And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
JUDGES 9:5KJVWhat does Judges 9:5 mean?
Judges 9:5 describes how Abimelech went to his father's house in Ophrah and killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal (Gideon), seventy men, on one stone, but the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped because he hid himself. This verse shows Abimelech’s violent attempt to remove any rivals to his power.
Abimelech, one of Gideon's sons, is acting to secure his claim to leadership by killing his own family. The verse sets the scene in Ophrah, the hometown of his father Jerubbaal (another name for Gideon), and highlights the brutality by noting the killings happened “on one stone,” suggesting a methodical execution. Jotham’s escape introduces a surviving witness and future voice against Abimelech’s actions.
The Hebrew behind Judges 9:5
- "slew" (הָרַג, harag): This word means to kill or slay, and its use here emphasizes the deliberate, violent nature of Abimelech’s actions against his brothers.
- "upon one stone" (אֶבֶן אֶחָת, even echat): The phrase suggests the executions were carried out in a single place, possibly by beheading or another method, making the act public and systematic rather than chaotic.
- "hid" (חָבָא, chava): This word means to hide or conceal oneself, showing that Jotham’s survival was not by accident but by intentional action to escape the massacre.
Why Judges 9:5 matters
- This verse clarifies the extreme lengths Abimelech went to in order to secure power, showing the depth of his ambition and ruthlessness.
- The mention of Jotham’s escape sets up later events in the chapter, as he becomes a key figure in responding to Abimelech’s actions.
- The detail of the killings happening “on one stone” underscores the organized and public nature of the violence, highlighting the seriousness of Abimelech’s betrayal against his own family.