Bible Chapter Summary
Judges 9 Summary
Abimelech's Bloody Reign
Abimelech, Gideon's son by a concubine, persuades the men of Shechem to back him and murders his seventy brothers on one stone; only Jotham, the youngest, escapes. Jotham proclaims his parable of the trees choosing the worthless bramble as king and curses Shechem and Abimelech. After three years God sends discord between them; Abimelech destroys Shechem and burns its tower, but at Thebez a woman drops a millstone that crushes his skull, and he has his armourbearer kill him. Thus God repays the wickedness of Abimelech and the men of Shechem.
Key themes
Key verses
Judges 9:8
“The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.”
Judges 9:53
“And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.”
Judges 9:56
“Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:”
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