Judges 9:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Abimelech murders his seventy brothers on one stone, but the youngest, Jotham, survives by hiding.
What Does Judges 9:5 Mean?
Abimelech goes to his father's home at Ophrah and slaughters his brothers, killing seventy of them on a single stone in a calculated, ritual-like massacre. Only Jotham, the youngest, escapes by hiding himself.
This is the chapter's horror laid bare: a man wading through his own family's blood to grasp a throne. Yet 'Jotham was left' is a small but mighty word. Again and again, when human violence seems total, God preserves a remnant through whom truth will still be spoken. The one who hid will soon stand on a mountain and proclaim the word that judgment is coming.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 9:5
What does Judges 9:5 mean?
Abimelech murders his seventy brothers on one stone, but the youngest, Jotham, survives by hiding.