Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. New Living Translation He went to his father’s home at Ophrah, and there, on one stone, they killed all seventy of his half brothers, the sons of Gideon. But the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and hid. English Standard Version And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. Berean Standard Bible He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself. King James Bible 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. New King James Version Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself. New American Standard Bible Then he went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself. NASB 1995 Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. NASB 1977 Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. Legacy Standard Bible Then he came to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. Amplified Bible Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and murdered his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, [in a public execution] on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left alive, because he had hidden himself. Christian Standard Bible He went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on top of a large stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid. Holman Christian Standard Bible He went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his 70 brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on top of a large stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself. American Standard Version 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: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. Contemporary English Version Abimelech and his soldiers went to his father's home in Ophrah and brought out Gideon's other sons to a large rock, where they murdered all 70 of them. Gideon's youngest son Jotham hid from the soldiers, but he was the only one who escaped. English Revised Version 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: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. GOD'S WORD® Translation Then he went to his father's home in Ophrah. There he executed his 70 brothers, Jerubbaal's sons. But Jotham, Jerubbaal's youngest son, survived because he hid. Good News Translation He went to his father's house at Ophrah, and there on top of a single stone he killed his seventy brothers, Gideon's sons. But Jotham, Gideon's youngest son, hid and was not killed. International Standard Version to his father's house in Ophrah. There he murdered his own brothers, Jerubbaal's sons—all 70 of them—in one place. But Jerubbaal's youngest son Jotham survived by hiding himself. NET Bible He went to his father's home in Ophrah and murdered his half-brothers, the seventy legitimate sons of Jerub-Baal, on one stone. Only Jotham, Jerub-Baal's youngest son, escaped, because he hid. New Heart English Bible He went to his father's house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. Webster's Bible Translation And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, upon one stone; notwithstanding, yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleHe went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself. World English Bible He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand he goes into the house of his father at Ophrah, and slays his brothers, sons of Jerubba‘al, seventy men, on one stone; and Jotham, youngest son of Jerubba‘al, is left, for he was hidden. Young's Literal Translation and he goeth into the house of his father at Ophrah, and slayeth his brethren, sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone; and Jotham, youngest son of Jerubbaal, is left, for he was hidden. Smith's Literal Translation And he will come to his father's house at Ophrah, and will kill his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men upon one stone: and Jotham the young son of Jerubbaal will be left, for he was hid. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he came to his father's house in Ephra, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men, upon one stone: and there remained only Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal, who was hidden. Catholic Public Domain Version And he went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone. And there remained only Joatham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, and he was in hiding. New American Bible He then went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. Only the youngest son of Jerubbaal, Jotham, escaped, for he was hidden. New Revised Standard Version He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone; but Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, for he hid himself. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brothers, the sons of Nedo-baal, seventy men, upon one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Nedo-baal was left; for he hid himself. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And he entered the house of his father at Uphra and he killed his brothers, the sons of NaduBayl, seventy men, on one rock, and Yutham, son of NeduBayl, the youngest, was left, because he was hidden OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And 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; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. Brenton Septuagint Translation And he went to the house of his father to Ephratha, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men upon one stone; but Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal was left, for he hid himself. