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Then they gave Abimelech 70 pieces[a] of silver from the temple of their god Baal Berith.[b]

Abimelech used the silver to hire a gang of rough soldiers who would do anything for money. 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.

The leaders of Shechem, including the priests and the military officers,[c] met at the tree next to the sacred rock[d] in Shechem to crown Abimelech king.

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Footnotes

  1. 9.4 70 pieces: Nearly 800 grams.
  2. 9.4 Baal Berith: See the note at 8.33.
  3. 9.6 including the priests and the military officers: The Hebrew text has “and the Millo house,” another name for the temple of Baal Berith. It probably also served as a military fortress.
  4. 9.6 tree … rock: One ancient translation; Hebrew “propped-up sacred tree.”

They gave him seventy shekels[a] of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith,(A) and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels,(B) who became his followers. He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers,(C) the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham,(D) the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.(E) Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo(F) gathered beside the great tree(G) at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 9:4 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds or about 800 grams