## Rashi on Judges Chapter 9

###### Rashi on Judges 9:4:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:4:1)

**וּפֹחֲזִים.** בְּהוּלִים בְּמַעֲשֵׂיהֶם לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּלֹא תְבוּנָה:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Headstrong.** They acted impetuously, thoughtlessly.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:6:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:6:1)

**עִם אֵלוֹן מֻצָּב.** (תרגום:) מֵישַׁר קָמְתָא - מִישׁוֹר שֶׁהָיוּ בּוֹ מַצֵּבוֹת:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Near the plain of the pillar.** "The plain of monuments"—¹ A plain in which monuments stood.

footnotes:
¹ This is Targum Yonasan’s translation.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:8:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:8:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:8:1)

**הָלוֹךְ הָלְכוּ הָעֵצִים.** מָשָׁל הוּא:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**The trees went about resolutely.** This is a parable.²

footnotes:
² Yalkut, 65.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:8:2
[Rashi on Judges 9:8:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:8:2)

**לַזַּיִת.** עָתְנִיאֵל בֶּן קְנַז (שופטים א:יג), הַבָּא מִשֵּׁבֶט יְהוּדָה שֶׁנִּקְרָא זַיִת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיהו יא:טז): זַיִת רַעֲנָן יְפֵה פְרִי תֹאַר וְגוֹ׳:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**The olive tree.** Asniel ben Kenaz,³ a tribesman of Judah, who are entitled "olive", as it is said, "Refreshed olive tree, with fruit beautiful in appearance, etc."⁴

footnotes:
³ Above, 3; 9–11. (Yalkut, ibid)
⁴ Yirmiyahu, 11:16. The chapter is addressed to “the men of Yehudah” (v.1).


###### Rashi on Judges 9:9:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:9:1)

**דִּשְׁנִי.** לְשׁוֹן שׁוּמָן:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**The richness of my oil.** The connotation here is fattiness.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:10:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:10:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:10:1)

**לַתְּאֵנָה.** דְּבוֹרָה:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**To the fig tree.** This refers to Devorah.⁵

footnotes:
⁵ Above, 4:4. (Yalkut, ibid.)


###### Rashi on Judges 9:11:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:11:1)

**אֶת מָתְקִי.** דְּבַשׁ דְּבוֹרִים:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**My sweetness.** the honey of dates.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:12:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:12:1)

**לַגֶּפֶן.** גִּדְעוֹן, שֶׁהוּא מִזֶּרַע יוֹסֵף (שופטים ו:יא), שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ (בראשית מט:כב) בֵּן פֹּרָת, (ותרגם שם אונקלוס:) כְּגוּפָן דִּנְצִיב וְכוּ׳:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**To the grapevine.** This refers to Gidon,⁶ a descendant of Yoseif, of whom it is said, "A flourishing son"—"like a grapevine positioned, etc."⁷

footnotes:
⁶ Yalkut, ibid.
⁷ “A flourishing son over a wellspring”. (Bereishis, 49:22). Targum Onkelos there interprets, “like a grapevine positioned over a wellspring.”


###### Rashi on Judges 9:13:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:13:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:13:1)

**הַמְשַׂמֵּחַ אֱלֹהִים.** שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִים הַלְוִיִּם שִׁיר שֶׁל הַקָּרְבָּן אֶלָּא עַל הַנְּסָכִים:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Which brings joy to God.** As the Levi'im chant the hymns of glory only during the wine libation ceremony.⁸

footnotes:
⁸ Berachos, 35:b.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:14:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:14:1)

**אֶל הָאָטָד.** ספינ״ה בְּלַעַ״ז:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**The thornbush.** "epine" in old French.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:15:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:15:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:15:1)

**אִם בֶּאֱמֶת.** שֶׁאֲנִי הָגוּן לַמַּלְכוּת:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**If you genuinely.** Because I qualify as a sovereign.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:22:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:22:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:22:1)

**וַיָּשַׂר.** עַל כָּרְחָם נָהַג רַבָּנוּת וּבְגַאֲוָה:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Ruled.** He wielded his authority through repression, and conducted himself arrogantly.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:23:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:23:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:23:1)

