Judges 9:16 - “Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands
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What does "Judges 9:16" mean?
This verse from Judges 9:16 is part of a speech by Jotham, one of Gideon's (Jerubbaal's) sons, delivered from the top of Mount Gerizim. He is cursing the people of Shechem and Abimelech for their wicked actions. Let's break down the meaning of this verse:
"Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king...": Jotham is using sarcasm here. He's saying, "If, and only if," the people of Shechem have acted with honesty and justice in making Abimelech king. The implication is that they haven't. He is laying the groundwork for his condemnation of their actions.
"...and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house...": Again, sarcasm. He's suggesting that if they have treated Gideon (Jerubbaal) and his family well, then their actions might be justifiable. Of course, the audience knows that they have done the opposite; they've murdered all but one of Gideon's sons at Abimelech's instigation.
"...and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands": This continues the conditional statement. If they had repaid Gideon for his good deeds and service to them, then their behavior might be acceptable. But Gideon saved them from the Midianites, and their response was to kill his sons.
In essence, Jotham is sarcastically challenging the legitimacy and morality of their actions. He's highlighting the contrast between what should have been (treating Gideon and his family well, acknowledging Gideon's good deeds) and what actually happened (massacring Gideon's sons and installing a tyrant, Abimelech, as king). It sets the stage for him to pronounce a curse upon them for their treachery and ingratitude. The verse functions as a rhetorical device to emphasize the wickedness of the people of Shechem and Abimelech.
Judges 9:16 - “Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands
What does "Judges 9:16" mean?
This verse from Judges 9:16 is part of a speech by Jotham, one of Gideon's (Jerubbaal's) sons, delivered from the top of Mount Gerizim. He is cursing the people of Shechem and Abimelech for their wicked actions. Let's break down the meaning of this verse:
"Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king...": Jotham is using sarcasm here. He's saying, "If, and only if," the people of Shechem have acted with honesty and justice in making Abimelech king. The implication is that they haven't. He is laying the groundwork for his condemnation of their actions.
"...and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house...": Again, sarcasm. He's suggesting that if they have treated Gideon (Jerubbaal) and his family well, then their actions might be justifiable. Of course, the audience knows that they have done the opposite; they've murdered all but one of Gideon's sons at Abimelech's instigation.
"...and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands": This continues the conditional statement. If they had repaid Gideon for his good deeds and service to them, then their behavior might be acceptable. But Gideon saved them from the Midianites, and their response was to kill his sons.
In essence, Jotham is sarcastically challenging the legitimacy and morality of their actions. He's highlighting the contrast between what should have been (treating Gideon and his family well, acknowledging Gideon's good deeds) and what actually happened (massacring Gideon's sons and installing a tyrant, Abimelech, as king). It sets the stage for him to pronounce a curse upon them for their treachery and ingratitude. The verse functions as a rhetorical device to emphasize the wickedness of the people of Shechem and Abimelech.