Judges 9:57

Translations

Modern

And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

Traditional

And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Literal

And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and came upon them the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.

Latin

Sichimitis quoque quod operati erant, retributum est, et venit super eos maledictio Joatham filii Jerobaal.

Original

Hebrew

English

And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

Notes

Judges 9:56–57

The theological summary revisits Jotham’s fable (Judges 9:24). Abimelech lacked divine charisma, and his death due to divine vengeance brought justice to Gideon’s family. Israel’s attempt at kingship without divine guidance showed the dangers of leadership not from God.

Judges 9:22–57

Theological statements in Judges 9:23–24 and 9:56–57 frame the story of the civil conflict that caused the destruction of Abimelech and Shechem. This event fulfilled the curse that Jotham declared (Judges 9:19–20).

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 Shechem

Events

Usurpation by Abimelech

Related verses

Judges 9:20
But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”
Judges 9:45
And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.
Joshua 6:26
At that time Joshua invoked this solemn oath: “Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho; at the cost of his firstborn he will lay its foundations; at the cost of his youngest he will set up its gates.”
1 Kings 16:34
In Ahab’s days, Hiel the Bethelite rebuilt Jericho. At the cost of Abiram his firstborn he laid its foundation, and at the cost of Segub his youngest he set up its gates, according to the word that the LORD had spoken through Joshua son of Nun.

People

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

Places

Shechem: City in Canaan, later allotted to Ephraim

Glossary

Abimelech Curse, Cursed Jotham Judges, Book of Shechem (Place) Warfare

Topics

God: Judge, and his Justice Jotham: Son of Gideon Judgments: Upon Abimelech

Judges 9:57

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