Judges 9:1
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
Judges 9:1 in other translations
| BSB | Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother, |
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| WEB | 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, |
| ASV | And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and spake with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying, |
| YLT | and Abimelech son of Jerubbaal goeth to Shechem, unto his mother's brethren, and speaketh unto them, and unto all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, |
| DARBY | And Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brethren, and spoke to them, and to all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, |
| BBE | Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem to his mother's family, and said to them and to all the family of his mother's father, |
| Webster | And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, |
What does Judges 9:1 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Jud 9:1-6. Abimelech Is Made King by the Shechemites.
1. Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem--The idolatry which had been stealthily creeping into Israel during the latter years of Gideon was now openly professed; Shechem was wholly inhabited by its adherents; at least, idolaters had the ascendency. Abimelech, one of Gideon's numerous sons, was connected with that place. Ambitious of sovereign power, and having plied successfully the arts of a demagogue with his maternal relatives and friends, he acquired both the influence and money by which he raised himself to a throne. communed ... with all the family of the house of his mother's father--Here is a striking instance of the evils of polygamy--one son has connections and interests totally alien to those of his brothers.Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Introduction
Abimelech is made king; and, to secure himself in the kingdom, slays his brethren; Jotham, the youngest only escapes, Jdg 9:1-4. Jotham reproves him and the Shechemites by a curious and instructive parable, Jdg 9:7-21. Abimelech having reigned three years, the Shechemites, headed by Gaal the son of Ebed, conspire against him, Jdg 9:22-29. Zebul, governor of the city, apprises Abimelech of the insurrection, who comes with his forces, and discomfits Gaal, Jdg 9:30-40. Abimelech assaults the city, takes, beats it down, and sows it with salt, Jdg 9:41-45. Several of the Shechemites take refuge in the temple of Baal-berith; Abimelech sets fire to it, and destroys in it about one thousand men and women, Jdg 9:46-50. He afterwards besieges and takes Thebez; but while he is assaulting the citadel, a woman threw a piece of millstone upon his head, and killed him. Thus God requited him and the men of Shechem for their wickedness, and their ingratitude to the family of Gideon, Jdg 9:51-57. Verse 1 Abimelech - went to Shechem - We have already seen that Abimelech was the son of Gideon, by his concubine at Shechem. His going thither immediately after his father's death was to induce his townsmen to proclaim him governor in the place of his father. Shechem was the residence of his mother, and of all her relatives.Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Judges 9:1-6
Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain
Judges 9:1 in the original Hebrew
Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Judges 9:1
- Judges 8:31
And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called Abimelech.
- Psalms 83:2-4
For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head. They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones. They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.
- Genesis 34:2
And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.
- 1 Kings 12:1
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for all Israel were come to Shechem to make him king.
- Genesis 33:18
And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan–aram; and pitched his tent before the city.
- 1 Kings 12:20
And it came to pass, when all Israel heard that Jeroboam was come again, that they sent and called him unto the congregation, and made him king over all Israel: there was none that followed the house of David, but the tribe of Judah only.
- 1 Kings 12:3
That they sent and called him. And Jeroboam and all the congregation of Israel came, and spake unto Rehoboam, saying,
- 2 Samuel 15:6
And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
- Jeremiah 18:18
Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices against Jeremiah; for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet. Come, and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words.
Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
7 Jotham by a parable rebukes them, and foretells their ruin.
22 Gaal conspires with the Shechemites against him.
30 Zebul reveals it.
34 Abimelech overcomes them, and sows the city with salt.
46 He burns the hold of the god Berith.
50 At Thebez he is slain by a piece of a millstone.
56 Jotham's curse if fulfilled.
Abimelech.
8:31
Shechem.
Ge 33:18; 34:2; 1Ki 12:1
communed.
2Sa 15:6; 1Ki 12:3,20; Ps 83:2-4; Jer 18:18
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain
Context
- Judges 9:1
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
- Judges 9:2
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.
Judges 9:1 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y FUÉSE Abimelech hijo de Jerobaal á Sichêm, á los hermanos de su madre, y habló con ellos, y con toda la familia de la casa del padre de su madre, diciendo: |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | *Et Abimélec, fils de Jerubbaal, alla à Sichem, vers les frères de sa mère, et leur parla, et à toute la famille de la maison du père de sa mère, en disant: |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Und Abimelech, der Sohn Jerub-Baals, ging nach Sichem zu den Brüdern seiner Mutter; und er redete zu ihnen und zu dem ganzen Geschlecht des Hauses des Vaters seiner Mutter und sprach: |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Abiit autem Abimelech filius Jerobaal in Sichem ad fratres matris suæ, et locutus est ad eos, et ad omnem cognationem domus patris matris suæ, dicens: |