Judges 9:5

Translations

Modern

He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

Traditional

And he went unto his father’s house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

Literal

And he went into the house of his father at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. And Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, was left, because he hid himself.

Latin

Et venit in domum patris sui in Ephra, et occidit fratres suos filios Jerobaal, septuaginta viros super lapidem unum: remansitque Joatham filius Jerobaal minimus, et absconditus est.

Original

Hebrew

English

He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

Notes

Judges 9:5

The murder of the seventy sons of Gideon on one stone was likely a ritual killing.
the youngest son...survived: Compare with 2 Kings 11:1–3.

Judges 9:3–5

Abimelech asked for money from the local temple of Baal-berith, a worship center for a mixed Canaanite-Israelite religious group.

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

Usurpation by Abimelechc. 1218 BC

Related verses

2 Kings 11:1–2
When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.
2 Chronicles 21:4
When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened himself by putting to the sword all his brothers along with some of the princes of Israel.
Judges 6:24
So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
Matthew 2:16
When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.
2 Kings 10:17
When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down everyone belonging to Ahab who remained there, until he had destroyed them, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to Elijah.
Judges 8:30
Gideon had seventy sons of his own, since he had many wives.
Matthew 2:20
“Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child’s life are now dead.”
Judges 9:2
“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”

People

Gideon: Judge of Israel; defeated Midianites; tested and reassured by God Jotham: Youngest son of Gideon who escaped Abimelech's massacre

Places

Ophrah: Gideon's hometown in Manasseh; a town in Issachar

Glossary

Abimelech Arumah Baal-Berith Jotham Judges, Book of Ophrah (Place) Shechem (Place) Warfare

Topics

Ambition: Abimelech Conspiracy: Abimelech Against Gideon's Sons Fratricide: Abimelech Homicide: Felonious: Abimelech Jotham: Son of Gideon Judge: Abimelech Murder: Abimelech Ophrah: A City in Territory of the Tribe of Manasseh; the Home of Gideon Rulers: Wicked: Abimelech, Killing his Seventy Brothers the Tribe of Manasseh: Remarkable Persons of Jotham

Judges 9:5

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Related verses

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