Adam Clarke's Bible Commentary Verse 5. Slew his brethren] His brothers by the father's side, chap. viii. 30.
This was a usual way of securing an ill-gotten throne; the person who had no right destroying all those that had right, that he might have no competitors Yet Jotham-was left] That is, all the seventy were killed except Jotham, if there were not seventy besides Jotham. All the histories of all the nations of the earth are full of cruelties similar to those of Abimelech: cousins, uncles, brothers, husbands, and fathers have been murdered by their cousins, nephews, brothers, wives
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John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah , etc.] Which, according to Bunting f197 , was ten miles from Shechem: and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, upon one stone : in which he was assisted by the ruffians he had hired with seventy pieces of silver; these were laid one after another upon one and the same stone, as being convenient for the execution of them; or as serving as an altar on which they were sacrificed to Baal, out of whose temple the money was taken to hire the executioners with. They are said to be seventy that were slain, though one escaped, the round number being given, as in many other instances, as in ( Genesis 46:27 John 20:24), notwithstanding, yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left ; or remained alive, not out of compassion to his youth, but because he could not be found: for he hid himself ; for no doubt Abimelech, and his crew, were most forward to lay hold of the eldest, and sacrifice them first, as being most in his way; this gave Jotham the youngest not only notice of their design, but an opportunity of providing for his safety, or however his friends; for it may be rendered, as in some versions, “he was hidden” f198 , that is, by others.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-6 - The men of Shechem chose Abimelech king. God was not consulted whethe they should have any king, much less who it should be. If parents coul see what their children would do, and what they are to suffer, their joy in them often would be turned into sorrow: we may be thankful tha we cannot know what shall happen. Above all, we should fear and watc against sin; for our evil conduct may produce fatal effects upon ou families, after we are in our graves.
Original Hebrew ויבא935 בית1004 אביו1 עפרתה6084 ויהרג2026 את853 אחיו251 בני1121 ירבעל3378 שׁבעים7657 אישׁ376 על5921 אבן68 אחת259 ויותר3498 יותם3147 בן1121 ירבעל3378 הקטן6996 כי3588 נחבא׃2244
