Judges 9:2 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh."

NIV: "Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood."

NASB: Speak, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: for seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, to rule over you, or for one man to rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am your bone and your flesh.'

CSB: "Please speak in the hearing of all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you or that one man rule over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood."

NLT: Ask the leading citizens of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon’s sons or by one man. And remember that I am your own flesh and blood!'

KJV: Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

NKJV: “Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and bone.”

Abimelech (Judges 8:29–31) wants to be king of Shechem and maybe all of Israel. His father Gideon refused to be named the official ruler of the nation (Judges 8:22–23). And yet, it seems he became the unofficial king of Israel. One translation for Abimelech's name is "the king is my father." This name might have been chosen by the boy's mother, a concubine who lived in Shechem. Abimelech is ambitious to take his father's place, whether or not the crown is official, in any way he can.

To take over immediately means drastic action, so Abimelech's plan requires violence. Gideon fathered seventy sons. Abimelech was certainly not the oldest of them. Nor was he likely a full-blooded Israelite. To have undisputed possession of a throne, even the throne of the city of Shechem, he would have to eliminate the rest of Gideon's sons. To rule, Abimelech is willing to murder his own brothers. He wants the rulers of Shechem to give him both permission and assistance, and to name him king once the deed is done.

Abimelech recruited his Shechemite mother and her extended family. They petition the leaders of the city on his behalf. He reminds his relatives that he is one of them; they should be loyal to him. Further, they ought to prefer having a single, local leader instead of serving a large group of distant people: "Is it better to be ruled by the seventy sons of Jerubbaal or just one?"

The name Jerubbaal comes from Gideon's early experiences in fighting Canaanite idolatry (Judges 6:32). This may have come to be thought of as his Canaanite name, with Gideon as his Jewish name.

Shechem's leaders conspire with a concubine's son to kill Gideon's other seventy sons. They make this man, Abimelech, their ruler. Gideon's youngest son survives, however, and delivers a curse. Using a fable, he says Abimelech and Shechem's leaders will destroy each other. God causes a division between Shechem's leaders and Abimelech. The noblemen attempt to kill Abimelech and unite behind a new leader. Abimelech discovers the plot and kills everyone in Shechem, destroying the city. When attacking a tower in a nearby town, however, Abimelech's skull is crushed by a thrown millstone. The curse is fulfilled.

Gideon successfully defeated Midianite raiders but declined to become Israel's official king. His sons, however, were held in high esteem during his remaining years (Judges 8). After Gideon's death, ambitious men conspire to kill almost all those heirs. This results in a series of bloody events. Eventually, judgment comes on those responsible. Israel fails to learn from the tragedies. Chapter 10 explains further idolatry and sin, before introducing the next major judge, Jephthah, in chapter 11.

The Book of Judges describes Israel's history from the death of Joshua to shortly before Israel's first king, Saul. Israel fails to complete God's command to purge the wicked Canaanites from the land (Deuteronomy 7:1–5; 9:4). This results in a centuries-long cycle where Israel falls into sin and is oppressed by local enemies. After each oppression, God sends a civil-military leader, labeled using a Hebrew word loosely translated into English as "judge." These appointed rescuers would free Israel from enemy control and govern for a certain time. After each judge's death, the cycle of sin and oppression begins again. This continues until the people of Israel choose a king, during the ministry of the prophet-and-judge Samuel (1 Samuel 1—7).