Judges 9:1-6
New American Standard Bible
Abimelech’s Conspiracy
9 Now (A)Abimelech the son of [a]Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s relatives, and spoke to them and to the entire family of the household of his mother’s father, saying, 2 “Speak, now, in the hearing of all the [b]leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: for (B)seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, to rule over you, or for one man to rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am (C)your bone and your flesh.” 3 So his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the [c]leaders of Shechem; and [d]they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is (D)our relative.” 4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of (E)Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men, and they followed him. 5 Then he went to his father’s house in Ophrah and (F)killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, (G)seventy men, [e]on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself. 6 All the [f]leaders of Shechem and all [g]Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the [h]oak of the memorial stone which was in Shechem.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Judges 9:1 I.e., Gideon
- Judges 9:2 Or landowners
- Judges 9:3 Or landowners
- Judges 9:3 Lit their hearts inclined after
- Judges 9:5 Perhaps a mass human sacrifice
- Judges 9:6 Or landowners
- Judges 9:6 Or the house of Millo
- Judges 9:6 Or terebinth
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