Jueces 9
Brenton's English Septuagint
1And Abimelech son of Jerobaal went to Sychem to his mother’s brethren; and he spoke to them and to all the kindred of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
2Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Sychem, saying, Which is better for you, that seventy men, even all the sons of Jerobaal, should reign over you, or that one man should reign over you? and remember that I am your bone and your flesh.
3And his mother’s brethren spoke concerning him in the ears of all the men of Sychem all these words; and their heart turned after Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.
4And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith; and Abimelech hired for himself vain and cowardly men, and they went after him.
5And he went to the house of his father to Ephratha, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerobaal, seventy men upon one stone; but Joatham the youngest son of Jerobaal was left, for he hid himself.
6And all the men of Sicima, and all the house of Bethmaalo, were gathered together, and they went and made Abimelech king by the oak Heb. bum; this is an instance of double translation, stasewv being given for bum, and eureth having reference to the word aum to find; but Alex. rightly omits eureth of Sedition, which was at Sicima.
7And it was reported to Joatham, and he went and stood on the top of mount Garizin, and lifted up his voice, and wept, and said to them, Hear me, ye men of Sicima, and God shall hear you.
8The trees Gr. went going went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive, Reign over us.
9But the olives said to them, Shall I leave my fatness, with which men shall glorify God, and go to be Gr. moved promoted over the trees?
10And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come, reign over us.
11But the fig-tree said to them, Shall I leave my sweetness an my good fruits, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12And the trees said to the vine, Come, reign over us.
13And the vine said to them, Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14Then all the trees said to the bramble, Come thou and reign over us.
15And the bramble said to the trees, If ye in truth anoint me to reign over you, come, stand under my shadow; and if not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Libanus.
16And now, if ye have done it in truth and integrity, and have made Abimelech king, and if ye have wrought well with Jerobaal, and with his house, and if ye have done to him according to the reward of his hand,
17as my father fought for you, and put his life in jeopardy, and delivered you out of the hand of Madiam;
18and ye are risen up this day against the house of my father, and have slain his sons, being seventy men, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech the son of his bondwoman king over the men of Sicima, because he is your brother:
19if then ye have done truly and faithfully with Jerobaal, and with his house this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice over you:
20but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Sicima, and the house of Bethmaalo; and let fire come out from the men of Sicima and from the house of Bethmaalo, and devour Abimelech.
21And Joatham fled, and ran away, and went as far as Baeer, and dwelt there out of the way of his brother Abimelech.
22And Abimelech reigned over Israel three years.
23And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Sicima; and the men of Sicima Or, despised dealt treacherously Gr. in the house; Hebraism with the house of Abimelech:
24to bring the injury done to the seventy sons of Jerobaal, and to lay their blood upon their brother Abimelech, who slew them, and upon the men of Sicima, because they strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.
25And the men of Sicima set liers in wait against him on the top of the mountains, and robbed every one who passed by them on the way; and it was reported to the king Abimelech.
26And Gaal son of Jobel came, and his brethren, and passed by Sicima, and the men of Sicima trusted in him.
27And they went out into the field, and gathered their Gr. vines grapes, and trod them, and Gr. made ellulim; a Hebrew word; Alex. corouv made merry; and they brought the grapes into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28And Gaal the son of Jobel said, Who is Abimelech, and who is the son of Sychem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerobaal, and is not Zebul his steward, his servant with the son of Emmor the father of Sychem? and why should we serve him?
29And would that this people were under my hand! Gr. and I will then would I remove Abimelech, and I would say to him, Multiply thy host, and come out.
30And Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Jobel, and he was very angry.
31And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Jobel and his brethren are come to Sychem; and behold, they have besieged the city against thee.
32And now rise up by night, thou and the people with thee, and lay wait in the field.
33And it shall come to pass in the morning at sunrising, thou shalt rise up early and draw toward the city; and behold, he and the people with him Gr. are coming, etc. will come forth against thee, and thou shalt do to him Gr. whatsoever thy hand shall find according to thy power.
34And Abimelech and all the people with him rose up by night, and formed an ambuscade against Sychem in four companies.
35And Gaal the son of Jobel went forth, and stood by the door of the gate of the city: and Abimelech and the people with him rose up from the ambuscade.
36And Gaal the son of Jobel saw the people, and said to Zebul, Behold, a people comes down from the top of the mountains: and Zebul said to him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as men.
37And Gaal continued to speak and said, Behold, a people comes down Or, by the sea; A double rendering, perhaps to Mem, the first kata yalassan—second, apo tou ecomena westward from the part bordering on the middle of the land, and another company comes by Alex. translates the words "the way of the oak of the seers" the way of Helon Maonenim.
38And Zebul said to him, And where is thy mouth as thou spokest, Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Is not this the people whom thou despisedst? go forth now, and set the battle in array against him.
