Judges 9:16-19

9:16 “Now, if you have shown loyalty and integrity when you made Abimelech king, if you have done right to Jerub-Baal and his family, ¹  if you have properly repaid him ²  – 9:17 my father fought for you; he risked his life ³  and delivered you from Midian’s power. ⁴  9:18 But you have attacked ⁵  my father’s family ⁶  today. You murdered his seventy legitimate ⁷  sons on one stone and made Abimelech, the son of his female slave, king over the leaders of Shechem, just because he is your close relative. ⁸  9:19 So if you have shown loyalty and integrity to Jerub-Baal and his family ⁹  today, then may Abimelech bring you happiness and may you bring him happiness! ¹⁰ 

[9:16]  ¹ tn Heb “house.”

[9:16]  ² tn Heb “if according to the deeds of his hands you have done to him.”

[9:17]  ³ tc Heb “threw his life out in front,” that is, “exposed himself to danger.” The MT form מִנֶּגֶד (minneged, “from before”) should probably be read as מִנֶּגְדּוֹ (minnegdo, “from before him”); haplography of vav has likely occurred here in the MT.

[9:17]  ⁴ tn Heb “hand.”

[9:18]  ⁵ tn Heb “have risen up against.”

[9:18]  ⁶ tn Heb “house.”

[9:18]  ⁷ tn The word “legitimate” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[9:18]  ⁸ tn Heb “your brother.”

[9:19]  ⁷ tn Heb “house.”

[9:19]  ⁸ tn Heb “then rejoice in Abimelech, and may he also rejoice in you.”