Judges 9:29

New Living Translation

If I were in charge here, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get some soldiers, and come out and fight!'"

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
If only these people were in my power, I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “Gather your army and come out.”

Hebrew Names Version
Would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Avimelekh. He said to Avimelekh, Increase your army, and come out.

King James Version
And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

Lexham English Bible
If only this people were in my command! Then I would remove Abimelech, and I would have said, ‘Increase your army and come out!'"

English Standard Version
Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Increase your army, and come out.'"

New Century Version
If you made me commander of these people, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get your army ready and come out to battle.'"

New English Translation
If only these men were under my command, I would get rid of Abimelech!" He challenged Abimelech, "Muster your army and come out for battle!"

Amplified Bible
"If only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech and say to him, 'Increase [the size of] your army and come out [to fight].'"

New American Standard Bible
"If only this people were under my authority! Then I would do away with Abimelech." And he said to Abimelech, "Enlarge your army and come out!"

Geneva Bible (1587)
Now would God this people were vnder mine hand: then would I put away Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

Legacy Standard Bible
Ag, was hierdie volk maar in my hand, dan sou ek Abiméleg wegjaag! En met die oog op Abiméleg het hy gesê: Vermeerder maar jou leër en trek uit!

Contemporary English Version
If I were the ruler of Shechem, I'd get rid of that Abimelech. I'd tell him, "Get yourself an even bigger army, and we will still defeat you."

Complete Jewish Bible
If I were in control of this people, I'd get rid of Avimelekh!" Then, addressing his words to Avimelekh, he said, "Come out and fight! I don't care if you make your army even larger!"

Darby Translation
Oh! would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

Easy-to-Read Version
If you make me the commander of these people, I will destroy Abimelech. I will say to him, ‘Get your army ready and come out to battle.'"

George Lamsa Translation
And would to God this people were under my command! Then I would remove Abimeleck. And he said to Abimeleck, Increase your army, and come out.

Good News Translation
I wish I were leading this people! I would get rid of Abimelech! I would tell him, ‘Reinforce your army, come on out and fight!'"

Literal Translation
And who will give this people in my hand? Then I would remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Multiply your army and come out.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Wolde God the people were vnder my hade, yt I mighte put downe Abimelech. And it was tolde Abimelech: Increace thine hooste, and departe.

American Standard Version
And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

Bible in Basic English
If only I had authority over this people! I would put Abimelech out of the way, and I would say to Abimelech, Make your army strong, and come out.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Woulde God this people were vnder my hande, then would I take Abimelech out of ye way. And he spake against Abimelech: Make thine hoast greater, and go out.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech.' And he said to Abimelech: 'Increase thine army, and come out.'

King James Version (1611)
And would to God this people were vnder my hand; then would I remoue Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine armie and come out.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech, and I would say to him, Multiply thy host, and come out.

English Revised Version
And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

Berean Standard Bible
If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, 'Muster your army and come out!'"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
`Y wolde, that sum man yaf this puple vndur myn hond, that Y schulde take awei Abimelech fro the myddis. And it was seid to Abymelech, Gadere thou the multitude of oost, and come thou.

Young's Literal Translation
and oh that this people were in my hand -- then I turn Abimelech aside;' and he saith to Abimelech, `Increase thy host, and come out.'

Update Bible Version
And if only this people were under my hand! then I would remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase your army, and come out.

Webster's Bible Translation
And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thy army, and come out.

World English Bible
Would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. He said to Abimelech, Increase your army, and come out.

New King James Version
If only this people were under my authority! [fn] Then I would remove Abimelech." So he [fn] said to Abimelech, "Increase your army and come out!"

New Life Bible
If only these people were under my rule! Then I would send Abimelech away. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Make your army strong, and come out.'"

New Revised Standard
If only this people were under my command! Then I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Increase your army, and come out.'"

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Would, then, this people were in my hand! that I might set aside Abimelech, - and say to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out!

Douay-Rheims Bible
Would to God that some man would put this people under my hand, that I might remove Abimelech out of the way. And it was said to Abimelech: Gather together the multitude of an army, and come.

Revised Standard Version
Would that this people were under my hand! then I would remove Abim'elech. I would say to Abim'elech, 'Increase your army, and come out.'"

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Would, therefore, that this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech." And he said to Abimelech, "Increase your army and come out."

