Biblical Commentary: Judges 8:34 – 9:24
Judges 8:34
Verse: And the children of Israel remembered not the LORD their God who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side English Explanation: This verse highlights the spiritual amnesia of the Israelites. Despite the miraculous victories God provided through Gideon, they quickly forgot their Divine Protector and turned back to local idols. Urdu Explanation: بنی اسرائیل اپنے خداوند خدا کو بھول گئے جس نے انہیں ان کے تمام اردگرد کے دشمنوں کے ہاتھوں سے نجات دی تھی۔ یہ آیت ان کی روحانی غفلت اور احسان فراموشی کو ظاہر کرتی ہے۔
Judges 8:35
Verse: Neither shewed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal namely Gideon according to all the goodness which he had shewed unto Israel English Explanation: Ingratitude toward God often leads to ingratitude toward people. The Israelites failed to honor Gideon’s (Jerubbaal’s) family, ignoring the sacrifices he made to secure their freedom. Urdu Explanation: انہوں نے یروبعل یعنی جدعون کے گھرانے کے ساتھ بھی کوئی نیکی نہ کی حالانکہ اس نے اسرائیل کے ساتھ بہت بھلائی کی تھی۔ یہ ان کی اخلاقی گراوٹ کی علامت تھی۔
Judges 9:1
Verse: And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren and communed with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father saying English Explanation: Abimelech, Gideon’s son by a concubine, seeks power by appealing to his maternal relatives in Shechem, using tribalism to build a political base. Urdu Explanation: ابی ملک جو یروبعل کا بیٹا تھا سکم میں اپنے ننھیال گیا اور اپنے نانا کے خاندان سے بات چیت کی تاکہ اپنی بادشاہت کے لیے راستہ ہموار کر سکے۔
Judges 9:2
Verse: 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 English Explanation: Abimelech uses a manipulative argument, suggesting that one ruler (himself) is better than seventy, while emphasizing his blood relation to the people of Shechem. Urdu Explanation: اس نے سکم کے لوگوں سے کہا کہ کیا تمہارے لیے بہتر ہے کہ یروبعل کے ستر بیٹے تم پر حکومت کریں یا صرف ایک شخص؟ اس نے انہیں جتایا کہ وہ ان کا اپنا خون ہے۔
Judges 9:3
Verse: And 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 English Explanation: Favoritism wins over justice. The leaders of Shechem decide to support Abimelech simply because of his kinship, ignoring his character. Urdu Explanation: اس کے ماموں زاد بھائیوں نے یہ باتیں سکم کے لوگوں تک پہنچائیں اور ان کے دل ابی ملک کی طرف مائل ہو گئے کیونکہ انہوں نے کہا کہ وہ ہمارا بھائی ہے۔
Judges 9:4
Verse: And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons which followed him English Explanation: Using money from a pagan temple (Baal-berith), Abimelech hires “vain and light persons”—mercenaries or outlaws—to enforce his will. Urdu Explanation: انہوں نے بعل بریت کے مندر سے اسے ستر چاندی کے سکے دیے جس سے اس نے بے ہودہ اور آوارہ لوگوں کو اپنے ساتھ ملا لیا۔
Judges 9:5
Verse: And 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 English Explanation: A brutal mass murder occurs. Abimelech kills 69 of his brothers on a single stone to eliminate competition. Only Jotham, the youngest, survives by hiding. Urdu Explanation: وہ عفرہ میں اپنے باپ کے گھر گیا اور یروبعل کے ستر بیٹوں کو ایک ہی پتھر پر قتل کر دیا۔ لیکن سب سے چھوٹا بیٹا یوتام چھپ جانے کی وجہ سے بچ گیا۔
Judges 9:6
Verse: And 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 English Explanation: The people of Shechem officially crown Abimelech as king, completing their rebellion against the house of Gideon and the divine order. Urdu Explanation: سکم کے تمام لوگ اور ملو کے گھرانے جمع ہوئے اور انہوں نے ابی ملک کو اس ستون کے پاس جو سکم میں تھا بادشاہ بنا دیا۔
Judges 9:7
Verse: And when they told it to Jotham he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice and cried and said unto them Hearken unto me ye men of Shechem that God may hearken unto you English Explanation: Jotham emerges from hiding to deliver a prophetic warning from Mount Gerizim, the mount of blessing, calling the people to account. Urdu Explanation: جب یوتام کو خبر ملی تو وہ کوہِ گریزیم کی چوٹی پر جا کھڑا ہوا اور پکار کر کہا کہ اے سکم کے لوگو میری سنو تاکہ خدا تمہاری سنے۔