**רוּחַ רָעָה.** שִׂנְאָה, שלנ״ש מלטלינ״ט בְּלַעַ״ז:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**A malicious sentiment.** Hatred. "Talent" in old French.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:26:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:26:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:26:1)

**גַּעַל בֶּן עֶבֶד.** מֵאוּמָּה אַחֶרֶת הָיָה:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Ga'al ben Eved.** He was from another nation.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:27:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:27:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:27:1)

**וַיַּעֲשׂוּ הִלּוּלִים.** (תרגום:) וַעֲבַדוּ חַנְגִין:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Indulged in carousals.** Performed dances.⁹

footnotes:
⁹ This is Targum Yonasan’s translation.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:28:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:28:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:28:1)

**מִי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ וּמִי שְׁכֶם.** מִי אֲבִימֶלֶךְ לִהְיוֹת שַׂר עַל שְׁכֶם וּמִי שְׁכֶם לִהְיוֹת עֲבָדִים לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ, הֲלֹא בֶּן יְרֻבַּעַל הָיָה אֲבִימֶלֶךְ מִן עָפְרַת אֲבִי הָעֶזְרִי (לעיל ו:יא):

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Who is Avimelech, and who is Shechem.** Who is Avimelech to control Shechem, and who is Shechem to be subjugated to Avimelech? Is not Avimelech Yerubaal's son, from Ofros, of the Aviezrites?¹⁰


###### Rashi on Judges 9:28:2
[Rashi on Judges 9:28:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:28:2)

**וּזְבֻל פְּקִידוֹ.** וְזֶה פְּקִיד הָעִיר שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ ׳זְבוּל׳, פְּקִידוֹ שֶׁל אֲבִימֶלֶךְ הוּא, וַאֲדוֹנָיו אֵין לוֹ מִשְׁפַּט מְלוּכָה בָּעִיר וְאַף פְּקִידוֹ אֵינוֹ כְּלוּם:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**And his henchman Zevul?** The city superintendent, named Zevul, is Avimelech's henchman. His master cannot justify his authority over the city; thus his appointee, as well, is a non-entity.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:28:3
[Rashi on Judges 9:28:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:28:3)

**עִבְדוּ אֶת אַנְשֵׁי חֲמוֹר.** אִם בָּאתֶם לִקְנוֹת לָכֶם אֲדוֹנִים, בֹּאוּ וְעִבְדוּ אֶת אַנְשֵׁי חֲמוֹר, שֶׁהָיָה נְשִׂיא הָאָרֶץ מִקֶּדֶם (בראשית לד:ב):

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Serve the people of Chamor.** If you want to get yourselves leaders, come serve the men of Chamor, who ruled the land in early times.¹¹

footnotes:
¹¹ Bereishis, 34:2.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:28:4
[Rashi on Judges 9:28:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:28:4)

**וּמַדּוּעַ נַעַבְדֶנּוּ.** לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**But why must we serve him?** Avimelech.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:29:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:29:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:29:1)

**וַיֹּאמֶר לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ.** וַיֹּאמֶר גַּעַל בִּפְנֵי זְבוּל, הוֹדִיעַ לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**He said: For Avimelech.** Ga'al declared in the presence of Zevul, "Tell Avimelech."


###### Rashi on Judges 9:29:2
[Rashi on Judges 9:29:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:29:2)

**רַבֶּה צְבָאֲךָ וָצֵאָה.** מִן הַמָּקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה שָׁם, וְנִרְאֶה אֶת גְּדֻלָּתְךָ:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Beef up your army and come on out** from your place, and let us see how grand you are!


###### Rashi on Judges 9:31:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:31:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:31:1)

**בְּתָרְמָה.** כְּמוֹ בְּמִרְמָה, בְּתַרְמִית, כְּלוֹמַר: בַּלָּט וּבַסֵּתֶר:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Clandestinely.** As in "cunningly,"¹² "in deceit,"¹³ meaning secretively, stealthily.

footnotes:
¹² Bereishis, 27:35.
¹³ Yirmiyahu, 8:5.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:34:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:34:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:34:1)

**אַרְבָּעָה רָאשִׁים.** אַרְבָּעָה כִּתּוֹת:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Four divisions.** Four companies.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:37:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:37:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:37:1)

