Judges 9:2 - “Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "Judges 9:2" mean?
This verse is part of a speech given by Abimelech to the men of Shechem in the Book of Judges, Chapter 9. Let's break it down:
Context: Abimelech, an illegitimate son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal), is trying to convince the people of Shechem to make him their king. He's maneuvering for power after his father's death.
"Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem...": This indicates a clandestine attempt to sway public opinion through intermediaries. Abimelech isn't speaking directly to the people, but rather using someone to spread his message.
"Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?": This is the core of Abimelech's argument. He presents a false dilemma. He's implying that if they don't choose him, they will have to deal with all seventy of Gideon's sons ruling, which would create chaos and instability. He sets up the scenario that multiple rulers are too many and are inherently worse than one ruler.
"Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.": This is a claim of kinship and solidarity. The phrase "bone and flesh" is a Semitic idiom indicating close familial ties and common ancestry. In this context, Abimelech is reminding the Shechemites that he is one of them (his mother was from Shechem, as clarified later in the chapter). By emphasizing this, he hopes to appeal to their loyalty and sense of shared identity, suggesting that he will look out for their best interests because he is one of them.
In Summary:
Abimelech is using manipulative rhetoric to seize power. He is:
1. Creating a false choice: He frames the situation as either chaotic rule by seventy sons or a single, stable rule by him. He conveniently ignores any other potential, more legitimate leaders.
2. Appealing to shared identity: He emphasizes his kinship with the people of Shechem to gain their trust and support.
Essentially, Abimelech is exploiting the fear of instability and leveraging his familial connection to convince the men of Shechem to choose him as their ruler, setting the stage for the bloody and tragic events that follow in Judges 9.
Judges 9:2 - “Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
What does "Judges 9:2" mean?
This verse is part of a speech given by Abimelech to the men of Shechem in the Book of Judges, Chapter 9. Let's break it down:
Context: Abimelech, an illegitimate son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal), is trying to convince the people of Shechem to make him their king. He's maneuvering for power after his father's death.
"Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem...": This indicates a clandestine attempt to sway public opinion through intermediaries. Abimelech isn't speaking directly to the people, but rather using someone to spread his message.
"Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?": This is the core of Abimelech's argument. He presents a false dilemma. He's implying that if they don't choose him, they will have to deal with all seventy of Gideon's sons ruling, which would create chaos and instability. He sets up the scenario that multiple rulers are too many and are inherently worse than one ruler.
"Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.": This is a claim of kinship and solidarity. The phrase "bone and flesh" is a Semitic idiom indicating close familial ties and common ancestry. In this context, Abimelech is reminding the Shechemites that he is one of them (his mother was from Shechem, as clarified later in the chapter). By emphasizing this, he hopes to appeal to their loyalty and sense of shared identity, suggesting that he will look out for their best interests because he is one of them.
In Summary:
Abimelech is using manipulative rhetoric to seize power. He is:
1. Creating a false choice: He frames the situation as either chaotic rule by seventy sons or a single, stable rule by him. He conveniently ignores any other potential, more legitimate leaders.
2. Appealing to shared identity: He emphasizes his kinship with the people of Shechem to gain their trust and support.
Essentially, Abimelech is exploiting the fear of instability and leveraging his familial connection to convince the men of Shechem to choose him as their ruler, setting the stage for the bloody and tragic events that follow in Judges 9.