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Judges 9

KJ3 Literal Translation — Chapter 9 of 21

1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them, and to all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

2 Please speak in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, Which is best for you, seventy men ruling over you, all the sons of Jerubbaal, or one man ruling over you? And you should remember that I am your bone and your flesh.

3 And his mother's brothers spoke all these words about him in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their heart inclined after Abimelech. For they said, He is our brother.

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Chapter Summary

Abimelech conspires with the men of Shechem to murder his brothers, is made king. 22 Gaal conspires with the men of Shechem against him.

Key Hebrew Words

מַהֲר֖וּ acquire by paying purchase-price H4116 · TWOT 1153
צָרִ֥ים shew hostility to H6696 · TWOT 1899
חֲמַ֖ס violence H2555 · TWOT 678a
רֶ֖כֶב chariotry H7393 · TWOT 2163a
כַּרְמֵי vineyard H3754 · TWOT 1040a

People & Context

Abimelech's Pitch at Shechem

Abimelech went to Shechem and asked his mother's family to pitch to the leaders whether it was better for seventy men to rule them or one man , .

Leaders Support Abimelech

The leaders of Shechem inclined their hearts to Abimelech and gave him seventy silver pieces from the house of Baal-berith, which he used to hire wort…

Massacre of Jerubbaal's Sons

Abimelech went to Ophrah and killed his seventy brothers on one stone, though the youngest, Jotham, hid and survived .

Timeline

Abimelech's Pitch at Shechem

Abimelech went to Shechem and asked his mother's family to pitch to the leaders whether it was better for seventy men to rule them or one man , .

Judges 9:1-2
Leaders Support Abimelech

The leaders of Shechem inclined their hearts to Abimelech and gave him seventy silver pieces from the house of Baal-berith, which he used to hire worthless and reckless men .

Judges 9:3-4
Massacre of Jerubbaal's Sons

Abimelech went to Ophrah and killed his seventy brothers on one stone, though the youngest, Jotham, hid and survived .

Judges 9:5

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