New American Standard Bible 2020

Judges 9:1-5

1Now 1Abimelech the son of 2Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s relatives, and spoke to them and to the entire family of the household of his mother’s father, saying,

2“Speak, now, in the hearing of all the 3leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: for 4seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, to rule over you, or for one man to rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am 5your bone and your flesh.”

3So his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the 6leaders of Shechem; and 7they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is 8our relative.”

4And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of 9Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men, and they followed him.

5Then he went to his father’s house in Ophrah and 10killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, 11seventy men, 12on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself.

Read all of Judges 9

Notes

1. Judges 9:1 Judg 8:31, 35 ↩
2. Judges 9:1 I.e., Gideon ↩
3. Judges 9:2 Or landowners ↩
4. Judges 9:2 Judg 8:30; 9:5, 18 ↩
5. Judges 9:2 Gen 29:14 ↩
6. Judges 9:3 Or landowners ↩
7. Judges 9:3 Lit their hearts inclined after ↩
8. Judges 9:3 Gen 29:15 ↩
9. Judges 9:4 Judg 8:33 ↩
10. Judges 9:5 2 Kin 11:1, 2 ↩
11. Judges 9:5 Judg 8:30; 9:2, 18 ↩
12. Judges 9:5 Perhaps a mass human sacrifice ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Judges 9