Judges 9:45

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that [was] therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

And Abimelech {H40} fought {H3898} against the city {H5892} all that day {H3117}; and he took {H3920} the city {H5892}, and slew {H2026} the people {H5971} that was therein, and beat down {H5422} the city {H5892}, and sowed {H2232} it with salt {H4417}.

Avimelekh fought against the city all that day; captured it, killed its people, destroyed its buildings and sowed its land with salt.

And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

Commentary

Context

Judges 9:45 marks the devastating climax of the conflict between Abimelech, the self-proclaimed king, and the city of Shechem. Abimelech, the son of Gideon by a concubine, had brutally seized power by murdering all but one of his seventy brothers (Judges 9:5). Shechem had initially supported his bloody ascent. However, a rift developed, leading to rebellion and intense warfare. This verse describes the final, brutal act of Abimelech's retribution against Shechem, fulfilling, in part, the prophetic curse uttered by Jotham, Gideon's youngest son, in his famous parable of the trees (Judges 9:7-20).

Key Themes

  • Utter Desolation and Destruction: The verse vividly portrays a complete and irreversible destruction. Abimelech not only conquered the city and killed its inhabitants but also physically leveled it.
  • Symbolic Curse: The act of "sowing it with salt" was a powerful symbolic gesture in the ancient Near East, signifying a permanent curse on the land, rendering it barren and uninhabitable. It declared the city's future as utterly desolate and useless for agriculture or dwelling.
  • Consequences of Ambition and Treachery: This event highlights the bitter fruit of Abimelech's ruthless ambition and the treachery of Shechem, who first supported a murderer and then rebelled against him. The violence perpetuates itself, leading to devastating outcomes for all involved.
  • Divine Judgment: While Abimelech was a cruel instrument, the destruction of Shechem can also be seen as divine judgment against the city for its wickedness and complicity in Abimelech's initial atrocities. This aligns with the broader theme in Judges of a cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "sowed it with salt" is particularly significant. While salt was a valuable commodity, used for seasoning and preservation, its application here was destructive. This was not a literal agricultural practice to produce crops, but a symbolic act of cursing the land. In ancient cultures, salt was associated with barrenness and desolation when applied in large quantities to fields, effectively poisoning the soil and preventing future growth. It was a declaration that the land would remain forever desolate, a monument to the city's destruction and an enduring symbol of its irreversible downfall. This practice underscores the extreme nature of Abimelech's vengeance and his desire to eradicate Shechem's very memory and potential for recovery.

Practical Application

Judges 9:45 offers a stark warning about the destructive nature of unchecked ambition, violence, and treachery. It reminds us:

  • The Cycle of Violence: Abimelech's reign began with bloodshed and ended in a similar fashion, demonstrating how violence often begets more violence, leading to widespread suffering and ruin.
  • Consequences of Choices: The tragic end of Shechem serves as a powerful reminder that choices, particularly those involving alignment with evil or engaging in rebellion, have profound and often devastating consequences, even leading to complete desolation.
  • The Need for Righteous Leadership: The chaotic and violent period of the Judges, exemplified by figures like Abimelech, underscores the importance of righteous and just leadership, which was largely absent in Israel during this time.
  • God's Justice Prevails: Although carried out by a wicked man, the ultimate destruction of Shechem also reflects a principle of divine justice, where wickedness eventually faces reckoning, echoing the biblical truth that "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Galatians 6:7).

Reflection

The image of a city "sowed with salt" is one of profound and lasting desolation. Judges 9:45 is a chilling testament to the depths of human depravity and the tragic consequences of a society without a strong moral compass or a true commitment to God's covenant. It stands as a powerful historical narrative, reminding us of the importance of seeking peace, justice, and righteous paths to avoid such catastrophic outcomes.

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Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 3:25 (5 votes)

    And they beat down the cities, and on every good piece of land cast every man his stone, and filled it; and they stopped all the wells of water, and felled all the good trees: only in Kirharaseth left they the stones thereof; howbeit the slingers went about [it], and smote it.

  • Deuteronomy 29:23 (4 votes)

    [And that] the whole land thereof [is] brimstone, and salt, [and] burning, [that] it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

  • James 2:13 (2 votes)

    For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

  • Psalms 107:34 (2 votes)

    A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

  • Ezekiel 47:11 (2 votes)

    But the miry places thereof and the marishes thereof shall not be healed; they shall be given to salt.

  • 1 Kings 12:25 (2 votes)

    ¶ Then Jeroboam built Shechem in mount Ephraim, and dwelt therein; and went out from thence, and built Penuel.

  • Zephaniah 2:9 (2 votes)

    Therefore [as] I live, saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, Surely Moab shall be as Sodom, and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah, [even] the breeding of nettles, and saltpits, and a perpetual desolation: the residue of my people shall spoil them, and the remnant of my people shall possess them.