Judges 9:8
Verse: The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them and they said unto the olive tree Reign thou over us English Explanation: Jotham begins a parable. The “trees” represent Israel seeking a king, and the “olive tree” represents worthy leaders who refuse power to stay faithful to their calling. Urdu Explanation: یوتام نے ایک تمثیل شروع کی کہ درخت ایک بادشاہ چننے نکلے اور زیتون کے درخت سے کہا کہ ہم پر بادشاہی کر۔
Judges 9:9
Verse: But the olive tree said unto them Should I leave my fatness wherewith by me they honour God and man and go to be promoted over the trees English Explanation: The olive tree refuses, valuing its God-given purpose (producing oil) over the vanity of political power. Urdu Explanation: زیتون کے درخت نے جواب دیا کہ کیا میں اپنی چکناہٹ چھوڑ دوں جس سے خدا اور انسان کی عزت ہوتی ہے تاکہ درختوں پر لہراتا پھروں؟
Judges 9:10-13
Verse: And the trees said to the fig tree Come thou and reign over us But the fig tree said unto them Should I forsake my sweetness and my good fruit and go to be promoted over the trees Then said the trees unto the vine Come thou and reign over us And the vine said unto them Should I leave my wine which cheereth God and man and go to be promoted over the trees English Explanation: Both the fig tree and the vine refuse the kingship. They prefer to fulfill their useful roles rather than take a position of empty authority. Urdu Explanation: انجیر کے درخت اور انگور کی بیل نے بھی بادشاہی سے انکار کر دیا کیونکہ وہ اپنی مٹھاس اور پھل کو چھوڑنا نہیں چاہتے تھے۔
Judges 9:14
Verse: Then said all the trees unto the bramble Come thou and reign over us English Explanation: Finally, the trees turn to the “bramble” (a useless, thorny bush). This represents Abimelech—a man with no character or fruit to offer. Urdu Explanation: آخر کار درختوں نے جھاڑی سے کہا کہ تو آ کر ہم پر بادشاہی کر۔ یہ جھاڑی ابی ملک کی علامت تھی۔
Judges 9:15
Verse: And the bramble said unto the trees If in truth ye anoint me king over you then come and put your trust in my shadow and if not let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon English Explanation: The bramble’s “shadow” is non-existent and dangerous. It threatens to burn down even the great cedars, symbolizing how a bad leader destroys the noble. Urdu Explanation: جھاڑی نے کہا کہ اگر تم سچ مچ مجھے بادشاہ بناتے ہو تو میرے سائے میں پناہ لو ورنہ مجھ سے آگ نکلے گی جو لبنان کے دیوداروں کو جلا دے گی۔
Judges 9:16-20
Verse Summary: Jotham challenges their integrity. He reminds them of Gideon’s bravery (v17) and their cruelty in killing his sons (v18). He prays that if they acted in good faith, they may prosper, but if not, may Abimelech and Shechem destroy each other (v20). English Explanation: Jotham exposes their hypocrisy. He calls for divine justice, predicting that the alliance between the treacherous king and the treacherous people will end in mutual destruction. Urdu Explanation: یوتام نے انہیں ان کی بے وفائی یاد دلائی اور کہا کہ اگر تم نے سچائی سے یہ کیا ہے تو خوش رہو ورنہ تم اور ابی ملک ایک دوسرے کو تباہ کرو گے۔
Judges 9:21
Verse: And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and dwelt there for fear of Abimelech his brother English Explanation: After delivering his message, Jotham flees to Beer to escape Abimelech’s wrath. Urdu Explanation: یوتام اپنے بھائی ابی ملک کے ڈر سے بھاگ نکلا اور بیر میں جا کر رہنے لگا۔
Judges 9:22-24
Verse Summary: After three years, God sends an “evil spirit” between Abimelech and Shechem. They turn on each other so that the blood of Gideon’s sons would be avenged. English Explanation: Divine retribution begins. The temporary peace of the wicked fails as God allows discord to rise, ensuring that Abimelech and the men of Shechem pay for their murderous conspiracy. Urdu Explanation: تین سال بعد خدا نے ابی ملک اور سکم کے لوگوں کے درمیان نااتفاقی پیدا کر دی تاکہ یروبعل کے ستر بیٹوں کے خون کا بدلہ لیا جا سکے۔