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Judges 9:24
ESV that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
NIV God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
NASB so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal would come, and the responsibility for their blood would be placed on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the leaders of Shechem, who encouraged him to kill his brothers.
CSB so that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood would be avenged on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him kill his brothers.
NLT God was punishing Abimelech for murdering Gideon’s seventy sons, and the citizens of Shechem for supporting him in this treachery of murdering his brothers.
KJV That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
NKJV that the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers.

What does Judges 9:24 mean?

This verse shows God's motive in clear terms: He is repaying both Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem for the slaughter of Gideon's sons (Judges 9:1–6). Abimelech and his hired goons were the ones to kill the sons of Jerubbaal (Judges 6:32), but the leaders of Shechem arranged for that to happen. They paid for the hoodlums who helped Abimelech, and accepted his demand to become their ruler.

The blood of the sons of God's deliverer (Judges 6:11–12; 8:33–34) was on the hands of Abimelech and his subjects. Both would be made to pay by the Lord Himself.

The prior verse indicated God sent "an evil spirit" between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. This is not the only time Scripture mentions the Lord using this technique (1 Samuel 16:14). The terminology here might refer to a literal demon, or more likely, an attitude of hatred and anger. Either way, God drives these evildoers to destroy each other, in judgment against their sin.
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