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

מָלַךְ reign, make king H4427 · TWOT 1199
הָרַג kill, slay H2026 · TWOT 514
עֵץ tree H6086 · TWOT 1670a
אֵשׁ fire H784 · TWOT 172
רָעָה evil, wickedness H7451 · TWOT 2191c
קָלַל curse H7043 · TWOT 2028

People & Context

Abimelech

Son of Jerubbaal by a Shechemite slave-woman; murders his seventy brothers and is made king, then dies at Thebez.

Jotham

Youngest son of Jerubbaal, sole survivor of the massacre; cries the parable of the trees and curse from Mount Gerizim.

Gaal

Son of Ebed; moves into Shechem and incites its leaders to rebel against Abimelech, then is defeated.

Zebul

Ruler of Shechem and Abimelech's officer; secretly warns him and ambushes Gaal, driving him out.

Jerubbaal (Gideon)

Abimelech's father; his seventy sons are slain, and Jotham invokes his faithful deliverance of Israel from Midian.

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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