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.
Please speak privately to all the men of Shechem and ask them: 'What would be better for you - to have all seventy sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or to have just one person rule over you? And remember that I am your own family - your bone and flesh.'
Abimelech is asking his mother's family to convince the people of Shechem that it would be better to have him as their single ruler rather than being governed by all seventy of his half-brothers.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Judges, after Gideon (also known as Jerubbaal) led Israel to victory against the Midianites, his son Abimelech schemed to gain power by appealing to his relatives in Shechem. He posed a rhetorical question to the men of Shechem, asking if they preferred one ruler over the seventy sons of Gideon, while emphasizing his own family ties to sway them. This reflects the tribal politics and power struggles common in ancient Israel during the period of the judges.
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