Bible Strands
Judges 9:5
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Abimelech’s movement to his father’s residence in Ophrah, positioned chronologically between his acquisition of mercenary funds and his subsequent coronation by Shechem’s leaders.
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יַּהֲרֹ֞ג (va/i.ya.ha.Rog) carries the literal sense "and he killed," while עָפְרָ֔תָ/ה ('a.fe.Ra.ta/h) specifies the geographic location of Ophrah.
The thread — This fratricidal pattern for political consolidation appears in 2 Kings 11:1 and 2 Chronicles 21:4, and the location directly echoes the covenant altar established in Judges 6:24.
Why it lands — The text states that one stone was used to execute seventy brothers while the youngest survived through concealment, requiring the reader to observe how violence secures power and how divine judgment operates through human concealment and exposure.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James 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: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 11:1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.
- Judges 6:24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
- 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.
- Judges 8:30 Gideon had seventy sons of his own, since he had many wives.
- Judges 9:2 “Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
- 2 Kings 10:17 When Jehu came to Samaria, he struck down everyone belonging to Ahab who remained there, until he had destroyed them, according to the word that the LORD had spoken to Elijah.
- 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.
- Matthew 2:20 “Get up!” he said. “Take the Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel, for those seeking the Child’s life are now dead.”