Judges 9:42 - Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Bible Comments

The people went out into the field; either, first, To renew the fight, and avenge themselves for their last loss, the great God hardening their hearts to their destruction, and the accomplishment of his word delivered to them by Jotham. But here is not one word about the people's arming, or resisting, or fighting, as there was before, Judges 9:39, but only of their slaughter, Judges 9:43,44. Or, secondly, To their usual and then proper employments about their lands; for though their vintage was past, the seed-time was now come, and other things were to be done in the fields. Or, thirdly, Upon some solemn occasion, not here expressed; possibly to make a solemn procession, or perform some other rites in the fields, to the honour of their god Baal-berith, as the manner of the heathen was, to make supplication to him for his help, and for better success; or only to go for that end to the house of their god Baal-berith, which is thought to have been in the fields, as may seem from Judges 9:27,46, on a mountain upon the east side of the city.

Judges 9:42

42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.