1 And Abimelech|strong="H0040" the son|strong="H1121" of Jerubbaal|strong="H3378" went|strong="H3212" to Shechem|strong="H7927" unto his mother’s|strong="H0517" brethren|strong="H0251", and communed|strong="H1696" with them, and with all the family|strong="H4940" of the house|strong="H1004" of his mother’s|strong="H0517" father|strong="H0001", saying|strong="H0559",
2 Speak|strong="H1696", I pray you, in the ears|strong="H0241" of all the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927", Whether is better|strong="H2896" for you, either that all the sons|strong="H1121" of Jerubbaal|strong="H3378", which are threescore and ten|strong="H7657" persons|strong="H0376", reign|strong="H4910" over you, or that one|strong="H0259" reign|strong="H4910" over you? remember|strong="H2142" also that I am your bone|strong="H6106" and your flesh|strong="H1320".
3 And his mother’s|strong="H0517" brethren|strong="H0251" spake|strong="H1696" of him in the ears|strong="H0241" of all the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927" all these words|strong="H1697": and their hearts|strong="H3820" inclined|strong="H5186" to follow|strong="H0310" Abimelech|strong="H0040"; for they said|strong="H0559", He is our brother|strong="H0251".
4 And they gave|strong="H5414" him threescore and ten|strong="H7657" pieces of silver|strong="H3701" out of the house|strong="H1004" of Baal-berith|strong="H1170", wherewith Abimelech|strong="H0040" hired|strong="H7936" vain|strong="H7386" and light|strong="H6348" persons|strong="H0582", which followed|strong="H3212" him|strong="H0310".
5 And he went|strong="H0935" unto his father’s|strong="H0001" house|strong="H1004" at Ophrah|strong="H6084", and slew|strong="H2026" his brethren|strong="H0251" the sons|strong="H1121" of Jerubbaal|strong="H3378", being threescore and ten|strong="H7657" persons|strong="H0376", upon one|strong="H0259" stone|strong="H0068": notwithstanding yet Jotham|strong="H3147" the youngest|strong="H6996" son|strong="H1121" of Jerubbaal|strong="H3378" was left|strong="H3498"; for he hid|strong="H2244" himself.
6 And all the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927" gathered together|strong="H0622", and all the house|strong="H1004" of Millo|strong="H4407", and went|strong="H3212", and made|strong="H4427" Abimelech|strong="H0040" king|strong="H4428", by the plain|strong="H0436" of the pillar|strong="H5324" that was in Shechem|strong="H7927".
7 And when they told|strong="H5046" it to Jotham|strong="H3147", he went|strong="H3212" and stood|strong="H5975" in the top|strong="H7218" of mount|strong="H2022" Gerizim|strong="H1630", and lifted up|strong="H5375" his voice|strong="H6963", and cried|strong="H7121", and said|strong="H0559" unto them, Hearken|strong="H8085" unto me, ye men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927", that God|strong="H0430" may hearken|strong="H8085" unto you.
8 The trees|strong="H6086" went forth|strong="H1980" on a time to anoint|strong="H4886" a king|strong="H4428" over them; and they said|strong="H0559" unto the olive tree|strong="H2132", Reign|strong="H4427" thou over us.
9 But the olive tree|strong="H2132" said|strong="H0559" unto them, Should I leave|strong="H2308" my fatness|strong="H1880", wherewith by me they honour|strong="H3513" God|strong="H0430" and man|strong="H0582", and go|strong="H1980" to be promoted|strong="H5128" over the trees|strong="H6086"?
10 And the trees|strong="H6086" said|strong="H0559" to the fig tree|strong="H8384", Come|strong="H3212" thou, and reign|strong="H4427" over us.
11 But the fig tree|strong="H8384" said|strong="H0559" unto them, Should I forsake|strong="H2308" my sweetness|strong="H4987", and my good|strong="H2896" fruit|strong="H8570", and go|strong="H1980" to be promoted|strong="H5128" over the trees|strong="H6086"?
