Judges 9:5 - He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
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What does "Judges 9:5" mean?
This verse from Judges 9:5 describes a brutal act of fratricide and highlights the survival of one individual who will later play a significant role. Let's break it down:
"He went to his father’s house at Ophrah..." "He" refers to Abimelech, the son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal). Ophrah was Gideon's hometown. Abimelech traveled there.
"...and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone..." This is the key, and most disturbing, part. Abimelech murdered all his half-brothers (Gideon had many sons through different wives/concubines). The sheer number, seventy, underscores the scale of the ambition and ruthlessness. The phrase "on one stone" is ambiguous but strongly suggests a sacrificial or ritualistic element to the murders, or it could simply indicate the place where they were killed. This means, he killed his brothers as a religious sacrifice.
"...but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself." Jotham, the youngest of Gideon's sons, escaped the massacre by hiding. This sets up Jotham to be a key figure for later events in the narrative.
In essence, the verse describes Abimelech's bloody power grab. He eliminates all potential rivals to his claim to kingship through mass murder, cementing his rule through fear. The survival of Jotham is a crucial detail, as it preserves a voice of opposition and sets the stage for future conflict.
The passage carries a heavy weight:
Fratricide: The murder of siblings is considered a particularly heinous act, violating fundamental bonds of kinship.
Ambition and Ruthlessness: Abimelech's actions demonstrate the extreme lengths he will go to in order to achieve his goals.
Violation of Authority: Abimelech violated his authority. He was supposed to be a righteous judge like his father Gideon. But, he proved not to be the righteous judge.
Justice and Revenge: The survival of Jotham suggests that justice will eventually be served, and that Abimelech will not go unpunished for his actions.
This event represents a significant moral decline in Israel's leadership, foreshadowing the problems and challenges that will be faced as the book of Judges continues. The verse is a powerful depiction of ambition, violence, and the consequences of rejecting God's will.
Judges 9:5 - He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
What does "Judges 9:5" mean?
This verse from Judges 9:5 describes a brutal act of fratricide and highlights the survival of one individual who will later play a significant role. Let's break it down:
"He went to his father’s house at Ophrah..." "He" refers to Abimelech, the son of Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal). Ophrah was Gideon's hometown. Abimelech traveled there.
"...and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone..." This is the key, and most disturbing, part. Abimelech murdered all his half-brothers (Gideon had many sons through different wives/concubines). The sheer number, seventy, underscores the scale of the ambition and ruthlessness. The phrase "on one stone" is ambiguous but strongly suggests a sacrificial or ritualistic element to the murders, or it could simply indicate the place where they were killed. This means, he killed his brothers as a religious sacrifice.
"...but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself." Jotham, the youngest of Gideon's sons, escaped the massacre by hiding. This sets up Jotham to be a key figure for later events in the narrative.
In essence, the verse describes Abimelech's bloody power grab. He eliminates all potential rivals to his claim to kingship through mass murder, cementing his rule through fear. The survival of Jotham is a crucial detail, as it preserves a voice of opposition and sets the stage for future conflict.
The passage carries a heavy weight:
Fratricide: The murder of siblings is considered a particularly heinous act, violating fundamental bonds of kinship.
Ambition and Ruthlessness: Abimelech's actions demonstrate the extreme lengths he will go to in order to achieve his goals.
Violation of Authority: Abimelech violated his authority. He was supposed to be a righteous judge like his father Gideon. But, he proved not to be the righteous judge.
Justice and Revenge: The survival of Jotham suggests that justice will eventually be served, and that Abimelech will not go unpunished for his actions.
This event represents a significant moral decline in Israel's leadership, foreshadowing the problems and challenges that will be faced as the book of Judges continues. The verse is a powerful depiction of ambition, violence, and the consequences of rejecting God's will.