And it came about on the next day that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech.
Parallel translations
- WEB On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
- KJV And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
- BSB The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
- NASB Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was reported to Abimelech.
- NLT The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields to battle. When Abimelech heard about it,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The next day the Shechemites venture into the fields, and Abimelech is informed. Their movement gives him the opening to strike the city.
Overview
Unaware of Abimelech's lingering wrath, the people leave the city's protection. Word reaches Abimelech, who waits nearby. The verse turns the narrative toward the slaughter to come, illustrating how those entangled in violence are ensnared by the very schemes they helped set loose.
Cross-references & the web
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Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.
How Judges 9:42 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.