Richter 9:31

Lutherbibel

und sandte Botschaft zu Abimelech heimlich und ließ ihm sagen: Siehe, Gaal, der Sohn Ebeds, und seine Brüder sind gen Sichem gekommen und machen dir die Stadt aufrührerisch.

Parallel Translations

Schlachter Bibel (1951)
und er sandte insgeheim Botschaft zu Abimelech und ließ ihm sagen: Siehe, Gaal, der Sohn Ebeds, und seine Brüder sind nach Sichem gekommen, und siehe, sie wiegeln die Stadt gegen dich auf!

Elberfelder Bibel (1905)
und er sandte Boten an Abimelech mit List und sprach: Siehe, Gaal, der Sohn Ebeds, und seine Brüder sind nach Sichem gekommen, und siehe, sie wiegeln die Stadt wider dich auf.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

privily: Heb. craftily, or, to Tormah

they fortify: Under pretence of repairing the walls and towers, they were actually putting the place in a state of defence, intending to seize on the government as soon as they found Abimelech coming against them. Judges 9:31

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily,.... In a secret manner, unknown to Gaal and the men of Shechem; or "craftily", as Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it, still dissembling, notwithstanding his anger, to be in the interest of Gaal, and the men of Shechem, as appears indeed afterwards by a show of friendliness with Gaal, Judges 9:36 though, according to Joseph Kimchi and Ben Gersom, Thormah is the name of the place where Abimelech was, the same with Arumah, Judges 9:41 and the sense is, that he sent messengers to Abimelech at Thormah or Arumah:

saying, Gaal the son of Ebal, and his brethren, be come to Shechem; a family that Abimelech well knew, and if they were of the race of the old Canaanites, he would easily perceive their design:

and, behold, they fortify the city against thee; by repairing its fortifications, or adding new works; or "besiege" i it, which, as that is done by placing an army around it without, that none can come out of it, so by setting a watch within, and upon the walls, and at the gates of it, that none can come in, which is here meant; though some interpret it of their design to besiege the city Thormah, where Abimelech was, of which he gives him notice; or rather they set the city against thee, make the inhabitants thine enemies.

i צרים "obsident", Pagninus, Munster, Drusius; "obsidere cogitant", Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Privily - See the margin. The word is probably the name of a place in “Tormah”, some think the same as “Arumah” Judges 9:41. Zebul was faithful to Abimelech, but dissembled his sentiments, from being too weak to oppose Gaal, until Abimelech came with his army Judges 9:38.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 31. They fortify the city against thee. — Under pretence of repairing the walls and towers, they were actually putting the place in a state of defence, intending to seize on the government as soon as they should find Abimelech coming against them. Fortifying the city may mean seducing the inhabitants from their loyalty to Abimelech.