Bible Strands
Judges 9:40
but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrative records a military clash between Abimelech and Gaal outside Shechem. The text states that Abimelech chased Gaal while retreating Shechemites died near the city gate.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַ/יִּרְדְּפֵ֣/הוּ (va/i.yir.de.Fe./hu) literally translates to "and he pursued him," while חֲלָלִ֥ים (cha.la.Lim) denotes "fatally wounded" combatants.
The thread — The pattern of routed armies falling wounded near urban fortifications parallels the flight and casualties recorded in 1 Kings 20:18 and 1 Kings 20:30.
Why it lands — The account demands recognition that violent rebellion against established authority results in immediate, localized collapse. It asks the reader to observe how military pursuit and routed retreat operate without moral commentary beyond the factual outcome.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 20:18 “If they have marched out in peace,” he said, “take them alive. Even if they have marched out for war, take them alive.”
- 1 Kings 20:30 The rest of them fled into the city of Aphek, where the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand of the remaining men. Ben-hadad also fled to the city and hid in an inner room.