12 Then said|strong="H0559" the trees|strong="H6086" unto the vine|strong="H1612", Come|strong="H3212" thou, and reign|strong="H4427" over us.
13 And the vine|strong="H1612" said|strong="H0559" unto them, Should I leave|strong="H2308" my wine|strong="H8492", which cheereth|strong="H8055" God|strong="H0430" and man|strong="H0582", and go|strong="H1980" to be promoted|strong="H5128" over the trees|strong="H6086"?
14 Then said|strong="H0559" all the trees|strong="H6086" unto the bramble|strong="H0329", Come|strong="H3212" thou, and reign|strong="H4427" over us.
15 And the bramble|strong="H0329" said|strong="H0559" unto the trees|strong="H6086", If in truth|strong="H0571" ye anoint|strong="H4886" me king|strong="H4428" over you, then come|strong="H0935" and put your trust|strong="H2620" in my shadow|strong="H6738": and if not, let fire|strong="H0784" come out|strong="H3318" of the bramble|strong="H0329", and devour|strong="H0398" the cedars|strong="H0730" of Lebanon|strong="H3844".
16 Now therefore, if ye have done|strong="H6213" truly|strong="H0571" and sincerely|strong="H8549", in that ye have made Abimelech|strong="H0040" king|strong="H4427", and if ye have dealt|strong="H6213" well|strong="H2896" with Jerubbaal|strong="H3378" and his house|strong="H1004", and have done|strong="H6213" unto him according to the deserving|strong="H1576" of his hands|strong="H3027";
17 (For my father|strong="H0001" fought|strong="H3898" for you, and adventured|strong="H7993" his life|strong="H5315" far|strong="H5048", and delivered|strong="H5337" you out of the hand|strong="H3027" of Midian|strong="H4080":
18 And ye are risen up|strong="H6965" against my father’s|strong="H0001" house|strong="H1004" this day|strong="H3117", and have slain|strong="H2026" his sons|strong="H1121", threescore and ten|strong="H7657" persons|strong="H0376", upon one|strong="H0259" stone|strong="H0068", and have made Abimelech|strong="H0040", the son|strong="H1121" of his maidservant|strong="H0519", king|strong="H4427" over the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927", because he is your brother|strong="H0251";)
19 If ye then have dealt|strong="H6213" truly|strong="H0571" and sincerely|strong="H8549" with Jerubbaal|strong="H3378" and with his house|strong="H1004" this day|strong="H3117", then rejoice|strong="H8055" ye in Abimelech|strong="H0040", and let him also rejoice|strong="H8055" in you:
20 But if not, let fire|strong="H0784" come out|strong="H3318" from Abimelech|strong="H0040", and devour|strong="H0398" the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927", and the house|strong="H1004" of Millo|strong="H4407"; and let fire|strong="H0784" come out|strong="H3318" from the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927", and from the house|strong="H1004" of Millo|strong="H4407", and devour|strong="H0398" Abimelech|strong="H0040".
21 And Jotham|strong="H3147" ran away|strong="H1272", and fled|strong="H5127", and went|strong="H3212" to Beer|strong="H0876", and dwelt|strong="H3427" there, for fear|strong="H6440" of Abimelech|strong="H0040" his brother|strong="H0251".
22 When Abimelech|strong="H0040" had reigned|strong="H7786" three|strong="H7969" years|strong="H8141" over Israel|strong="H3478",
23 Then God|strong="H0430" sent|strong="H7971" an evil|strong="H7451" spirit|strong="H7307" between Abimelech|strong="H0040" and the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927"; and the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927" dealt treacherously|strong="H0898" with Abimelech|strong="H0040":
24 That the cruelty|strong="H2555" done to the threescore and ten|strong="H7657" sons|strong="H1121" of Jerubbaal|strong="H3378" might come|strong="H0935", and their blood|strong="H1818" be laid|strong="H7760" upon Abimelech|strong="H0040" their brother|strong="H0251", which slew|strong="H2026" them; and upon the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927", which aided|strong="H2388" him in the killing|strong="H2026" of his brethren|strong="H0251".
