Judges 9:18
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;)
Judges 9:18 (KJV)
Context
Jotham, the youngest son of Gideon (also called Jerubbaal), speaks these words to the men of Shechem. His brother Abimelech had killed seventy of Gideon’s sons on one stone and then made himself king. Jotham alone escaped the massacre and addressed the citizens from Mount Gerizim.
The Book of Judges records a cycle of disobedience, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. After Gideon’s death, the people turned from God’s leadership. Abimelech, the son of Gideon’s maidservant, conspired with the Shechemites to seize power. Jotham’s speech rebukes their choice and exposes the violence behind it.
Meaning
The phrase “threescore and ten persons” means seventy men. This number shows the full scale of the slaughter. “Upon one stone” suggests a single place of execution, making the act even more brutal. Jotham reminds the Shechemites that they rose against his father’s house and killed all his brothers except himself.
He also points out the irony: they made Abimelech king because he was their brother. Yet Abimelech was the son of a maidservant, a detail that underscores his lower status and the illegitimacy of his claim. The Shechemites chose him for family ties, not for godly character or rightful succession.
Biblical connections
Jotham’s speech includes a parable of the trees, where the worthless bramble becomes king over the noble trees. This parable, found in Judges 9:7-15, illustrates the foolishness of choosing a leader who brings only harm. The connection is direct: the Shechemites chose Abimelech, a man of violence, just as the trees chose the bramble.
Application
This verse warns against ingratitude. Gideon had delivered Israel, yet the Shechemites forgot his service and supported his son’s murder. It also warns against pursuing power through violence and against choosing leaders based on worldly ties rather than godly character. Believers today must examine their own choices: do they honor God’s appointed leadership, or do they follow those who flatter them?
Reflection
Jotham’s prophecy of Abimelech’s downfall was fulfilled, as his reign ended in violence and ruin. This shows God’s sovereignty: even evil actions serve His purposes, but they bring judgment on the guilty. The verse calls readers to consider the consequences of their decisions and to trust God’s justice rather than human schemes.
