Judges 9 1

Judges 9:1 kjv

And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

Judges 9:1 nkjv

Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

Judges 9:1 niv

Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan,

Judges 9:1 esv

Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,

Judges 9:1 nlt

One day Gideon's son Abimelech went to Shechem to visit his uncles ? his mother's brothers. He said to them and to the rest of his mother's family,

Judges 9 verses

Judges 9 1 Meaning

Judges 9:1 introduces Abimelech, son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) by a concubine from Shechem. It describes his deliberate journey to Shechem to leverage his maternal family connections and other influential figures, specifically "the house of Millo." This visit is not for personal greetings but marks the beginning of a calculated plan to seize power and establish himself as king, indicating the initial steps of a treacherous scheme aimed at overthrowing existing familial and tribal structures.

Judges 9 1 Context

Judges 9:1 serves as the prologue to Abimelech's oppressive rule and subsequent demise, immediately following Gideon’s death. While Gideon was a deliverer raised by God, his later life was marked by flaws, including marrying many wives and taking a concubine from Shechem who bore Abimelech (Judges 8:30-31). This concubine and her family become the conduit for Abimelech's initial power grab.

The historical context is the period of the Judges, a time when "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6, 21:25). Central authority was absent, leading to moral decay, inter-tribal strife, and cycles of foreign oppression followed by divinely appointed judges. Abimelech's attempt to establish a monarchy from a place of illegitimate lineage and violent means represents a perversion of God's desire for His people and foreshadows Israel's later misguided desire for a king like other nations. Shechem itself holds significant covenantal history (Genesis 12, Joshua 24), making it particularly poignant that such a dark and self-serving plot begins there.

Judges 9 1 Word analysis

• Now (וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ, waiyeleḵ): A typical Hebrew conjunction, here it acts as a narrative marker, immediately initiating a new phase in the post-Gideon era, emphasizing the promptness of Abimelech's move.
• Abimelech (אֲבִימֶ֖לֶךְ, ʾAvîmeleḵ): Meaning "my father is king" or "Melech (a pagan deity/ruler) is my father." The name is deeply ironic given his own father Gideon's explicit refusal of kingship (Judges 8:23) and Abimelech's subsequent violent pursuit of the very position his name suggests. It foreshadows his regal ambitions.
• the son of (בֶּן־, ben): A standard indicator of paternity. It immediately connects Abimelech to Gideon/Jerubbaal, underscoring his familial claim and simultaneously highlighting his unique and less legitimate lineage (son of a concubine, not a primary wife).
• Jerubbaal (יְרֻבַּ֫עַל, Yᵉruḇbaʿal): This is Gideon's alternative name, meaning "Let Baal contend" or "Baal will contend" (Judges 6:32). Using this name specifically links Abimelech to Gideon's zealous acts against Baal worship, yet it creates a sharp contrast between Gideon’s anti-idolatry stance and Abimelech's ambition, which ironically resembles pagan king-making.
• went (וַיֵּ֧לֶךְ, waiyeleḵ): Simple past tense. Conveys a decisive, self-initiated journey with a specific purpose.
• to Shechem (שְׁכֶ֥מָה, Šḵeḵmâ): A crucial city with profound historical and religious significance in Israel, being a place of early covenants (Gen 12) and renewed covenants (Josh 24). It was also where Gideon's concubine, Abimelech's mother, resided (Judges 8:31). Choosing Shechem as his base highlights his reliance on tribal and family ties for political leverage, circumventing broader Israelite approval.
• to his mother's relatives (אֶל־אֲחֵ֤י אִמּוֹ֙ / ʾel-ʾăḥê ʾimmô - literally "to the brothers of his mother"): This indicates a strategic move. In a patrilineal society, maternal kin connections could still provide essential social and political networks, especially in a different tribal territory. Abimelech utilizes this personal connection as a foundation for his power bid.
• and spoke (וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר, wayyəḏabber): Implies a deliberate and persuasive form of communication. It suggests rhetoric and lobbying, rather than immediate force, are his initial tools for manipulation.
• to them (אֲלֵהֶם֙): Specifically addressing his immediate maternal relatives first, indicating his calculated approach to garnering support from his base.
• and to all the family of the house of Millo (וְאֶל־כָּל־מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת בֵּֽית־מִלּוֹא֙): This expands Abimelech's appeal beyond direct family to a broader, powerful influential group within Shechem. "House of Millo" likely refers to a prominent clan, perhaps associated with a fortress or strong part of the city, indicating a significant political and military power bloc. Securing their allegiance was crucial for his larger scheme.
• saying (לֵאמֹֽר, lēʾmōr): A conventional particle introducing direct speech. It sets up the pivotal persuasive arguments Abimelech uses in the following verses, laying bare his manipulative intentions.

Judges 9 1 Bonus section

• The narrative of Abimelech’s rise and fall in Judges 9 can be seen as an anti-monarchical polemic within the Deuteronomistic history. It showcases the chaos, bloodshed, and instability that can arise when leadership is seized by human ambition rather than divine appointment, foreshadowing the potential pitfalls of Israel's later kingship.
• The use of "Jerubbaal" (Let Baal contend) connects Abimelech to Gideon's significant act of dismantling Baal worship, yet Abimelech's pursuit of earthly power parallels the very paganism Gideon fought, revealing the subtle ways sin and corrupt leadership can take root within God's people.
• Abimelech's careful strategy of first approaching his maternal relatives and then the wider influential "house of Millo" highlights his understanding of social and political dynamics within the tribal system, where kinship and powerful clans held significant sway.

Judges 9 1 Commentary

Judges 9:1 is the ominous opening to one of the darkest chapters in the book of Judges, showcasing the swift moral degradation after the imperfect rule of Gideon. Abimelech's calculated move to Shechem—his mother's hometown—demonstrates his manipulative nature. He immediately seeks to capitalize on his partial Israelite heritage (son of a judge) combined with strong Shechemite ties, to seize authority by exploiting kin loyalties and the absence of a strong central leader. His name, "my father is king," is profoundly ironic, given Gideon's refusal of kingship; Abimelech's ambition directly contradicts his father's professed stance and tragically realizes the potential for personal corruption. The fact that this treacherous scheme originates in Shechem, a city consecrated by Abraham and later confirmed by Joshua as a place of covenant renewal, underscores the depth of spiritual and moral decline during this era. Abimelech’s initial action isn't military might but persuasive speech, revealing his cunning and insidious approach to usurping power. This episode stands as a stark warning against unchecked ambition and the dangers of embracing ungodly, self-appointed rule.