Key Verse Spotlight
Judges 9:5 - Meaning and Application
Understand how this verse speaks to what you're facing and how to apply it today
Translation: World English Bible — Catholic Edition
" He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. "
Judges 9:5
Verse in Context
Understanding the surrounding verses prevents misinterpretation:
3 His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.”
4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who followed him.
5 He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
6 All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7 When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
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Jotham, son of Gideon
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Gideon Gideon is the father of Jotham.
Source: Judges 7:1; Judges 6:32; Judges 9:5
Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people who were with him, rose up early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. Midian’s camp was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
Read Judges 7:1Therefore on that day he named him Jerub-Baal, saying, “Let Baal contend against him, because he has broken down his altar.”
Read Judges 6:32He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
Read Judges 9:5
Explore Jotham, son of Gideon’s connections
Gideon
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Joash, father of Gideon Joash is the father of Gideon.
Source: Judges 6:11
The LORD’s angel came and sat under the oak which was in Ophrah, that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite. His son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine press, to hide it from the Midianites.
Read Judges 6:11 -
Jether, son of Gideon Gideon is the father of Jether.
Source: Judges 8:20; Judges 8:21
He said to Jether his firstborn, “Get up and kill them!” But the youth didn’t draw his sword; for he was afraid, because he was yet a youth.
Read Judges 8:20Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, “You rise and fall on us; for as the man is, so is his strength.” Gideon arose, and killed Zebah and Zalmunna, and took the crescents that were on their camels’ necks.
Read Judges 8:21 -
Abimelech, son of Gideon Gideon is the father of Abimelech.
Source: Judges 7:1; Judges 8:29; Judges 8:30; Judges 8:31
Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people who were with him, rose up early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. Midian’s camp was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
Read Judges 7:1Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and lived in his own house.
Read Judges 8:29Gideon had seventy sons conceived from his body, for he had many wives.
Read Judges 8:30His concubine who was in Shechem also bore him a son, and he named him Abimelech.
Read Judges 8:31 -
Jotham, son of Gideon Gideon is the father of Jotham.
Source: Judges 7:1; Judges 6:32; Judges 9:5
Then Jerubbaal, who is Gideon, and all the people who were with him, rose up early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. Midian’s camp was on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley.
Read Judges 7:1Therefore on that day he named him Jerub-Baal, saying, “Let Baal contend against him, because he has broken down his altar.”
Read Judges 6:32He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
Read Judges 9:5
Selected relationship data adapted from BibleData, Brady Stephenson (CC BY 4.0). Reviewed, translated and supplemented with Scripture references.
From This Chapter
Judges 9:1
"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,"
Judges 9:2
"“Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”"
Judges 9:3
"His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.”"
Judges 9:4
"They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who followed him."
Judges 9:6
"All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem."
Judges 9:7
"When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you."
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