Tag Archives: Judges 9:23

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֱלֹהִים֙ ר֣וּחַ רָעָ֔ה בֵּ֣ין אֲבִימֶ֔לֶךְ וּבֵ֖ין בַּעֲלֵ֣י שְׁכֶ֑ם וַיִּבְגְּד֥וּ בַעֲלֵי־שְׁכֶ֖ם בַּאֲבִימֶֽלֶךְ׃ (Judges 9:23) And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelekh and the lords of Shekhem, and the lords of Shekhem dealt treacherously with Abimelekh. This verse from Judges introduces a turning point in the Abimelekh narrative. It depicts divine intervention in the form of a רוּחַ רָעָה (“evil spirit”) that destabilizes the alliance between Abimelekh and the leaders of Shekhem. The grammar is carefully chosen: wayyiqtol verbs mark sequential action, construct phrases intensify relational tension, and the thematic word בָּגַד (“to act treacherously”) seals the betrayal.… Learn Hebrew