39And Gaal went forth before the men of Sychem, and set the battle in array against Abimelech.
40And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled from before him; and many fell down slain as far as the door of the gate.
41And Abimelech entered into Arema, and Zebul cast out Gaal and his brethren, so that they should not dwell in Sychem.
42And it came to pass on the second day that the people went out into the field, and one brought word to Abimelech.
43And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and formed an ambush in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people went forth out of the city, and he rose up against them, and smote them.
44And Abimelech and the chiefs of companies that were with him rushed forward, and stood by the door of the gate of the city; and the two other companies rushed forward upon all that were in the field, and smote them.
45And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and took the city, and slew the people that were in it, and destroyed the city, and sowed it with salt.
46And all the men of the tower of Sychem heard, and came to the Some read ocurwma gathering of Baethel-berith.
47And it was reported to Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Sychem were gathered together.
48And Abimelech went up to the mount of Selmon, and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took Gr. axes an axe in his hand, and cut down a branch of a tree, and took it, and laid it on his shoulders; and said to the people that were with him, What ye see me doing, do quickly as I.
49And they cut down likewise even every man a branch, and went after Abimelech, and laid them against the place of gathering, and burnt the place of gathering over them with fire; and they died, even all the men of the tower of Sicima, about a thousand men and women.
50And Abimelech went out of Baethel-berith, and encamped Gr. in against Thebes, and took it.
51And there was a strong tower in the midst of the city; and thither all the men and the women of the city fled, and shut the door without them, and went up on the roof of the tower.
52And Abimelech drew near to the tower, and they besieged it; and Abimelech drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53And a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon the head of Abimelech, and broke his skull.
54And he cried out quickly to the young man his armour-bearer, and said to him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, lest at any time they should say, A woman slew him: and his young man thrust him through and he died.
55And the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead; and they went each to his place.
56So God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he wrought against his father, in slaying his seventy brethren.
57And all the wickedness of the men of Sychem God requited upon their head; and the curse of Joatham the son of Jerobaal came upon them.
Reina-Valera 1909
1Y FUÉSE Abimelech hijo de Jerobaal á Sichêm, á los hermanos de su madre, y habló con ellos, y con toda la familia de la casa del padre de su madre, diciendo:
2Yo os ruego que habléis á oídos de todos los de Sichêm: ¿Qué tenéis por mejor, que os señoreen setenta hombres, todos los hijos de Jerobaal; ó que os señoree un varón? Acordaos que yo soy hueso vuestro, y carne vuestra.
3Y hablaron por él los hermanos de su madre á oídos de todos los de Sichêm todas estas palabras: y el corazón de ellos se inclinó en favor de Abimelech, porque decían: Nuestro hermano es.
4Y diéronle setenta siclos de plata del templo de Baal-berith, con los cuales Abimelech alquiló hombres ociosos y vagabundos, que le siguieron.
5Y viniendo á la casa de su padre en Ophra, mató á sus hermanos los hijos de Jerobaal, setenta varones, sobre una piedra: mas quedó Jotham, el más pequeño hijo de Jerobaal, que se escondió.
6Y reunidos todos los de Sichêm con toda la casa de Millo, fueron y eligieron á Abimelech por rey, cerca de la llanura del pilar que estaba en Sichêm.
7Y como se lo dijesen á Jotham, fué y púsose en la cumbre del monte de Gerizim, y alzando su voz clamó, y díjoles: Oidme, varones de Sichêm; que Dios os oiga.
8Fueron los árboles á elegir rey sobre sí, y dijeron á la oliva: Reina sobre nosotros.
9Mas la oliva respondió: ¿Tengo de dejar mi pingüe jugo, con el que por mi causa Dios y los hombres son honrados, por ir á ser grande sobre los árboles?
10Y dijeron los árboles á la higuera: Anda tú, reina sobre nosotros.
11Y respondió la higuera: ¿Tengo de dejar mi dulzura y mi buen fruto, por ir á ser grande sobre los árboles?
12Dijeron luego los árboles á la vid: Pues ven tú, reina sobre nosotros.
13Y la vid les respondió: ¿Tengo de dejar mi mosto, que alegra á Dios y á los hombres, por ir á ser grande sobre los árboles?
14Dijeron entonces todos los árboles al escaramujo: Anda tú, reina sobre nosotros.
15Y el escaramujo respondió á los árboles: Si en verdad me elegís por rey sobre vosotros, venid, y aseguraos debajo de mi sombra: y si no, fuego salga del escaramujo que devore los cedros del Líbano.
