Judges

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NASB	Judges 9:5 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.
AMPLIFIED 2015	Judges 9:5 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.

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Bible Question: I'm teaching a class on Judges 9 and after much searching and meditating wonder if Ambimelech killed or slew seventy sons of Jerubbaal on one stone but Jotham, escaped. Did he not slew only 69 half-brothers and how can you explain this to a class? Because further on in Judges 9, it continues to say seventy in a few more verse.

Bible Answer: Hello SisterM,
I am using an NAS reference Bible to get this information and my memory. According to Judges 8:30 Gideon/Jerubaal had 70 sons who were "direct descendants".
In verse 31, Abimelech was the product of his Shechemite (Caananite) concubine (this is in addition to the 70 direct descendants).
Every instance in chapter 9 where the seventy brothers are refered to, references back to Judges 8:30 (those direct descendants).
In Judges 9:2, they are inquiring about the seventy ruling over them or rather one man (Abimelech),in verse 4 they gave Abimelech seventy pieces of silver (ref. to Duet. 27:25, a bribe to strike down an innocent person, ( this is the "violence" refered to in Judges 9:24)
So their intention was to kill all seventy brothers. The word "killed" in verse 5 is very interestingly referenced to 2 Kings 11:1,2. Which speaks of Joash being stole away and hidden when the kings sons were being put to death. And so Jotham escaped and was hid in Judges 9:5.
I conclude that 69 of the brothers were killed. I also reason that their "intention" to kill the seventy brothers, was just as bad as commiting the act, 1 John 3:15.
I hope this helps you, wordoer

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Questions and/or Subjects for Judg 9:5

Author

Seventy half brothers or 69? (?)

SisterM

Hello SisterM, I am using an NAS re...

wordoer

Thank you wordoer, but do you think this...

SisterM

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Judges