Judges 9:4
“And 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.”
Judges 9:4 in 7 translations
- KJVKing James Version
- And 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.
- DRADouay–Rheims
- And they gave him seventy weight of silver out of the temple of Baalberith: wherewith he hired to himself men that were needy, and vagabonds, and they followed him.
- ASVAmerican Standard Version
- And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
- DARBYDarby
- And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Ba'al-be'rith with which Abim'elech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him.
- WEBThe World English Bible
- They gave him seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.
- YLTYoung's Literal Translation
- and they give to him seventy silverings out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hireth with them men, vain and unstable, and they go after him;
- BPVBiblePics Version
- They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, and with this money, Abimelech hired reckless and worthless men to follow him.
Context: Judges 9
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.
5And 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.
6And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.
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.