16Ahora pues, si con verdad y con integridad habéis procedido en hacer rey á Abimelech, y si lo habéis hecho bien con Jerobaal y con su casa, y si le habéis pagado conforme á la obra de sus manos;
17(Pues que mi padre peleó por vosotros, y echó lejos su vida por libraros de mano de Madián;
18Y vosotros os levantasteis hoy contra la casa de mi padre, y matasteis sus hijos, setenta varones, sobre una piedra; y habéis puesto por rey sobre los de Sichêm á Abimelech, hijo de su criada, por cuanto es vuestro hermano:)
19Si con verdad y con integridad habéis obrado hoy con Jerobaal y con su casa, que gocéis de Abimelech, y él goce de vosotros.
20Y si no, fuego salga de Abimelech, que consuma á los de Sichêm y á la casa de Millo; y fuego salga de los de Sichêm y de la casa de Millo, que consuma á Abimelech.
21Y huyó Jotham, y se fugó, y fuése á Beer, y allí se estuvo por causa de Abimelech su hermano.
22Y después que Abimelech hubo dominado sobre Israel tres años,
23Envió Dios un espíritu malo entre Abimelech y los hombres de Sichêm: que los de Sichêm se levantaron contra Abimelech:
24Para que el agravio de los setenta hijos de Jerobaal, y la sangre de ellos, viniera á ponerse sobre Abimelech su hermano que los mató, y sobre los hombres de Sichêm que corroboraron las manos de él para matar á sus hermanos.
25Y pusiéronle los de Sichêm asechadores en las cumbres de los montes, los cuales salteaban á todos los que pasaban junto á ellos por el camino; de lo que fué dado aviso á Abimelech.
26Y Gaal hijo de Ebed vino con sus hermanos, y pasáronse á Sichêm: y los de Sichêm se confiaron en él.
27Y saliendo al campo, vendimiaron sus viñas, y pisaron la uva, é hicieron alegrías; y entrando en el templo de sus dioses, comieron y bebieron, y maldijeron á Abimelech.
28Y Gaal hijo de Ebed dijo: ¿Quién es Abimelech y qué es Sichêm, para que nosotros á él sirvamos? ¿no es hijo de Jerobaal? ¿y no es Zebul su asistente? Servid á los varones de Hemor padre de Sichêm: mas ¿por qué habíamos de servir á él?
29Fuérame dado este pueblo bajo de mi mano, yo echaría luego á Abimelech. Y decía á Abimelech: Aumenta tus escuadrones, y sal.
30Y Zebul asistente de la ciudad, oyendo las palabras de Gaal hijo de Ebed, encendióse su ira;
31Y envió sagazmente mensajeros á Abimelech, diciendo: He aquí que Gaal hijo de Ebed y sus hermanos han venido á Sichêm, y he aquí, que han cercado la ciudad contra ti.
32Levántate pues ahora de noche, tú y el pueblo que está contigo, y pon emboscada en el campo:
33Y por la mañana al salir del sol te levantarás y acometerás la ciudad: y él y el pueblo que está con él saldrán contra ti, y tu harás con él según que se te ofrecerá.
34Levantándose pues de noche Abimelech y todo el pueblo que con él estaba, pusieron emboscada contra Sichêm con cuatro compañías.
35Y Gaal hijo de Ebed salió, y púsose á la entrada de la puerta de la ciudad: y Abimelech y todo el pueblo que con él estaba, se levantaron de la emboscada.
36Y viendo Gaal el pueblo, dijo á Zebul: He allí pueblo que desciende de las cumbres de los montes. Y Zebul le respondió: La sombra de los montes te parece hombres.
37Mas Gaal tornó á hablar, y dijo: He allí pueblo que desciende por medio de la tierra, y un escuadrón viene camino de la campiña de Meonenim.
38Y Zebul le respondió: ¿Dónde está ahora aquel tu hablar, diciendo: Quién es Abimelech para que le sirvamos? ¿No es este el pueblo que tenías en poco? Sal pues ahora, y pelea con él.
39Y Gaal salió delante de los de Sichêm, y peleó contra Abimelech.
40Mas persiguiólo Abimelech, delante del cual él huyó; y cayeron heridos muchos hasta la entrada de la puerta.
41Y Abimelech se quedó en Aruma; y Zebul echó fuera á Gaal y á sus hermanos, para que no morasen en Sichêm.
42Y aconteció al siguiente día, que el pueblo salió al campo: y fué dado aviso á Abimelech.
43El cual, tomando gente, repartióla en tres compañías, y puso emboscadas en el campo: y como miró, he aquí el pueblo que salía de la ciudad; y levantóse contra ellos, é hiriólos:
44Pues Abimelech y el escuadrón que estaba con él, acometieron con ímpetu, y pararon á la entrada de la puerta de la ciudad; y las dos compañías acometieron á todos los que estaban en el campo, y los hirieron.
45Y después de combatir Abimelech la ciudad todo aquel día, tomóla, y mató el pueblo que en ella estaba, y asoló la ciudad, y sembróla de sal.