Contextual Overview

²² After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years, ²³ God sent a spirit that stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the leading citizens of Shechem, and they revolted. ²⁴ God was punishing Abimelech for murdering Gideon's seventy sons, and the citizens of Shechem for supporting him in this treachery of murdering his brothers. ²⁵ The citizens of Shechem set an ambush for Abimelech on the hilltops and robbed everyone who passed that way. But someone warned Abimelech about their plot. ²⁶ One day Gaal son of Ebed moved to Shechem with his brothers and gained the confidence of the leading citizens of Shechem. ²⁷ During the annual harvest festival at Shechem, held in the temple of the local god, the wine flowed freely, and everyone began cursing Abimelech. ²⁸ "Who is Abimelech?" Gaal shouted. "He's not a true son of Shechem, so why should we be his servants? He's merely the son of Gideon, and this Zebul is merely his deputy. Serve the true sons of Hamor, the founder of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech? ²⁹ If I were in charge here, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, ‘Get some soldiers, and come out and fight!'" ³⁰ But when Zebul, the leader of the city, heard what Gaal was saying, he was furious. ³¹ He sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah, telling him, "Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to live in Shechem, and now they are inciting the city to rebel against you.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

would to God: The very words and conduct of a sly, hypocritical demagogue. 2 Samuel 15:4, 1 Kings 20:11, Psalms 10:3, Romans 1:30, Romans 1:31

And he said: Rather, "and I would say to Abimelech," as the LXX renders; for as Dr. Wall observes, this was probably not said in the presence of Abimelech; but at an intemperate feast, in his absence, when he boasted he would challenge him.

Increase thine army: 2 Samuel 2:14-17, 2 Kings 14:8, 2 Kings 18:23, Isaiah 36:8, Isaiah 36:9

Reciprocal: Judges 9:38 - General 1 Samuel 21:3 - under thine Proverbs 20:18 - and

Cross-References

Genesis 5:5
Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5:20
Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5:27
Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.

Genesis 5:32
After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Genesis 9:11
Yes, I am confirming my covenant with you. Never again will floodwaters kill all living creatures; never again will a flood destroy the earth."

Genesis 9:25
Then he cursed Canaan, the son of Ham: "May Canaan be cursed! May he be the lowest of servants to his relatives."

Psalms 90:10
Seventy years are given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And would to God this people were under my hand,.... Or government, that I were but the ruler of their city, and general of their forces:

then would I remove Abimelech; from his kingly office, and rid Shechem of him, and all the country round about, and indeed remove him out of the world:

and he said to Abimelech; as if he was present, in a hectoring and blustering manner; or he said what follows to his officer under him, that represented him; or he sent a messenger to him, saying,

increase thine army, and come out; bidding him defiance, challenging him to come into the open field and fight him, and bring as many forces along with him as he could or would, not doubting but he should be a match for him; and the men of Shechem would see they had nothing to fear from him, having such a man as Gaal at the head of them; this he said to engage the Shechemites to make him their ruler.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Seditious and lawless acts Judges 9:25-26 now broke out into open rebellion. It was at an idolatrous feast in the house of Baal-berith, on occasion of the vintage, and when they were excited with wine, that the rebellion was matured. Those present began to “curse Abimelech,” to speak insultingly of him, and to revile him (compare Leviticus 20:9; 2 Samuel 19:21; Isaiah 8:21). Gaal, the son of Ebed, who was watching the opportunity, immediately incited them to revolt from the dominion of Abimelech, offering himself to be their captain; adding a message of defiance to Abimelech, addressed, probably, to Zebul, who was present but too weak to resent it on the spot.

Judges 9:27

Made merry - The word translated “merry” occurs only here and in Leviticus 19:24. Its etymology gives the sense of “praises”, “thanksgivings”; and its use in these two passages rather indicates that the fruits themselves which were brought to the House of God with songs of praise, and eaten or drunken with religious service, were so called. The thank-offerings would be a portion of the new wine of the vintage which they had just gathered in.

Judges 9:28

Shechem is another designation of Abimelech. Sheehem means the son and heir of Sheehem, Abimelech’s mother being a Canaanite Judges 9:18.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 9:29. Would to God this people were under my hand — The very words and conduct of a sly, hypocritical demagogue.

Increase thine army, and come out. — When he found his party strong, and the public feeling warped to his side, then he appears to have sent a challenge to Abimelech, to come out and fight him.