Judges 9:23

Easy-to-Read Version

Abimelech had killed Gideon's 70 sons—and they were his own brothers. The leaders of Shechem had supported him in doing this evil thing. So God caused trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. And they began planning ways to hurt Abimelech.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully,

Hebrew Names Version
God sent an evil spirit between Avimelekh and the men of Shekhem; and the men of Shekhem dealt treacherously with Avimelekh:

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

Lexham English Bible
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem, and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

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

New Century Version
Then God sent an evil spirit to make trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem so that the leaders of Shechem turned against him.

New English Translation
God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech.

Amplified Bible
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem acted treacherously against Abimelech,

New American Standard Bible
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem; and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

Geneva Bible (1587)
But God sent an euil spirit betweene Abimelech, and the men of Shechem: and the men of Shechem brake their promise to Abimelech,

Legacy Standard Bible
and for others, save, snatching them out of the fire; and on others have mercy with fear, hating even the tunic polluted by the flesh.

Contemporary English Version
when God decided to punish him and the leaders of Shechem for killing Gideon's seventy sons. So God turned the leaders of Shechem against Abimelech.

Complete Jewish Bible
But God sent a spirit of discord between Avimelekh and the men of Sh'khem, so that the men of Sh'khem dealt treacherously with Avimelekh.

Darby Translation
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem; and the citizens of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

George Lamsa Translation
Then God sent an evil spirit upon Abimeleck and upon the lords of Shechem; and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimeleck,

Good News Translation
Then God made Abimelech and the men of Shechem hostile to each other, and they rebelled against Abimelech.

Literal Translation
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. And the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
God sent an euell mynde betwene Abimelech and the men of Sichen (for the men of Sichem despysed Abimelech,

American Standard Version
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

Bible in Basic English
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the townsmen of Shechem; and the townsmen of Shechem were false to Abimelech;

Bishop's Bible (1568)
God sent an euyll spirite betweene Abimelech, & the men of Sichem: and the citezins of Sichem brake their promise to Abimelech,

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech;

King James Version (1611)
Then God sent an euill spirit betweene Abimelech & the men of Shechem: and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Sicima; and the men of Sicima dealt treacherously with the house of Abimelech:

English Revised Version
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

Berean Standard Bible
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the Lord sente the worste spirit bitwixe Abymelech and the dwelleris of Sichem, whiche bigynnen to holde hym abomynable,

Young's Literal Translation
and God sendeth an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech,

Update Bible Version
And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

Webster's Bible Translation
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

World English Bible
God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

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

New Life Bible
Then God sent a bad spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. The men of Shechem were not faithful to Abimelech.

New Revised Standard
But God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem; and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then God let go a spirit of mischief between Abimelech and the owners of Shechem, - and the owners of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord sent a very evil spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Sichem; who began to detest him,

Revised Standard Version
And God sent an evil spirit between Abim'elech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abim'elech;

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

Contextual Overview

²² Abimelech ruled the Israelites for three years. ²³Abimelech had killed Gideon's 70 sons—and they were his own brothers. The leaders of Shechem had supported him in doing this evil thing. So God caused trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. And they began planning ways to hurt Abimelech. ²⁵ The leaders of the city of Shechem did not like Abimelech anymore. They put men on the hilltops to attack and rob everyone who went by. Abimelech found out about the attacks. ²⁶ A man named Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers moved to the city of Shechem. The leaders of the city of Shechem decided to trust and follow Gaal. ²⁷ One day the people of Shechem went out to the vineyards to pick grapes. They squeezed the grapes to make wine. And then they had a party at the temple of their god. The people ate and drank and cursed Abimelech. ²⁸ Then Gaal son of Ebed said, "We are the men of Shechem. Why should we obey Abimelech? Who does he think he is? Abimelech is one of Gideon's sons, right? And Abimelech made Zebul his officer, right? We should not obey Abimelech. We should follow our own people, men from Hamor. (Hamor was the father of Shechem.) ²⁹ 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.'" ³⁰ Zebul was the governor of the city of Shechem. Zebul heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, and he became very angry. ³¹ Zebul sent messengers to Abimelech in the city of Arumah. This is the message: "Gaal son of Ebed and Gaal's brothers have come to the city of Shechem. They are making trouble for you. Gaal is turning the whole city against you. ³² So now you and your men should come tonight and hide in the fields outside the city.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

am 2771, bc 1233

God: That is, God permitted the evil spirit of jealousy, treachery, and discord, to break out between Abimelech and the Shechemites. Judges 9:15, Judges 9:20, 1 Samuel 16:14-16, 1 Samuel 18:9, 1 Samuel 18:10, 1 Kings 12:15, 1 Kings 22:22, 1 Kings 22:23, 2 Chronicles 10:15, 2 Chronicles 18:19-22, Isaiah 19:2, Isaiah 19:14, 2 Thessalonians 2:11, 2 Thessalonians 2:12

An: Ex, Is, 258

dealt: Judges 9:16, Isaiah 33:1, Matthew 7:2

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 19:43 - the words 2 Chronicles 18:21 - Thou shalt Mark 3:24 - General

Cross-References

Exodus 20:12
"You must honor and respect your father and your mother. Do this so that you will have a full life in the land that the Lord your God gives you.

Leviticus 19:32
"Show honor to old people. Stand up when they come into the room. And show respect to your leaders. I am the Lord .

Romans 13:7
Give everyone what you owe them. If you owe them any kind of tax, then pay it. Show respect to those you should respect. And show honor to those you should honor.

Galatians 6:1
Brothers and sisters, someone in your group might do something wrong. You who are following the Spirit should go to the one who is sinning. Help make that person right again, and do it in a gentle way. But be careful, because you might be tempted to sin too.

1 Timothy 5:1
Don't speak angrily to an older man. But talk to him as if he were your father. Treat the younger men like brothers.

1 Timothy 5:17
The elders who lead the church in a good way should receive double honor—in particular, those who do the work of counseling and teaching.

1 Timothy 5:19
Don't listen to someone who accuses an elder. You should listen to them only if there are two or three others who can say what the elder did wrong.

1 Peter 2:17
Show respect for all people. Love your brothers and sisters in God's family. Respect God, and honor the king.

1 Peter 4:8
Most important of all, love each other deeply, because love makes you willing to forgive many sins.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem,.... Permitted, yea, gave a commission to Satan, the evil spirit, to go among them, who stirred up suspicions, jealousies, hatred, and ill will to one another, and sowed the seeds of discord and contention among them; or God gave them up to their own hearts' lusts, to think ill of one another, grow jealous, and meditate revenge:

and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech; did not openly declare their minds, but secretly conspired against him, and privately consulted ways to find means to get rid of him, and shake off his government.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 9:23. God sent an evil spirit — He permitted jealousies to take place which produced factions; and these factions produced insurrections, civil contentions, and slaughter.