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Abimelech's Conspiracy…4So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him. 5He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself. 6Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.… Cross References Genesis 4:8 Then Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let us go out to the field.” And while they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 1 Samuel 16:11-13 And Samuel asked him, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse replied, “but he is tending the sheep.” “Send for him,” Samuel replied. “For we will not sit down to eat until he arrives.” / So Jesse sent for his youngest son and brought him in. He was ruddy, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. And the LORD said, “Rise and anoint him, for he is the one.” / So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah. 2 Kings 11:1-3 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. / But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed. / And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land. 1 Kings 2:25 So King Solomon gave orders to Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and he struck down Adonijah and he died. 2 Samuel 4:7 They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed, and having stabbed and killed him, they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled all night by way of the Arabah. 2 Chronicles 21:4 When Jehoram had established himself over his father’s kingdom, he strengthened himself by putting to the sword all his brothers along with some of the princes of Israel. Matthew 2:16 When Herod saw that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was filled with rage. Sending orders, he put to death all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi. 1 Samuel 19:11 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!” 2 Samuel 21:8-9 But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merab daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. / And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest. 1 Kings 15:29 As soon as Baasha became king, he struck down the entire household of Jeroboam. He did not leave to Jeroboam anyone who breathed, but destroyed them all according to the word that the LORD had spoken through His servant Ahijah the Shilonite, 2 Kings 10:7 And when the letter arrived, they took the sons of the king and slaughtered all seventy of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to Jehu at Jezreel. Matthew 14:10 and sent to have John beheaded in the prison. Mark 6:27 So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison. Acts 7:9 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him John 11:53 So from that day on they plotted to kill Him. Treasury of Scripture And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being three score and ten persons, on one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself. at Ophrah Judges 6:24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovahshalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. slew 2 Kings 10:17 And when he came to Samaria, he slew all that remained unto Ahab in Samaria, till he had destroyed him, according to the saying of the LORD, which he spake to Elijah. 2 Kings 11:1,2 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal… 2 Chronicles 21:4 Now when Jehoram was risen up to the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself, and slew all his brethren with the sword, and divers also of the princes of Israel. Jump to Previous Hid House Jerubbaal Jotham Killed Notwithstanding Ophrah Persons Seventy Slew Stone Ten Threescore YoungestJump to Next Hid House Jerubbaal Jotham Killed Notwithstanding Ophrah Persons Seventy Slew Stone Ten Threescore YoungestJudges 9 1. Abimelech by conspiracy with the Shechemites, and murder of his brothers, is made king7. 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 is fulfilled. He went to his father’s house in Ophrah Ophrah is identified as the hometown of Gideon, also known as Jerubbaal. This location is significant as it was the center of Gideon's family and his legacy. The act of returning to his father's house indicates a claim to familial authority and inheritance. Ophrah is situated in the territory of Manasseh, highlighting the tribal dynamics at play during this period of the Judges. and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself. Persons / Places / Events 1. AbimelechThe son of Gideon (Jerubbaal) and a concubine from Shechem. He sought power and killed his brothers to establish himself as king. 2. Jerubbaal (Gideon) Abimelech's father, a judge of Israel who led the Israelites to victory over the Midianites. His legacy is marred by his son's actions. 3. Jotham The youngest son of Gideon who escaped Abimelech's massacre. He later delivered a parable to the people of Shechem. 4. Ophrah The hometown of Gideon and the site of the massacre of his sons by Abimelech. 