And sowed it with salt— Salt, in a certain quantity, makes land barren. Hence, in Scripture, a land of salt signifies a barren land; Deuteronomy 29:23. Psalms 107:33-34.Zephaniah 2:9. Prophane authors use the same expression. See Plin. lib. 31: cap. 7. Virg. Georg. 2: ver. 238 and Bich. Hieroz. pars 1: lib. 3. Abimelech intended by this ceremony to shew his hatred of the Shechemites, by wishing that their city might lie waste, and be a perpetual desolation. Calmet observes, that modern history affords many examples of a similar vengeance. See his Comment.
REFLECTIONS.—Such proceedings were too public to be concealed, and too dangerous to be neglected.
1. Zebul, Abimelech's governor of Shechem, having got intelligence of their meetings, and incensed at their contemptuous treatment of himself, informs his master, advising him to come thither without delay, and surprise the conspirators before they were ready to oppose him. Note; (1.) Much mischief is prevented by nipping evil designs in the bud. (2.) The imprudence and improvidence of rebellious spirits are often as great as their wickedness; these blast their designs, and sink the projectors of them in ruin.
2. Zebul, pretending friendship to Gaal, betrays him. Abimelech having, according to Zebul's advice, marched all night, in the morning appears with his forces descending from the mountain; Gaal, from the gate, descrying the host, Zebul, either to lull him into security, or ridicule his fears, suggests, that what he saw was only the shadow of the mountains, till a nearer approach removed the possibility of deception; he then throws off the marks and insults him for his former bravado.
Note; (1.) An insolent tongue is often put to shame by its own vaunting. (2.) Those who are themselves rebels must not expect fidelity from their associates.
3. Gaal could not now refuse to go out; but he is quickly routed in the field; and, Zebul having recovered the superiority in the city, he and his abettors are that night expelled. May every traitorous design be thus blasted!
4. Abimelech at that time pushed his victory no farther; and the men of Shechem, having expelled the traitor, promise themselves, now that his anger is appeased, that they may securely gather their harvest: but treason is not so lightly passed over; nor is the wrath of a king, and such a king, so ready to subside. Understanding their security, therefore, he marches from Arumah, dividing his forces into three companies; with two, he fell upon the people in the fields; with the other, he seized the city: after he had gotten possession, the havock was indeed dreadful; for he utterly destroyed the city, and sowed it with salt, in vengeance for their rebellion. Note; The wiles of the wicked return upon their own head; and rebellion usually ends in the ruin of the traitors.
5. To complete the destruction of the remainder of the Shechemites, Abimelech besieges the men of the tower of Shechem, who had fortified themselves in the temple of the god Baal-berith, either trusting to the strength of the situation, or to Abimelech's veneration for that place, whence he first rose to the kingdom; but their refuge, like that of other sinners, proves a refuge of lies. Though he could not carry the place by assault, policy prevails more than the sword; at his command his men follow his example, and, surrounding it with fuel, they set the place on fire, and men, women, and children, to the number of about a thousand, all perish in the flames. Note; (1.) Civil wars are most inhuman; the innocent and the guilty often fall together. (2.) Vain is every covering to hide men from the wrath of God; when his fire shall be stirred up round about the sinner, it will burn, and none can quench it.