**מֵעִם טַבּוּר הָאָרֶץ.** (תרגום:) מִן תּוּקְפָא דְאַרְעָא, מֵהַר הַגָּבוֹהַּ שֶׁבְּכֻלָּם:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**From the promontory of the land.** "From the pre-eminence of the land."¹⁴ From the highest summit of all.

footnotes:
¹⁴ This is Targum Yonasan’s translation.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:37:2
[Rashi on Judges 9:37:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:37:2)

**אֵלוֹן מְעוֹנְנִים** (תרגום:) מֵישַׁר מְעוֹנְנִים:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Elon Meonenim.** The plain of Meonenim


###### Rashi on Judges 9:42:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:42:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:42:1)

**וַיֵּצֵא הָעָם הַשָּׂדֶה.** אַנְשֵׁי שְׁכֶם:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**The people went out to the fields.** The people of Shechem.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:42:2
[Rashi on Judges 9:42:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:42:2)

**וַיַּגִּידוּ.** הַמַּגִּידִים לַאֲבִימֶלֶךְ, שֶׁיָּצְאוּ בְּנֵי הָעִיר אֶל הַשָּׂדֶה לַעֲשׂוֹת חֶפְצֵיהֶם:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**They informed.** Those who gave the information to Avimelech, that the townspeople had gone to the fields to attend to their wants.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:44:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:44:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:44:1)

**פֶּתַח שַׁעַר הָעִיר.** שֶׁלֹּא יוּכְלוּ לִיכָּנֵס:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**At the entrance to the gateway of the city** to block their entry.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:46:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:46:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:46:1)

**צְרִיחַ.** יַעַר שֶׁכָּפוּ אִילָנוֹת וּפְסָגִים סָבִיב סָבִיב, וְקוֹרִין אוֹתוֹ פלייש״ר בְּלַעַ״ז:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Forest stockade.** A forest encircled by twisted trees and branches, called "plisse" in old French.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:46:2
[Rashi on Judges 9:46:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:46:2)

**בֵּית אֵל בְּרִית.** אוֹתוֹ צְרִיחַ הָיָה שֶׁל בַּעַל בְּרִית, שֵׁם שֶׁל עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁלָּהֶם, וְצַלְמוֹן (פסוק מח), יַעַר הָיָה שָׁם וְיֵשׁ פּוֹתְרִין: צְרִיחַ, וודו״י בְּלַעַ״ז שֶׁעוֹשִׂין בַּקַּרְקַע:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Of the temple of the god Beris.** The stockade belonged to Baal Beris, the name of their deity. Tzalmon¹⁵, too, owned a forest there. Others interpret **צֽרִיחַ** as "voutes" in old French, "bunker," dug into the ground.

footnotes:
¹⁵ Mentioned in v. 48.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:48:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:48:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:48:1)

**שׂוֹכַת עֵצִים.** עֲנַף עֵצִים:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**The overhang of a tree.** The branch of a tree.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:53:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:53:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:53:1)

**פֶּלַח רֶכֶב.** חֲתִיכַת אֶבֶן שֶׁל רֵחַיִם הָעֶלְיוֹנָה הַקְּרוּיָה רֶכֶב:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**A pestle shard.** A fragment of upper grinding stone called "pestle" [lit. "rider.¹⁶].

footnotes:
¹⁶ As the upper pestle stone “rides” the lower mortar stone. (Metzudos).


###### Rashi on Judges 9:53:2
[Rashi on Judges 9:53:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:53:2)

**וַתָּרִץ.** וַתְּרוֹצֵץ:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**And smashed.** Crushed.¹⁷

footnotes:
¹⁷ תָּרָץ is usually translated as “ran”. Here, however, the translation is “crushed”, or “smashed”.


###### Rashi on Judges 9:54:1
[Rashi on Judges 9:54:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Rashi%20on%20Judges/r/9:54:1)

**פֶּן יֹאמְרוּ לִי.** פֶּן יֹאמְרוּ עָלַי:

**The Metsudah Tanach series, Lakewood, N.J:**
**Lest it be said of me.** Lest it be said concerning me.¹⁸

footnotes:
¹⁸ לי is not translated as “to me,” but as “concerning me.”