Judges 9:42

THE MESSAGE

The next day the people went out to the fields. This was reported to Abimelech. He took his troops, divided them into three companies, and placed them in ambush in the fields. When he saw that the people were well out in the open, he sprang up and attacked them. Abimelech and the company with him charged ahead and took control of the entrance to the city gate; the other two companies chased down those who were in the open fields and killed them. Abimelech fought at the city all that day. He captured the city and massacred everyone in it. He leveled the city to the ground, then sowed it with salt.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The next day when the people of Shechem went into the countryside, this was reported to Abimelech.

Hebrew Names Version
It happened on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Avimelekh.

King James Version
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

Lexham English Bible
On the next day the people went out to the field; and it was reported to Abimelech,

English Standard Version
On the following day, the people went out into the field, and Abimelech was told.

New Century Version
The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields. When Abimelech was told about it,

New English Translation
The next day the Shechemites came out to the field. When Abimelech heard about it,

Amplified Bible
The next day the people went out to the field, and it was reported to Abimelech.

New American Standard Bible
Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was reported to Abimelech.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And on the morowe, the people went out into the fielde: which was tolde Abimelech.

Legacy Standard Bible
En toe die mense die volgende dag uittrek in die veld, is dit aan Abiméleg meegedeel.

Contemporary English Version
The next morning, the people of Shechem were getting ready to work in their fields as usual, but someone told Abimelech about it.

Complete Jewish Bible
But the very next day, the people went out into the field, and Avimelekh was told about it.

Darby Translation
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

Easy-to-Read Version
The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields to work. Abimelech found out about it.

George Lamsa Translation
And it came to pass on the next day, that the people went out into the fields, and they told Abimeleck.

Good News Translation
The next day Abimelech found out that the people of Shechem were planning to go out into the fields,

Literal Translation
And it happened on the next day, the people went out in the field and told Abimelech.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Vpon the morowe wente the people forth into ye felde. Wha this was tolde Abimelech,

American Standard Version
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

Bible in Basic English
Now the day after, the people went out into the fields; and news of it came to Abimelech.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And on the morow, the people wet out into the fielde: And they told Abimelech.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and it was told Abimelech.

King James Version (1611)
And it came to passe on the morrow, that the people went out into the field, and they tolde Abimelech.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And it came to pass on the second day that the people went out into the field, and one brought word to Abimelech.

English Revised Version
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

Berean Standard Bible
The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor in the dai suynge the puple yede out in to the feeld; and whanne this thing was teld to Abymelech,

Young's Literal Translation
And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the people go out to the field, and they declare [it] to Abimelech,

Update Bible Version
And it came to pass on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

Webster's Bible Translation
And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

World English Bible
It happened on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

New King James Version
And it came about on the next day that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech.

New Living Translation
The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields to battle. When Abimelech heard about it,

New Life Bible
The men went out to the field the next day and told Abimelech.

New Revised Standard
On the following day the people went out into the fields. When Abimelech was told,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And it came to pass, on the morrow, that the people went forth into the field, - and they told Abimelech.

Douay-Rheims Bible
So the day following the people went out into the field. And it was told to Abimelech,

Revised Standard Version
On the following day the men went out into the fields. And Abim'elech was told.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was told to Abimelech.

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

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And it came to pass on the morrow,.... The day after the battle:

that the people went out into the field; some think to fight, and try the event of another battle, in order to be freed from Abimelech, but that seems not so likely: rather to finish their vintage, as Josephus l, or to till their ground, to plough and sow, which quickly came on after the vintage was ended; find this they might do the more securely, since Abimelech had withdrawn himself and his forces to his place of habitation, and so concluded he would not soon at least return to them; and the rather they might think he would be more easy, with then, since Gaal was thrust out from among them:

and they told Abimelech; or it was told Abimelech, that the people came out into the field, and so an opportunity offered to him to come and cut them off, as they were at their business unarmed.

l Antiqu. l. 5. c. 7. sect. 4.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

After Gaal’s expulsion, “the people went out into the field,” either to complete the vintage, or for some other agricultural operation. “They” (Zebul and his party) sent word of this to Abimelech.