Judges 9:5

“And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah, etc.] Which, according to Bunting f197, was ten miles from Shechem: and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, upon one stone: in which he was assisted by the ruffians he had hired with seventy pieces of silver; these were laid one after another upon one and the same stone, as being convenient for the execution of them; or as serving as an altar on which they were sacrificed to Baal, out of whose temple the money was taken to hire the executioners with. They are said to be seventy that were slain, though one escaped, the round number being given, as in many other instances, as in (<014627>Genesis 46:27 <432024>John 20:24),…”

“went unto . . . Ophrah, and slew his brethren i. e., upon one stone--This is the first mention of a barbarous atrocity which has, with appalling frequency, been perpetrated in the despotic countries of the East--that of one son of the deceased monarch usurping the throne and hastening to confirm himself in the possession by the massacre of all the natural or legitimate competitors. Abimelech slew his brethren on one stone, either by dashing them from one rock, or sacrificing them on one stone altar, in revenge for the demolition of Baal's altar by their father. This latter view is the more probable, from the Shechemites (Jdg 9:24) aiding in it. threescore and ten persons--A round number is…”

“Such wholesale slaughters have always been common in Eastern monarchies, and are among the fruits of polygamy. return to 'Top of Page'”

“His brethren - The only persons who were likely to hinder him in establishing his tyranny. Threescore and ten - Wanting one, who is here expressed. Jotham was left - Whereby he would signify, that this was an act of justice, in cutting them all off in an orderly manner, for some supposed crime, probably, as designing sedition and rebellion. Judges 9:6”

“at Ophrah: Jdg 6:24 slew: Kg2 10:17, Kg2 11:1, Kg2 11:2; Ch2 21:4; Mat 2:16, Mat 2:20 Judges 9:6”