Judges 9 5

Judges 9:5 kjv

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.

Judges 9:5 nkjv

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

Judges 9:5 niv

He went to his father's home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.

Judges 9:5 esv

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

Judges 9:5 nlt

He went to his father's home at Ophrah, and there, on one stone, they killed all seventy of his half brothers, the sons of Gideon. But the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and hid.

Judges 9 verses

Judges 9 5 Meaning

Judges 9:5 details the ruthless consolidation of power by Abimelech, the son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) by a concubine. He travels to his father's ancestral home in Ophrah and brutally murders sixty-nine of his seventy half-brothers on a single stone. This act of fratricide was intended to eliminate all potential rivals and secure his claim to rule over Shechem. However, the youngest son, Jotham, skillfully managed to hide himself and survived, an unexpected twist that proves critical to the narrative's unfolding and the eventual divine retribution.

Judges 9 5 Context

Judges Chapter 9 opens immediately following Gideon’s death and an interlude where Israel reverts to idolatry (Judg 8:33). Gideon, despite being a great deliverer, had a concubine in Shechem, who bore Abimelech. Gideon's other ninety-nine sons (implicitly mentioned by the 'seventy') were his legitimate heirs from many wives (Judg 8:30-31). Abimelech, whose name means "my father is king," seeks to establish himself as ruler. He cunningly appeals to the Shechemites, who had kinship ties to his mother, urging them to choose him over Gideon's legitimate sons (Judg 9:1-3). They fund him from the temple of Baal-berith (Judg 9:4), showing their corrupted allegiance. Verse 5 is the brutal culmination of this political maneuver, where Abimelech eliminates all potential rivals to consolidate his power through mass murder, an act of sheer ruthlessness driven by ambition for a throne. The historical setting is one of increasing internal tribal strife, moral decline, and a longing for stability, misguidedly sought through human power rather than God's covenant.

Judges 9 5 Word analysis

• Then he went: This indicates an immediate, deliberate action by Abimelech following his connivance with the leaders of Shechem. It signals his determined pursuit of power.
• to his father’s house at Ophrah: "His father’s house" (Hebrew: bêt 'aviyw) signifies the family seat, the patriarchal residence where Gideon’s extended family, including his sons, resided. Ophrah was Gideon’s hometown, now defiled by this atrocious act.
• and murdered (הָרַג - harag): This strong verb signifies a violent and intentional slaying. It is not mere killing, but a cold-blooded slaughter, underscoring the severity and sinfulness of Abimelech's actions. This highlights fratricide, which is deeply condemned in biblical ethics.
• his brothers (אֶחָיו - 'echayv): Although specifically half-brothers, the term "brothers" emphasizes the breach of kinship and the natural bond of family. This highlights the heinous nature of Abimelech's crime against his own flesh and blood.
• the seventy sons of Jerubbaal: "Seventy" (Hebrew: shiv'im) is a numerically significant figure in the Bible, often symbolizing completeness or a full and extensive number. Here, it conveys the shocking scale and ruthlessness of Abimelech's ambition to eliminate every conceivable male rival, wiping out an entire generation of Gideon’s legitimate lineage. "Jerubbaal" is Gideon’s alternative name, linking these sons directly to the great deliverer and making the act against them all the more sacrilegious in its context.
• on one stone (אֶבֶן אֶחָת - 'even 'eḥat): The phrase "on one stone" implies a collective execution. It suggests a pre-planned, systematic slaughter, possibly evoking a sacrificial altar, turning the site into a grim monument to Abimelech's brutality. It signifies a complete, undifferentiated act of extermination, treating them as a single collective threat to be removed.
• But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal: "But" introduces a critical counter-point. Jotham's identity as "the youngest son" and the only survivor emphasizes his underdog status, setting the stage for his prophetic defiance.
• survived (נִשְׁאָר - nish'ar): This highlights a miraculous element or divine providence, as his escape goes against Abimelech’s systematic intent to wipe out all male heirs.
• because he hid himself (נֶחְבָּא - nechba): This indicates Jotham’s personal agency and cunning in preserving his life. It demonstrates his astuteness and sets the scene for his pivotal role as a prophet of judgment in the ensuing narrative (Judges 9:7-21).

Judges 9 5 Bonus section

The narrative in Judges 9, particularly this verse, strongly serves as a cautionary tale against ungodly leadership and the dangers of human aspiration apart from divine will. Abimelech's rise is presented as a negative precedent for kingship in Israel, directly contrasting with Gideon's refusal to be king and ultimately with the divinely appointed Davidic line. The "seventy" also brings to mind the seventy elders of Israel (Num 11:16-17), a number often associated with spiritual leadership or the completeness of the community; here, it signifies a devastating loss of potential leaders for Israel, victims of one man's tyrannical will. The reference to Ophrah, Gideon's home, is significant as it ties Abimelech's wicked act directly to Gideon's legacy, indicating a spiritual deterioration that affects even the 'house' of a judge. This brutal act sets the stage for God's just retribution upon Abimelech, proving that no deed goes unpunished in God's economy of justice.

Judges 9 5 Commentary

Judges 9:5 serves as a chilling illustration of unbridled human ambition, driven by a lust for power at any cost. Abimelech's brutal fratricide, murdering sixty-nine of his brothers, reveals the depth of depravity that can stem from self-serving desires. This act fundamentally rejects God's order and established a pseudo-monarchy on a foundation of blood and betrayal. The systematic execution "on one stone" underscores the cold, calculated nature of his cruelty, echoing ancient Near Eastern practices of eliminating rival claimants. The singular survival of Jotham is not accidental but points to a divine counter-action. Jotham becomes the prophetic voice, condemning Abimelech and, by extension, warning against a king chosen by human depravity rather than divine appointment. This verse foreshadows the ultimate judgment that will befall Abimelech and highlights the destructive consequences of rejecting righteous leadership for ruthless human tyranny.