25 And the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927" set|strong="H7760" liers in wait|strong="H0693" for him in the top|strong="H7218" of the mountains|strong="H2022", and they robbed|strong="H1497" all that came|strong="H5674" along that way|strong="H1870" by them: and it was told|strong="H5046" Abimelech|strong="H0040".
26 And Gaal|strong="H1603" the son|strong="H1121" of Ebed|strong="H5651" came|strong="H0935" with his brethren|strong="H0251", and went over|strong="H5674" to Shechem|strong="H7927": and the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927" put their confidence|strong="H0982" in him.
27 And they went out|strong="H3318" into the fields|strong="H7704", and gathered|strong="H1219" their vineyards|strong="H3754", and trode|strong="H1869" the grapes, and made|strong="H6213" merry|strong="H1974", and went|strong="H0935" into the house|strong="H1004" of their god|strong="H0430", and did eat|strong="H0398" and drink|strong="H8354", and cursed|strong="H7043" Abimelech|strong="H0040".
28 And Gaal|strong="H1603" the son|strong="H1121" of Ebed|strong="H5651" said|strong="H0559", Who is Abimelech|strong="H0040", and who is Shechem|strong="H7927", that we should serve|strong="H5647" him? is not he the son|strong="H1121" of Jerubbaal|strong="H3378"? and Zebul|strong="H2083" his officer|strong="H6496"? serve|strong="H5647" the men|strong="H0582" of Hamor|strong="H2544" the father|strong="H0001" of Shechem|strong="H7927": for why should we serve|strong="H5647" him?
29 And would to God this people|strong="H5971" were under|strong="H5414" my hand|strong="H3027"! then would I remove|strong="H5493" Abimelech|strong="H0040". And he said|strong="H0559" to Abimelech|strong="H0040", Increase|strong="H7235" thine army|strong="H6635", and come out|strong="H3318".
30 And when Zebul|strong="H2083" the ruler|strong="H8269" of the city|strong="H5892" heard|strong="H8085" the words|strong="H1697" of Gaal|strong="H1603" the son|strong="H1121" of Ebed|strong="H5651", his anger|strong="H0639" was kindled|strong="H2734".
31 And he sent|strong="H7971" messengers|strong="H4397" unto Abimelech|strong="H0040" privily|strong="H8649", saying|strong="H0559", Behold, Gaal|strong="H1603" the son|strong="H1121" of Ebed|strong="H5651" and his brethren|strong="H0251" be come|strong="H0935" to Shechem|strong="H7927"; and, behold, they fortify|strong="H6696" the city|strong="H5892" against thee.
32 Now therefore up|strong="H6965" by night|strong="H3915", thou and the people|strong="H5971" that is with thee, and lie in wait|strong="H0693" in the field|strong="H7704":
33 And it shall be, that in the morning|strong="H1242", as soon as the sun|strong="H8121" is up|strong="H2224", thou shalt rise early|strong="H7925", and set|strong="H6584" upon the city|strong="H5892": and, behold, when he and the people|strong="H5971" that is with him come out|strong="H3318" against thee, then mayest thou do|strong="H6213" to them as thou|strong="H3027" shalt find occasion|strong="H4672".
34 And Abimelech|strong="H0040" rose up|strong="H6965", and all the people|strong="H5971" that were with him, by night|strong="H3915", and they laid wait|strong="H0693" against Shechem|strong="H7927" in four|strong="H0702" companies|strong="H7218".
35 And Gaal|strong="H1603" the son|strong="H1121" of Ebed|strong="H5651" went out|strong="H3318", and stood|strong="H5975" in the entering|strong="H6607" of the gate|strong="H8179" of the city|strong="H5892": and Abimelech|strong="H0040" rose up|strong="H6965", and the people|strong="H5971" that were with him, from lying in wait|strong="H3993".
