Judges 9:1-6

Abimelech's Conspiracy

1 And ¹Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother's father, saying,

2 "Speak, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that ²seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?' Also, remember that I am ³your bone and your flesh."

3 And his mother's relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem; and they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is ⁴our relative."

4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of ⁵Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed * him.

5 Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah and ⁶killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, ⁷seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.

6 All the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.

Read Chapter Compare

Judges 9:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 9

This chapter contains an account of the craft and cruelty of Abimelech, by which he got himself made king of the Shechemites, Jud 9:1-6 of the parable of Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon, concerning the trees, in which he exposes their folly in making Abimelech king, and foretells the ruin of them both, Jud 9:7-21 of the contentions which arose between Abimelech, and the men of Shechem, increased by Gaal the son of Ebed, Jud 9:22-29 who was drawn into a battle with Abimelech, and beaten and forced to fly, Jud 9:30-41 but the quarrel between Abimelech and the men of Shechem ceased not, but still continued, which issued in the entire ruin of the city and the inhabitants of it, Jud 9:42-49 and in the death of Abimelech himself, according to Jotham's curse, Jud 9:50-57.

Taken from John Gill's Exposition of the Bible

Cross References 7

1. Judges 8:31, 35
2. Judges 8:30; Judges 9:5, 18
3. Genesis 29:14
4. Genesis 29:15
5. Judges 8:33
6. 2 Kings 11:1, 2
7. Judges 8:30; Judges 9:2, 18

Footnotes 6

[a]. Lit "brothers"
[b]. Lit "brothers"
[c]. Lit "their hearts inclined after"
[d]. Lit "brother"
[e]. Or "the house of Millo"
[f]. Or "terebinth"