Judges 9:46

And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard [that], they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

And when all the men {H1167} of the tower {H4026} of Shechem {H7927} heard {H8085} that, they entered {H935} into an hold {H6877} of the house {H1004} of the god {H410} Berith {H1286}.

When all the men in the fortress at Sh'khem heard about this, they took refuge in the stronghold of the temple of El-B'rit.

On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.

Commentary

Judges 9:46 describes a pivotal moment in Abimelech's brutal campaign against the city of Shechem. After Abimelech had already razed much of the city, the remaining inhabitants, specifically "all the men of the tower of Shechem," sought refuge in a desperate move.

Context

This verse follows a period of intense conflict initiated by Abimelech, the ambitious son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) by a concubine, who seized power by murdering his seventy brothers (Judges 9:5). The people of Shechem had initially supported Abimelech, but a rift grew, leading to a rebellion. Abimelech retaliated fiercely, destroying the city. The "men of the tower of Shechem" represent the last holdouts, likely a fortified structure within or near the city. Their decision to enter the "house of the god Berith" was an attempt to find safety within a sacred and presumably strong edifice dedicated to their local deity, Baal-Berith.

Key Themes

  • False Security: The Shechemites, facing imminent destruction, turned to a pagan temple for protection. This highlights the futility of seeking ultimate refuge in anything other than the true God, especially in times of crisis.
  • Idolatry and Its Consequences: The "house of the god Berith" was a center of worship for a Canaanite deity. Their reliance on this false god ultimately proved to be their undoing, illustrating a recurring biblical theme that idols cannot save or protect.
  • Divine Judgment Unfolding: This event is a direct fulfillment of Jotham's curse against Abimelech and the men of Shechem, pronounced earlier in the chapter (Judges 9:20). The judgment was now reaching its devastating conclusion.

Linguistic Insights

The deity mentioned, Berith (or Baal-Berith), means "lord of the covenant" or "god of the treaty." This suggests he was revered as a guarantor of agreements or alliances. The temple itself was not merely a place of worship but also a fortified structure, serving as a political and military stronghold in addition to its religious function. The word "hold" (ΧžΦ΄Χ‘Φ°Χ¦ΦΈΧ¨, mibtsar) refers to a fortress or fortified place, emphasizing its perceived strength.

Practical Application

Judges 9:46 serves as a powerful reminder about where we place our trust. In moments of fear or desperation, it is natural to seek refuge. However, this verse challenges us to consider whether our "strongholds" are genuinely capable of protecting us. Are we relying on worldly securities, human institutions, or even our own strength, or are we placing our ultimate confidence in God? The narrative of Shechem underscores that true and lasting security is found only in the Lord, not in the false gods or fleeting powers of this world. Consider where you seek your ultimate refuge when troubles arise, remembering that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

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Cross-References

  • Judges 8:33 (5 votes)

    And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim, and made Baalberith their god.

  • Judges 9:4 (3 votes)

    And they gave him threescore and ten [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

  • Isaiah 28:15 (2 votes)

    Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:

  • Isaiah 28:18 (2 votes)

    And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

  • 2 Kings 1:2 (2 votes)

    And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that [was] in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

  • 2 Kings 1:4 (2 votes)

    Now therefore thus saith the LORD, Thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die. And Elijah departed.

  • Judges 9:27 (2 votes)

    And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode [the grapes], and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.