36 And when Gaal|strong="H1603" saw|strong="H7200" the people|strong="H5971", he said|strong="H0559" to Zebul|strong="H2083", Behold, there come|strong="H3381" people|strong="H5971" down|strong="H3381" from the top|strong="H7218" of the mountains|strong="H2022". And Zebul|strong="H2083" said|strong="H0559" unto him, Thou seest|strong="H7200" the shadow|strong="H6738" of the mountains|strong="H2022" as if they were men|strong="H0582".
37 And Gaal|strong="H1603" spake|strong="H1696" again|strong="H3254" and said|strong="H0559", See there come|strong="H3381" people|strong="H5971" down|strong="H3381" by the middle|strong="H2872" of the land|strong="H0776", and another|strong="H0259" company|strong="H7218" come|strong="H0935" along by the plain|strong="H0436" of|strong="H1870" Meonenim|strong="H6049".
38 Then said|strong="H0559" Zebul|strong="H2083" unto him, Where is now|strong="H0645" thy mouth|strong="H6310", wherewith thou saidst|strong="H0559", Who is Abimelech|strong="H0040", that we should serve|strong="H5647" him? is not this the people|strong="H5971" that thou hast despised|strong="H3988"? go out|strong="H3318", I pray now|strong="H4994", and fight|strong="H3898" with them.
39 And Gaal|strong="H1603" went out|strong="H3318" before|strong="H6440" the men|strong="H1167" of Shechem|strong="H7927", and fought|strong="H3898" with Abimelech|strong="H0040".
40 And Abimelech|strong="H0040" chased|strong="H7291" him, and he fled|strong="H5127" before|strong="H6440" him, and many|strong="H7227" were overthrown|strong="H5307" and wounded|strong="H2491", even unto the entering|strong="H6607" of the gate|strong="H8179".
41 And Abimelech|strong="H0040" dwelt|strong="H3427" at Arumah|strong="H0725": and Zebul|strong="H2083" thrust out|strong="H1644" Gaal|strong="H1603" and his brethren|strong="H0251", that they should not dwell|strong="H3427" in Shechem|strong="H7927".
42 And it came to pass on the morrow|strong="H4283", that the people|strong="H5971" went out|strong="H3318" into the field|strong="H7704"; and they told|strong="H5046" Abimelech|strong="H0040".
43 And he took|strong="H3947" the people|strong="H5971", and divided|strong="H2673" them into three|strong="H7969" companies|strong="H7218", and laid wait|strong="H0693" in the field|strong="H7704", and looked|strong="H7200", and, behold, the people|strong="H5971" were come forth|strong="H3318" out of the city|strong="H5892"; and he rose up|strong="H6965" against them, and smote|strong="H5221" them.
44 And Abimelech|strong="H0040", and the company|strong="H7218" that was with him, rushed forward|strong="H6584", and stood|strong="H5975" in the entering|strong="H6607" of the gate|strong="H8179" of the city|strong="H5892": and the two|strong="H8147" other companies|strong="H7218" ran upon|strong="H6584" all the people that were in the fields|strong="H7704", and slew|strong="H5221" them.
45 And Abimelech|strong="H0040" fought|strong="H3898" against the city|strong="H5892" all that day|strong="H3117"; and he took|strong="H3920" the city|strong="H5892", and slew|strong="H2026" the people|strong="H5971" that was therein, and beat down|strong="H5422" the city|strong="H5892", and sowed|strong="H2232" it with salt|strong="H4417".
46 And when all the men|strong="H1167" of the tower|strong="H4026" of Shechem|strong="H7927" heard|strong="H8085" that, they entered|strong="H0935" into an hold|strong="H6877" of the house|strong="H1004" of the god|strong="H0410" Berith|strong="H1286".
