Judges 9:1 - Forerunner Commentary

Judges 9:1

Abimelech’s Conspiracy

1 Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to ^ahis mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,

2 “Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all ^aseventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and ^bbone.”

3 And his mother’s brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our ^abrother.”

4 So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of ^aBaal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired ^bworthless and reckless men; and they followed him.

5 Then he went to his father’s house ^aat Ophrah and ^bkilled his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself.

6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem.

The Parable of the Trees

7 Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of ^aMount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them:
“Listen to me, you men of Shechem,
That God may listen to you!

8 “The^a trees once went forth to anoint a king over them.
And they said to the olive tree,
^b‘Reign over us!’

Verse Comparison: Judges 9:1

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American Standard Version
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and spake with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

Amplified® Bible
NOW ABIMELECH son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) went to Shechem to his mother's kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,

Contemporary English Version
Abimelech the son of Gideon went to Shechem. While there, he met with his mother's relatives

Darby English Version
Now Abim'elech the son of Jerubba'al went to Shechem to his mother's kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,

Good News Bible
Gideon's son Abimelech went to the town of Shechem, where all his mother's relatives lived, and told them

King James Version
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

New American Standard Bible
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother's father, saying,

New International Version
Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan,

New King James Version
Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,

N.A.S.B. in E-Prime
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother's father, saying,

Revised Standard Version
Now Abim'elech the son of Jerubba'al went to Shechem to his mother's kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,

Young's Literal Translation
and Abimelech son of Jerubbaal goeth to Shechem, unto his mother's brethren, and speaketh unto them, and unto all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

New English Translation
Now Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to see his mother’s relatives.¹ He said to them and to his mother’s entire extended family,²

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