Judges 9:24

22 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,

23 God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,

in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.

25 The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.

26 Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
KJV
That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
WEB
that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
ASV
that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
DARBY
that the violence [done] to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the citizens of Shechem, who had strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
BLB
for the coming in of the violence [to] the seventy the sons of Jerubbaal, and to place their blood on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who aided him in the killing of his brothers.
ÅB
Dette skjedde for at voldsgjerningen mot Jerubba'als sytti sønner skulle komme over Abimelek og deres blod hevnes på ham, deres bror, som hadde slått dem ihjel, og på Sikems menn, som hadde støttet ham, så han kunne slå sine brødre ihjel.
OTB
slik at volden gjort mot Jerubbaals sytti sønner kunne hevnes, og ansvaret for deres blod kunne legges på deres bror Abimelek, som drepte dem, og på lederne i Sikem, som hjalp ham med å myrde sine brødre.
B1930
Dette skjedde forat voldsgjerningen mot Jerubba'als sytti sønner skulde komme over Abimelek og deres blod hevnes på ham, deres bror, som hadde slått dem ihjel, og på Sikems menn, som hadde støttet ham, så han kunde slå sine brødre ihjel.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Kings 2:32

    The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 7:16

    His trouble recoils on himself, and his violence falls on his own head.

    Read in context
  • Esther 9:25

    But when it came before the king, he commanded by letter that the wicked scheme which Haman had devised against the Jews should come back upon his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 27:25

    ‘Cursed is he who accepts a bribe to kill an innocent person.’ And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’

    Read in context
  • Matthew 23:34–36

    Because of this, I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and others you will flog in your synagogues and persecute in town after town.

    Read in context
  • Judges 9:56–57

    In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 15:33

    But Samuel declared: “As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women.” And Samuel hacked Agag to pieces before the LORD at Gilgal.

    Read in context
  • Numbers 35:33

    Do not pollute the land where you live, for bloodshed pollutes the land, and no atonement can be made for the land on which the blood is shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it.

    Read in context