him rose up by night, and formed an ambuscade against Sychem in four companies.
English Revised Version
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Berean Standard Bible
So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Abymelech roos with al his oost bi nyyt, and settide buyschementis bisidis Siccimam, in foure placis.
Therfor Abymelech roos with al his oost bi nyyt, and settide buyschementis bisidis Siccimam, in foure placis.
Young's Literal Translation
And Abimelech riseth, and all the people who [are] with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem -- four detachments;
And Abimelech riseth, and all the people who [are] with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem -- four detachments;
Update Bible Version
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Abimelech rose, and all the people that [were] with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
And Abimelech rose, and all the people that [were] with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
World English Bible
Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
New King James Version
So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
New Living Translation
So Abimelech and all his men went by night and split into four groups, stationing themselves around Shechem.
So Abimelech and all his men went by night and split into four groups, stationing themselves around Shechem.
New Life Bible
So Abimelech and all who were with him got up during the night. They hid and waited in four groups to fight against Shechem.
So Abimelech and all who were with him got up during the night. They hid and waited in four groups to fight against Shechem.
New Revised Standard
So Abimelech and all the troops with him got up by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
So Abimelech and all the troops with him got up by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So Abimelech rose up,, and all the people that were with him, by night, - and they lay in wait above Shechem, in four companies.
So Abimelech rose up,, and all the people that were with him, by night, - and they lay in wait above Shechem, in four companies.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Abimelech, therefore, arose with all his army, by night, and laid ambushes near Sichem in four places.
Abimelech, therefore, arose with all his army, by night, and laid ambushes near Sichem in four places.
Revised Standard Version
And Abim'elech and all the men that were with him rose up by night, and laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
And Abim'elech and all the men that were with him rose up by night, and laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
So Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
Contextual Overview
22Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years. Then God brought bad blood between Abimelech and Shechem's leaders, who now worked treacherously behind his back. Violence boomeranged: The murderous violence that killed the seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal, was now loose among Abimelech and Shechem's leaders, who had supported the violence. 25 To undermine Abimelech, Shechem's leaders put men in ambush on the mountain passes who robbed travelers on those roads. And Abimelech was told. 26At that time Gaal son of Ebed arrived with his relatives and moved into Shechem. The leaders of Shechem trusted him. One day they went out into the fields, gathered grapes in the vineyards, and trod them in the winepress. Then they held a celebration in their god's temple, a feast, eating and drinking. And then they started putting down Abimelech. 28Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is this Abimelech? And who are we Shechemites to take orders from him? Isn't he the son of Jerub-Baal, and isn't this his henchman Zebul? We belong to the race of Hamor and bear the noble name of Shechem. Why should we be toadies of Abimelech? If I were in charge of this people, the first thing I'd do is get rid of Abimelech! I'd say, ‘Show me your stuff, Abimelech—let's see who's boss here!'" 30Zebul, governor of the city, heard what Gaal son of Ebed was saying and got angry. Secretly he sent messengers to Abimelech with the message, "Gaal son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem and are stirring up trouble against you. Here's what you do: Tonight bring your troops and wait in ambush in the field. In the morning, as soon as the sun breaks, get moving and charge the city. Gaal and his troops will come out to you, and you'll know what to do next." 34Abimelech and his troops, four companies of them, went up that night and waited in ambush approaching Shechem. Gaal son of Ebed had gotten up and was standing in the city gate. Abimelech and his troops left their cover. When Gaal saw them he said to Zebul, "Look at that, people coming down from the tops of the mountains!" Zebul said, "That's nothing but mountain shadows; they just look like men." Gaal kept chattering away. 37 Then he said again, "Look at the troops coming down off Tabbur-erez (the Navel of the World)—and one company coming straight from the Oracle Oak." 38 Zebul said, "Where is that big mouth of yours now? You who said, ‘And who is Abimelech that we should take orders from him?' Well, there he is with the troops you ridiculed. Here's your chance. Fight away!" 39Gaal went out, backed by the leaders of Shechem, and did battle with Abimelech. Abimelech chased him, and Gaal turned tail and ran. Many fell wounded, right up to the city gate. 41 Abimelech set up his field headquarters at Arumah while Zebul kept Gaal and his relatives out of Shechem.
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
Reciprocal: 2 Kings 5:2 - by companies
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night,.... According to the advice of Zebul:
and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies; he divided his army into four parts, which he placed on the four sides of the city, at some distance from it, to act as they should have opportunity, to find ways and means of getting into it on either quarter.
