Keraia
Judges 9

Judges 9:18

Jotham’s Parable · Judges 9:7–21
Read Judges 9

Translations

Modern
…but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—
Traditional
And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)
Literal
And you have risen up against the house of my father this day and killed his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and made Abimelech son of his maidservant king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother—
Latin
…qui nunc surrexistis contra domum patris mei, et interfecistis filios ejus septuaginta viros super unum lapidem, et constituistis regem Abimelech filium ancillæ ejus super habitatores Sichem, eo quod frater vester sit:

Original

Hebrew
English
…but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—

Notes

Judges 9:16–18

The people of Shechem chose to follow an unworthy man. They also acted dishonestly by plotting with Abimelech against Gideon's family.

Judges 9:7–21

Jotham shared a fable, where plants and animals act like humans, to illustrate the situation (Judges 9:7–15). He then cursed Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem (Judges 9:16–21). If they had acted dishonestly, it would become clear (Judges 9:56–57).

Judges 9:1–57

Abimelech's reign marked a shift from the relative peace of the early judges (Judges 3:7–8:35) to the decline of the later years (10:1–16:31).

Theme notes and profiles

Gideon Preaching to a Tough Crowd Shechem

Events

People

Abimelech: Son of Gideon, self-proclaimed king of Shechem

Places

Shechem: City in Canaan, later allotted to Ephraim

Glossary

Arumah Baal-Berith Beth-Millo Curse, Cursed Judges, Book of Millo Shechem (Place) Warfare

Topics

Fatherless: Jotham Homicide: Felonious: Abimelech Ingratitude: Shechemites Jotham: Son of Gideon: Rebukes the Shechemites with the Parable About the Trees Judge: Abimelech Orphan: Jotham Sarcasm by Jotham