5. Seventy Brothers The sons of Gideon, representing the legitimate heirs to Gideon's legacy, who were murdered by Abimelech. Teaching Points The Dangers of Ambition and PowerAbimelech's account warns against unchecked ambition and the destructive pursuit of power. It serves as a reminder that leadership should be rooted in service and humility, not self-interest. The Consequences of Sin The massacre of Gideon's sons illustrates the far-reaching consequences of sin, affecting not only the sinner but also the innocent. It calls believers to consider the impact of their actions on others. God's Sovereignty and Justice Despite Abimelech's actions, God's justice prevails. This encourages believers to trust in God's ultimate justice, even when evil seems to triumph temporarily. The Importance of Righteous Leadership The contrast between Gideon's leadership and Abimelech's tyranny highlights the need for leaders who fear God and uphold righteousness. Lists and Questions Top 10 Lessons from Judges 9How could Abimelech have murdered seventy of Gideon’s sons without immediate opposition (Judges 9:5)? Who was Abimelech, son of Gideon, in the Bible? Why would God send an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem (Judges 9:23)? Does the account of Abimelech’s violent rule conflict with other Old Testament portrayals of just leadership (Judges 9:22–24)? (5) And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah.--Probably, like Absalom, he seized the opportunity of some local or family feast at which all his brethren would be assembled (2Samuel 13:23); it may even have been the anniversary of Gideon's vision. Slew his brethren . . .--This is the first mention in Scripture of the hideous custom, which is so common among all Oriental despots, of anticipating conspiracies by destroying all their brothers and near kinsmen. (Comp. Pope, Epistle to Arbuthnot: "Bear, like the Turk, no brother near the throne.") There is little affection and much jealousy in polygamous households. Abimelech by this vile wickedness set a fatal precedent, which was followed again and again in the kingdom of Israel by Baasha (1Kings 15:29), Zimri (1Kings 16:11), Jehu (2Kings 10:7), and probably by other kings (2 Kings 15); and by Athaliah (2Kings 11:1) in the kingdom of Judah. Herod also put to death most of his kinsmen, and some of his sons (see Life of Christ, i. 43). Seneca says, "Nec regna socium ferre, nec taedae sciunt"--nor realms nor weddings admit a sharer (Agam. 259). . . . Verse 5. - Upon one stone. Used as a block, on which the victims were executed one after another. Compare the similar wholesale murders of the seventy sons of Ahab by order of Jehu (2 Kings 10:7), of the seed royal of Judah by Athaliah (2 Kings 11:1), of the whole house of Jeroboam by Baasha (1 Kings 15:29), of the whole house of Baasha by Zimri (1 Kings 16:11, 12). Timour, on his conquest of Persia, is said to have destroyed the whole male family of the king. At the conquest of Bagdad he is said to have made a pyramid of 90,000 human heads. In Persia and Turkey in modern times it has been a common practice for the sovereign to slay or put out the eyes of all his brothers and cousins. So destructive of natural affection is polygamy, and so cruel is power.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew He wentוַיָּבֹ֤א (way·yā·ḇō) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go to his father’s אָבִיו֙ (’ā·ḇîw) Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 1: Father house בֵית־ (ḇêṯ-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house in Ophrah, עָפְרָ֔תָה (‘ā·p̄ə·rā·ṯāh) Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular Strong's 6084: Ophrah -- an Israelite, also two places in Israel and on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against one אֶחָ֑ת (’e·ḥāṯ) Number - feminine singular Strong's 259: United, one, first stone אֶ֣בֶן (’e·ḇen) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 68: A stone murdered וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֞ג (way·ya·hă·rōḡ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2026: To smite with deadly intent his seventy שִׁבְּעִ֥ים (šiḇ·‘îm) Number - common plural Strong's 7657: Seventy (a cardinal number) brothers, אֶחָ֧יו (’e·ḥāw) Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 251: A brother, ) the sons בְּנֵֽי־ (bə·nê-) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son of Jerubbaal. יְרֻבַּ֛עַל (yə·rub·ba·‘al) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3378: Jerubbaal -- 'let Baal contend', a name of Gideon But Jotham, יוֹתָ֧ם (yō·w·ṯām) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3147: Jotham -- 'the LORD is perfect', three Israelites the youngest הַקָּטֹ֖ן (haq·qā·ṭōn) Article | Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 6996: Small, young, unimportant son בֶּן־ (ben-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1121: A son of Jerubbaal, יְרֻבַּ֛עַל (yə·rub·ba·‘al) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3378: Jerubbaal -- 'let Baal contend', a name of Gideon survived, וַיִּוָּתֵ֞ר (way·yiw·wā·ṯêr) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3498: To jut over, exceed, to excel, to remain, be left, to leave, cause to abound, preserve because כִּ֥י (kî) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction he hid himself. נֶחְבָּֽא׃ (neḥ·bā) Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 2244: To withdraw, hide Links Judges 9:5 NIVJudges 9:5 NLT Judges 9:5 ESV Judges 9:5 NASB Judges 9:5 KJV Judges 9:5 BibleApps.com Judges 9:5 Biblia Paralela Judges 9:5 Chinese Bible Judges 9:5 French Bible Judges 9:5 Catholic Bible OT History: Judges 9:5 He went to his father's house at (Jd Judg. 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