47 And it was told|strong="H5046" Abimelech|strong="H0040", that all the men|strong="H1167" of the tower|strong="H4026" of Shechem|strong="H7927" were gathered together|strong="H6908".
48 And Abimelech|strong="H0040" gat him up|strong="H5927" to mount|strong="H2022" Zalmon|strong="H6756", he and all the people|strong="H5971" that were with him; and Abimelech|strong="H0040" took|strong="H3947" an axe|strong="H7134" in his hand|strong="H3027", and cut down|strong="H3772" a bough|strong="H7754" from the trees|strong="H6086", and took|strong="H5375" it, and laid|strong="H7760" it on his shoulder|strong="H7926", and said|strong="H0559" unto the people|strong="H5971" that were with him, What ye have seen|strong="H7200" me do|strong="H6213", make haste|strong="H4116", and do|strong="H6213" as I|strong="H3644" have done.
49 And all the people|strong="H5971" likewise cut down|strong="H3772" every man|strong="H0376" his bough|strong="H7754", and followed|strong="H3212" Abimelech|strong="H0040", and put|strong="H7760" them to the hold|strong="H6877", and set|strong="H3341" the hold|strong="H6877" on fire|strong="H0784" upon them; so that all the men|strong="H0582" of the tower|strong="H4026" of Shechem|strong="H7927" died|strong="H4191" also, about a thousand|strong="H0505" men|strong="H0376" and women|strong="H0802".
50 Then went|strong="H3212" Abimelech|strong="H0040" to Thebez|strong="H8405", and encamped|strong="H2583" against Thebez|strong="H8405", and took|strong="H3920" it.
51 But there was a strong|strong="H5797" tower|strong="H4026" within|strong="H8432" the city|strong="H5892", and thither fled|strong="H5127" all the men|strong="H0582" and women|strong="H0802", and all they|strong="H1167" of the city|strong="H5892", and shut|strong="H5462" it to them, and gat them up|strong="H5927" to the top|strong="H1406" of the tower|strong="H4026".
52 And Abimelech|strong="H0040" came|strong="H0935" unto the tower|strong="H4026", and fought|strong="H3898" against it, and went hard|strong="H5066" unto the door|strong="H6607" of the tower|strong="H4026" to burn|strong="H8313" it with fire|strong="H0784".
53 And a certain|strong="H0259" woman|strong="H0802" cast|strong="H7993" a piece|strong="H6400" of a millstone|strong="H7393" upon Abimelech’s|strong="H0040" head|strong="H7218", and all to brake|strong="H7533" his skull|strong="H1538".
54 Then he called|strong="H7121" hastily|strong="H4120" unto the young man|strong="H5288" his armourbearer|strong="H5375", and said|strong="H0559" unto him, Draw|strong="H8025" thy sword|strong="H2719", and slay|strong="H4191" me, that men say|strong="H0559" not of me, A woman|strong="H0802" slew|strong="H2026" him. And his young man|strong="H5288" thrust him through|strong="H1856", and he died|strong="H4191".
55 And when the men|strong="H0376" of Israel|strong="H3478" saw|strong="H7200" that Abimelech|strong="H0040" was dead|strong="H4191", they departed|strong="H3212" every man|strong="H0376" unto his place|strong="H4725".
56 Thus God|strong="H0430" rendered|strong="H7725" the wickedness|strong="H7451" of Abimelech|strong="H0040", which he did|strong="H6213" unto his father|strong="H0001", in slaying|strong="H2026" his seventy|strong="H7657" brethren|strong="H0251":
57 And all the evil|strong="H7451" of the men|strong="H0582" of Shechem|strong="H7927" did God|strong="H0430" render|strong="H7725" upon their heads|strong="H7218": and upon them came|strong="H0935" the curse|strong="H7045" of Jotham|strong="H3147" the son|strong="H1121" of Jerubbaal|strong="H3378".