Jueces 9:5

5 Fue a Ofra, a la casa de su padre, y sobre una misma piedra asesinó a sus setenta hermanos, hijos de Yerubaal. Pero Jotán, el hijo menor de Yerubaal, se escondió y logró escaparse.

Jueces 9:5 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 9:5

And he went to his father's house at Ophrah
Which, according to Bunting ^F1, was ten miles from Shechem:

and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons,
upon one stone:
in which he was assisted by the ruffians he had hired with seventy pieces of silver; these were laid one after another upon one and the same stone, as being convenient for the execution of them; or as serving as an altar on which they were sacrificed to Baal, out of whose temple the money was taken to hire the executioners with. They are said to be seventy that were slain, though one escaped, the round number being given, as in many other instances, as in ( Genesis 46:27 ) ( John 20:24 ) ,

notwithstanding, yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left;
or remained alive, not out of compassion to his youth, but because he could not be found:

for he hid himself;
for no doubt Abimelech, and his crew, were most forward to lay hold of the eldest, and sacrifice them first, as being most in his way; this gave Jotham the youngest not only notice of their design, but an opportunity of providing for his safety, or however his friends; for it may be rendered, as in some versions, "he was hidden" {b}, that is, by others.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Travels of the Patriarchs p. 111.
F2 (abxn) (ekrubh) Sept. "absconditus est", V. L. "qui absconditus fuit", Tigurine version; so the Targum.

Jueces 9:5 In-Context

3 Cuando los hermanos de su madre comunicaron todo esto a los señores de Siquén, estos se inclinaron a favor de Abimélec, porque dijeron: «Él es nuestro hermano».

4 Y le dieron setenta monedas de plata del templo de Baal Berit, con lo cual Abimélec contrató a unos maleantes sin escrúpulos para que lo siguieran.

5 Fue a Ofra, a la casa de su padre, y sobre una misma piedra asesinó a sus setenta hermanos, hijos de Yerubaal. Pero Jotán, el hijo menor de Yerubaal, se escondió y logró escaparse.

6 Todos los señores de Siquén y Bet Miló se reunieron junto a la encina y la piedra sagrada que están en Siquén, para coronar como rey a Abimélec.

7 Cuando Jotán se enteró, subió a la cima del monte Guerizín y les gritó bien fuerte:«¡Escúchenme, señores de Siquén,y que Dios los escuche a ustedes!