Add parallel Print Page Options

He went to his father's home in Ophrah. He killed his 70 brothers, the sons of Gideon. He killed them all on one rock. But Jotham, Gideon's youngest son, hid himself and he escaped.[a]

Then the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo met together. They took Abimelech to the oak tree near the pillar of rock in Shechem. There they made Abimelech king.

When Jotham heard the news of what had happened, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim. He stood there and he shouted to the people, ‘Leaders of Shechem, listen to me! Then perhaps God will listen to you.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 9:5 Abimelech's 70 brothers were his half-brothers. They were the true sons of Gideon. Abimelech was the son of Gideon's slave wife. See Judges 8:31.

He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers,(A) the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham,(B) the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.(C) Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo(D) gathered beside the great tree(E) at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.

When Jotham(F) was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim(G) and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.

Read full chapter