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.
JUDGES 9:24KJVWhat does Judges 9:24 mean?
Judges 9:24 explains that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal (Gideon) was meant to be repaid, with responsibility for their blood placed on Abimelech, their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who helped him. The verse shows that their actions would not go unpunished and that justice was being set in motion for the murder.
In the story, this verse is part of a larger explanation about why trouble comes upon Abimelech and the people of Shechem. The writer is making it clear that the killing of Gideon’s sons was a serious crime, and both Abimelech and his supporters in Shechem are held accountable. This sets the stage for the consequences that follow in the rest of the chapter.
The Hebrew behind Judges 9:24
- The word for "cruelty" (חָמָס, ḥamas) refers to violence or wrongdoing, highlighting the seriousness of the crime against Jerubbaal’s sons.
- The word for "aided" (חָזַק יָד, ḥazaq yad) literally means "strengthened the hand," which shows that the men of Shechem were not just passive bystanders but active helpers in the killing.
- The word for "blood" (דָּם, dam) is often used in the Hebrew Bible to mean guilt for murder, not just literal blood, so the verse is about moral responsibility as much as physical violence.
Why Judges 9:24 matters
- This verse clarifies that God’s justice includes holding not only the main perpetrator but also those who assist in wrongdoing accountable.
- It connects the violence of Abimelech and the men of Shechem to the troubles that soon come upon them, showing a cause-and-effect pattern in the narrative.
- By naming the crime and the guilty parties, the verse helps the reader understand why the following events in the story are portrayed as just consequences.