Judges 9:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jotham names their crime plainly: they killed Gideon's seventy sons and crowned the servant's son because he was their kin.
What Does Judges 9:18 Mean?
Jotham finishes his charge. They have risen against his father's house, killed seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech -- son of a servant woman -- king, for no better reason than that he was their relative.
By naming the deed without softening it, Jotham strips away every excuse. 'Because he is your brother' echoes the city's own words and exposes how shallow their reason was. They preferred kinship to righteousness and a murderer to the memory of their deliverer. Scripture refuses to let evil hide behind family loyalty; sin called by its true name is the first step toward seeing clearly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 9:18
What does Judges 9:18 mean?
Jotham names their crime plainly: they killed Gideon's seventy sons and crowned the servant's son because he was their kin.