Judges 9:5

The sons of Jerubbaal; the only persons who were likely to hinder him in establishing his tyranny. Threescore and ten persons; wanting one, who is here expressed; and these synecdochical expressions are frequent in Scripture: see Genesis 35:26, Genesis 42:13 Numbers 14:32,33, John 20:24 1 Corinthians 15:5. Upon one stone; whereby he would signify that this was either,

1. An act of justice, in cutting them all off in an orderly manner, for some supposed crime probably as designing sedition and rebellion; or,

2. An act of religion, in avenging the dishonour and injury done to Baal by Gideon, Judges 6:27,28, upon his children, whom he offered up as so many sacrifices to Baal upon this stone, which served for an altar; and for this reason it seems the money was taken out of Baal's house, because it was to be laid out in his service.