Judges 9:2
“Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
Judges 9:2 in 7 translations
- KJVKing James Version
- Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
- DRADouay–Rheims
- Speak to all the men of Sichem: whether is better for you that seventy men all the sons of Jerobaal should rule over you, or that one man should rule over you? And withal consider that I am your bone, and your flesh.
- ASVAmerican Standard Version
- Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
- DARBYDarby
- |Say in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubba'al rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.|
- WEBThe World English Bible
- Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, 'Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
- YLTYoung's Literal Translation
- Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, Which is good for you ; the ruling over you of seventy men (all the sons of Jerubbaal), or the ruling over you of one man? ; and ye have remembered that I am your bone and your flesh.'
- BPVBiblePics Version
- "Please tell all the men of Shechem: Which is better for you, that all seventy sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one man reign over you? Remember, I am your own flesh and blood."
Context: Judges 9
1And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,
2Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.
3And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.
4And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.
About Judges 9: Abimelech's Ambition
Abimelech, one of Gideon's sons, becomes king and kills his brothers to consolidate power.
Commentary
Judges chapter 9 is a narrative of the events that took place after the death of Gideon. After Gideon's death, the Israelites turned away from the Lord and began to worship the false gods of the Canaanites. This led to a civil war between the tribes of Israel. Abimelech, the son of Gideon, wanted to become king of Israel and sought the help of the Shechemites to accomplish this. The Shechemites agreed to help Abimelech and he was made king.