46Como oyeron esto todos los que estaban en la torre de Sichêm, entráronse en la fortaleza del templo del dios Berith.
47Y fué dicho á Abimelech como todos los de la torre de Sichêm estaban reunidos.
48Entonces subió Abimelech al monte de Salmón, él y toda la gente que con él estaba; y tomó Abimelech un hacha en su mano, y cortó una rama de los árboles, y levantándola púsosela sobre sus hombros, diciendo al pueblo que estaba con él: Lo que me veis á mí que hago, haced vosotros prestamente como yo.
49Y así todo el pueblo cortó también cada uno su rama, y siguieron á Abimelech, y pusiéronlas junto á la fortaleza, y prendieron fuego con ellas á la fortaleza: por manera que todos los de la torre de Sichêm murieron, como unos mil hombres y mujeres.
50Después Abimelech se fué á Thebes; y puso cerco á Thebes, y tomóla.
51En medio de aquella ciudad había una torre fuerte, á la cual se retiraron todos los hombres y mujeres, y todos los señores de la ciudad; y cerrando tras sí las puertas, subiéronse al piso alto de la torre.
52Y vino Abimelech á la torre, y combatiéndola, llegóse á la puerta de la torre para pegarle fuego.
53Mas una mujer dejó caer un pedazo de una rueda de molino sobre la cabeza de Abimelech, y quebróle los cascos.
54Y luego llamó él á su escudero, y díjole: Saca tu espada y mátame, porque no se diga de mí: Una mujer lo mató. Y su escudero le atravesó, y murió.
55Y como los Israelitas vieron muerto á Abimelech, fuéronse cada uno á su casa.
56Así pues pagó Dios á Abimelech el mal que hizo contra su padre matando á sus setenta hermanos.
57Y aun todo el mal de los hombres de Sichêm tornó Dios sobre sus cabezas: y la maldición de Jotham, hijo de Jerobaal, vino sobre ellos.
King James Version
1And 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,
2Speak, 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.
3And 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.
4And 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.
5And 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.
7And 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.
8The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.
9But 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?
10And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
11But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?
12Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.
13And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?
14Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.
15And 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.
16Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;
17(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:
18And ye are risen up against my father’s house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)
19If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:
20But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.
21And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
23Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.
25And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.
26And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.
28And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?
29And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.
30And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.
31And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.
32Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:
33And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.
34And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.
36And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.
37And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.
38Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.
39And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.
41And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.
44And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.
45And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.
46And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.
47And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.
49And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.
52And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head, and all to brake his skull.
54Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.
55And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.
56Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:
57And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.
World English Bible
1Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,
2“Please speak in the ears of all the men of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are seventy persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.”
3His mother’s brothers spoke of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words. Their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, “He is our brother.”
4They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and reckless fellows who followed him.
5He went to his father’s house at Ophrah, and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, being seventy persons, on one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
6All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together with all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.
7When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and lifted up his voice, cried out, and said to them, “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
8The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9“But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I stop producing my oil, with which they honor God and man by me, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
10“The trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11“But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
12“The trees said to the vine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13“The vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?’
14“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15“The bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.’
16“Now therefore, if you have dealt truly and righteously, in that you have made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him according to the deserving of his hands
17(for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;
18and you have risen up against my father’s house today and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);
19if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you;
20but if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from the house of Millo and devour Abimelech.”
21Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.
23Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,
24that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother who killed them, and on the men of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
25The men of Shechem set an ambush for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them; and Abimelech was told about it.
26Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.
27They went out into the field, harvested their vineyards, trod the grapes, celebrated, and went into the house of their god and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.
28Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal? Isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve him?
29I wish that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech.” He said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”
30When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.
31He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and behold, they incite the city against you.
32Now therefore, go up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.
33It shall be that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush on the city. Behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, then may you do to them as you shall find occasion.”
34Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
35Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.
36When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Behold, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains.” Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”
37Gaal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.”
38Then Zebul said to him, “Now where is your mouth, that you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Isn’t this the people that you have despised? Please go out now and fight with them.”
39Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.
40Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many fell wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.
41Abimelech lived at Arumah; and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42On the next day, the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.
43He took the people and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came out of the city. So, he rose up against them and struck them.
44Abimelech and the companies that were with him rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field and struck them.
45Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city and killed the people in it. He beat down the city and sowed it with salt.
46When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.
47Abimelech was told that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.
48Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done!”
49All the people likewise each cut down his bough, followed Abimelech, and put them at the base of the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.
50Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez, and took it.
51But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women of the city fled there, and shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower.
52Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and came near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.
53A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, and broke his skull.
54Then he called hastily to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, that men not say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’ His young man thrust him through, and he died.”
55When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each departed to his place.
56Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father in killing his seventy brothers;
57and God repaid all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads; and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came on them.