Judges 9:1-5

Abimelech Murders His Brothers

9:1 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  9:2 “Tell ³  all the leaders of Shechem this: ‘Why would you want ⁴  to have seventy men, all Jerub-Baal’s sons, ruling over you, when you can have just one ruler? Recall that I am your own flesh and blood.’” ⁵  9:3 His mother’s relatives ⁶  spoke on his behalf to ⁷  all the leaders of Shechem and reported his proposal. ⁸  The leaders were drawn to Abimelech; ⁹  they said, “He is our close relative.” ¹⁰  9:4 They paid him seventy silver shekels out of the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech then used the silver to hire some lawless, dangerous ¹¹  men as his followers. ¹²  9:5 He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and murdered his half-brothers, ¹³  the seventy legitimate ¹⁴  sons of Jerub-Baal, on one stone. Only Jotham, Jerub-Baal’s youngest son, escaped, ¹⁵  because he hid.

Judges 9:29

9:29 If only these men ¹⁶  were under my command, ¹⁷  I would get rid of Abimelech!” He challenged Abimelech, ¹⁸  “Muster ¹⁹  your army and come out for battle!” ²⁰ 

[9:1]  ¹ tn Heb “brothers.”

[9:1]  ² tn Heb “to all the extended family of the house of the father of his mother.”

[9:2]  ³ tn Heb “Speak into the ears of.”

[9:2]  ⁴ tn Heb “What good is it to you?”

[9:2]  ⁵ tn Heb “your bone and your flesh.”

[9:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “brothers.”

[9:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “into the ears of.”

[9:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “and all these words.”

[9:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “Their heart was inclined after Abimelech.”

[9:3]  ⁹ tn Heb “our brother.”

[9:4]  ⁷ tn Heb “empty and reckless.”

[9:4]  ⁸ tn Heb “and they followed him.”

[9:5]  ⁹ tn Heb “his brothers.”

[9:5]  ¹⁰ tn The word “legitimate” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[9:5]  ¹¹ tn Heb “remained.”

[9:29]  ¹¹ tn Heb “people.”

[9:29]  ¹² tn Heb “in my hand.”

[9:29]  ¹³ tn Heb “said to Abimelech.” On the other hand, the preposition ל (lamed) prefixed to the proper name may be vocative (see R. G. Boling, Judges [AB], 178). If so, one could translate, “He boasted, ‘Abimelech…’”

[9:29]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “Make numerous.”

[9:29]  ¹⁵ tn The words “for battle” are interpretive.