Judges 9:2-3

9:2 “Tell ¹  all the leaders of Shechem this: ‘Why would you want ²  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.’” ³  9:3 His mother’s relatives ⁴  spoke on his behalf to ⁵  all the leaders of Shechem and reported his proposal. ⁶  The leaders were drawn to Abimelech; ⁷  they said, “He is our close relative.” ⁸ 

Judges 9:7

Jotham’s Parable

9:7 When Jotham heard the news, ⁹  he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He spoke loudly to the people below, ¹⁰  “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you!

Judges 9:18

9:18 But you have attacked ¹¹  my father’s family ¹²  today. You murdered his seventy legitimate ¹³  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. ¹⁴ 

Judges 9:20

9:20 But if not, may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech!”

Judges 9:24

9:24 He did this so the violent deaths of Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons might be avenged and Abimelech, their half-brother ¹⁵  who murdered them, might have to pay for their spilled blood, along with the leaders of Shechem who helped him murder them. ¹⁶ 

Judges 9:51

9:51 There was a fortified ¹⁷  tower ¹⁸  in the center of the city, so all the men and women, as well as the city’s leaders, ran into it and locked the entrance. Then they went up to the roof of the tower.

[9:2]  ¹ tn Heb “Speak into the ears of.”

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

[9:2]  ³ tn Heb “your bone and your flesh.”

[9:3]  ⁴ tn Heb “brothers.”

[9:3]  ⁵ tn Heb “into the ears of.”

[9:3]  ⁶ tn Heb “and all these words.”

[9:3]  ⁷ tn Heb “Their heart was inclined after Abimelech.”

[9:3]  ⁸ tn Heb “our brother.”

[9:7]  ⁷ tn Heb “And they reported to Jotham.” The subject of the plural verb is indefinite.

[9:7]  ⁸ tn Heb “He lifted his voice and called and said to them.”

[9:18]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “have risen up against.”

[9:18]  ¹¹ tn Heb “house.”

[9:18]  ¹² tn The word “legitimate” is not in the Hebrew text, but is supplied in the translation for clarification.

[9:18]  ¹³ tn Heb “your brother.”

[9:24]  ¹³ tn Heb “their brother.”

[9:24]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerub-Baal might come, and their blood might be placed on Abimelech, their brother, who murdered them, and upon the leaders of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to murder his brothers.”

[9:51]  ¹⁶ tn Or “strong.”

[9:51]  ¹⁷ tn Or “fortress.” The same Hebrew term occurs once more in this verse and twice in v. 52.