Bible Discussion Thread

Jud.9:4-7 "Upon one stone"

"And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him./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.6And 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. 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(vv.4-7).

'And (Abimelech) 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':

'Upon one stone' here is a representation of the 12 stones that stood in the riverbed of Jordan.. It is a sign as we read in this passage:

Joshua commanded, "And take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:/That this may be a sign among you(Josh.4:5-6),

Memorial at Gilgal was one heap and not 12 separate stones each representing a tribe. The Spirit uses this expression to establish the crime of Abimelech went against the Ark of the covenant. Joshua emphasizes its importance in vv.6-24 "That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of theLord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever(v.8)".

Notice the sign placed over it? It is for the latter days when actions of man shall be judged according to the Law 'forever' It is the Rock of offense that Jesus alluded to. "Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; ( Luke 20:28;Is.8:14)