King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
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.
Complete Jewish Bible:
This came about so that the crime against the seventy sons of Yeruba'al might be avenged and the responsibility for their bloody death be placed on Avimelekh their brother, who murdered them, and on the men of Sh'khem, who helped him kill his brothers.
Berean Standard Bible:
in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
American Standard Version:
that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
That the cruelty{H2555} done to the threescore and ten{H7657} sons{H1121} of Jerubbaal{H3378} might come{H935}, and their blood{H1818} be laid{H7760} upon Abimelech{H40} their brother{H251}, which slew{H2026} them; and upon the men{H1167} of Shechem{H7927}, which aided{H2388}{H3027} him in the killing{H2026} of his brethren{H251}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Kings 2:32
- And the LORD shall return his blood upon his own head, who fell upon two men more righteous and better than he, and slew them with the sword, my father David not knowing [thereof, to wit], Abner the son of Ner, captain of the host of Israel, and Amasa the son of Jether, captain of the host of Judah.
Esther 9:25
- But when [Esther] came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.
Psalms 7:16
- His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
Deuteronomy 27:25
- Cursed [be] he that taketh reward to slay an innocent person. And all the people shall say, Amen.
1 Samuel 15:33
- And Samuel said, As thy sword hath made women childless, so shall thy mother be childless among women. And Samuel hewed Agag in pieces before the LORD in Gilgal.
Judges 9:56
- Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
Judges 9:57
- And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Judges 9:24
Judges 9:24 is a verse that captures a moment of divine retribution within the broader narrative of the Israelites' cyclical apostasy and deliverance found in the Book of Judges. The verse specifically references the brutal act of fratricide committed by Abimelech, who was a son of Jerubbaal (also known as Gideon). Abimelech, seeking to consolidate power, killed his seventy brothers, with the exception of Jotham, the youngest, who hid himself. This act was carried out with the support of the men of Shechem, who likely hoped to benefit from Abimelech's rise to power.
The historical context of this verse is set during a time when the Israelites were governed by a series of judges, charismatic leaders who would rise to deliver the people from various oppressors. After Gideon's death, the Israelites fell back into idolatry, and Abimelech's actions reflect the moral and social chaos that ensued in the absence of strong, God-fearing leadership.
The themes present in this verse include the consequences of violence and betrayal, the cyclical nature of sin and retribution, and the moral decay that occurs when leaders and communities abandon the worship of Yahweh. The verse foreshadows the downfall of Abimelech and the men of Shechem, as it hints at the divine justice that will be meted out for their crimes. This justice is a recurring motif in the Book of Judges, illustrating the principle that those who sow violence will reap it, and that the bloodguilt of such actions will ultimately be accounted for. The verse also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of political ambition and the tragic outcomes when individuals prioritize power over familial loyalty and divine law.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H2555
There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָמָס
Transliteration: châmâç
Pronunciation: khaw-mawce'
Description: from חָמַס; violence; by implication, wrong; by meton. unjust gain; cruel(-ty), damage, false, injustice, [idiom] oppressor, unrighteous, violence (against, done), violent (dealing), wrong. - Strong's Number: H7657
There are 90 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שִׁבְעִים
Transliteration: shibʻîym
Pronunciation: shib-eem'
Description: multiple of שֶׁבַע; seventy; seventy, threescore and ten ([phrase] -teen). - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3378
There are 13 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְרֻבַּעַל
Transliteration: Yᵉrubbaʻal
Pronunciation: yer-oob-bah'-al
Description: from רִיב and בַּעַל; Baal will contend; Jerubbaal, a symbolic name of Gideon; Jerubbaal. - Strong's Number: H935
There are 2307 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בּוֹא
Transliteration: bôwʼ
Pronunciation: bo
Description: a primitive root; to go or come (in a wide variety of applications); abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat, [phrase] employ, (cause to) enter (in, into, -tering, -trance, -try), be fallen, fetch, [phrase] follow, get, give, go (down, in, to war), grant, [phrase] have, [idiom] indeed, (in-) vade, lead, lift (up), mention, pull in, put, resort, run (down), send, set, [idiom] (well) stricken (in age), [idiom] surely, take (in), way. - Strong's Number: H1818
There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: דָּם
Transliteration: dâm
Pronunciation: dawm
Description: from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent. - Strong's Number: H7760
There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שׂוּם
Transliteration: sûwm
Pronunciation: soom
Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work. - Strong's Number: H40
There are 1102 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אֲבִימֶלֶךְ
Transliteration: ʼĂbîymelek
Pronunciation: ab-ee-mel'-ek
Description: from אָב and מֶלֶךְ; father of (the) king; Abimelek, the name of two Philistine kings and of two Israelites; Abimelech. - Strong's Number: H251
There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָח
Transliteration: ʼâch
Pronunciation: awkh
Description: a primitive word; a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father)); another, brother(-ly); kindred, like, other. Compare also the proper names beginning with 'Ah-' or 'Ahi-'. - Strong's Number: H2026
There are 158 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: הָרַג
Transliteration: hârag
Pronunciation: haw-rag'
Description: a primitive root; to smite with deadly intent; destroy, out of hand, kill, murder(-er), put to (death), make (slaughter), slay(-er), [idiom] surely. - Strong's Number: H1167
There are 78 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בַּעַל
Transliteration: baʻal
Pronunciation: bah'-al
Description: from בָּעַל; a master; hence, a husband, or (figuratively) owner (often used with another noun in modifications of this latter sense); [phrase] archer, [phrase] babbler, [phrase] bird, captain, chief man, [phrase] confederate, [phrase] have to do, [phrase] dreamer, those to whom it is due, [phrase] furious, those that are given to it, great, [phrase] hairy, he that hath it, have, [phrase] horseman, husband, lord, man, [phrase] married, master, person, [phrase] sworn, they of. - Strong's Number: H7927
There are 54 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁכֶם
Transliteration: Shᵉkem
Pronunciation: shek-em'
Description: the same as שְׁכֶם; ridge; Shekem, a place in Palestine; Shechem. - Strong's Number: H2388
There are 266 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חָזַק
Transliteration: châzaq
Pronunciation: khaw-zak'
Description: a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer; aid, amend, [idiom] calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, play the man, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand. - Strong's Number: H3027
There are 1447 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָד
Transliteration: yâd
Pronunciation: yawd
Description: a primitive word; in distinction from כַּף, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great variety of applications, both literally and figuratively, both proximate and remote (as follows); a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),; ([phrase] be) able, [idiom] about, [phrase] armholes, at, axletree, because of, beside, border, [idiom] bounty, [phrase] broad, (broken-) handed, [idiom] by, charge, coast, [phrase] consecrate, [phrase] creditor, custody, debt, dominion, [idiom] enough, [phrase] fellowship, force, [idiom] from, hand(-staves, -y work), [idiom] he, himself, [idiom] in, labour, [phrase] large, ledge, (left-) handed, means, [idiom] mine, ministry, near, [idiom] of, [idiom] order, ordinance, [idiom] our, parts, pain, power, [idiom] presumptuously, service, side, sore, state, stay, draw with strength, stroke, [phrase] swear, terror, [idiom] thee, [idiom] by them, [idiom] themselves, [idiom] thine own, [idiom] thou, through, [idiom] throwing, [phrase] thumb, times, [idiom] to, [idiom] under, [idiom] us, [idiom] wait on, (way-) side, where, [phrase] wide, [idiom] with (him, me, you), work, [phrase] yield, [idiom] yourselves.