And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
Abimelech chased him, and he ran away from him. Many people were struck down and wounded all the way to the city gate.
This verse describes Abimelech defeating and pursuing his enemy in battle, with many casualties occurring as the defeated army fled back to their city.
📚 Historical Context
This verse describes part of the conflict between Abimelech (the illegitimate son of Gideon who made himself king) and Gaal, who had challenged Abimelech's rule over Shechem. This battle was part of the civil war that erupted when the people of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech's harsh leadership. The period of Judges was marked by political instability and frequent warfare as Israel lacked centralized leadership.
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