¹ 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,

² 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.

³ 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.

⁴ 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.

⁵ 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.

⁶ 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.

⁷ 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.

⁸ The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

⁹ But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹⁰ And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹¹ But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹² Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹³ And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

¹⁴ Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹⁵ 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.

¹⁶ Now 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:

¹⁸ And 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;)

¹⁹ If 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:

²⁰ But 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.

---

¹ And Abimelech ^H40 the son ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378 went ^H3212 to Shechem ^H7927 unto his mother's ^H517 brethren, ^H251 and communed ^H1696 with them, and with all the family ^H4940 of the house ^H1004 of his mother's ^H517 father, ^H1 saying, ^H559

² Speak, ^H1696 I pray you, in the ears ^H241 of all the men ^H1167 of Shechem, ^H7927 Whether is better ^H2896 for you, either that all the sons ^H1121 of Jerubbaal, ^H3378 which are threescore and ten ^H7657 persons, ^H376 reign ^H4910 over you, or that one ^H259 reign ^H4910 over you? remember ^H2142 also that I am your bone ^H6106 and your flesh. ^H1320

³ And his mother's ^H517 brethren ^H251 spake ^H1696 of him in the ears ^H241 of all the men ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 all these words: ^H1697 and their hearts ^H3820 inclined ^H5186 to follow ^H310 Abimelech; ^H40 for they said, ^H559 He is our brother. ^H251

⁴ And they gave ^H5414 him threescore and ten ^H7657 pieces of silver ^H3701 out of the house ^H1004 of Baalberith, ^H1170 wherewith Abimelech ^H40 hired ^H7936 vain ^H7386 and light ^H6348 persons, ^H582 which followed ^H3212 him. ^H310

⁵ And he went ^H935 unto his father's ^H1 house ^H1004 at Ophrah, ^H6084 and slew ^H2026 his brethren ^H251 the sons ^H1121 of Jerubbaal, ^H3378 being threescore and ten ^H7657 persons, ^H376 upon one ^H259 stone: ^H68 notwithstanding yet Jotham ^H3147 the youngest ^H6996 son ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378 was left; ^H3498 for he hid ^H2244 himself.

⁶ And all the men ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 gathered together, ^H622 and all the house ^H1004 of Millo, ^{H4407 H1037} and went, ^H3212 and made ^H4427 Abimelech ^H40 king, ^H4428 by the plain ^H436 of the pillar ^H5324 that was in Shechem. ^H7927

⁷ And when they told ^H5046 it to Jotham, ^H3147 he went ^H3212 and stood ^H5975 in the top ^H7218 of mount ^H2022 Gerizim, ^H1630 and lifted up ^H5375 his voice, ^H6963 and cried, ^H7121 and said ^H559 unto them, Hearken ^H8085 unto me, ye men ^H1167 of Shechem, ^H7927 that God ^H430 may hearken ^H8085 unto you.

⁸ The trees ^H6086 went forth ^{H1980 H1980} on a time to anoint ^H4886 a king ^H4428 over them; and they said ^H559 unto the olive tree, ^H2132 Reign ^H4427 thou over us.

⁹ But the olive tree ^H2132 said ^H559 unto them, Should I leave ^H2308 my fatness, ^H1880 wherewith by me they honour ^H3513 God ^H430 and man, ^H582 and go ^H1980 to be promoted ^H5128 over the trees? ^H6086

¹⁰ And the trees ^H6086 said ^H559 to the fig tree, ^H8384 Come ^H3212 thou, and reign ^H4427 over us.

¹¹ But the fig tree ^H8384 said ^H559 unto them, Should I forsake ^H2308 my sweetness, ^H4987 and my good ^H2896 fruit, ^H8570 and go ^H1980 to be promoted ^H5128 over the trees? ^H6086

¹² Then said ^H559 the trees ^H6086 unto the vine, ^H1612 Come ^H3212 thou, and reign ^H4427 over us.

¹³ And the vine ^H1612 said ^H559 unto them, Should I leave ^H2308 my wine, ^H8492 which cheereth ^H8055 God ^H430 and man, ^H582 and go ^H1980 to be promoted ^H5128 over the trees? ^H6086

¹⁴ Then said ^H559 all the trees ^H6086 unto the bramble, ^H329 Come ^H3212 thou, and reign ^H4427 over us.

¹⁵ And the bramble ^H329 said ^H559 unto the trees, ^H6086 If in truth ^H571 ye anoint ^H4886 me king ^H4428 over you, then come ^H935 and put your trust ^H2620 in my shadow: ^H6738 and if not, let fire ^H784 come out ^H3318 of the bramble, ^H329 and devour ^H398 the cedars ^H730 of Lebanon. ^H3844

¹⁶ Now therefore, if ye have done ^H6213 truly ^H571 and sincerely, ^H8549 in that ye have made Abimelech ^H40 king, ^H4427 and if ye have dealt ^H6213 well ^H2896 with Jerubbaal ^H3378 and his house, ^H1004 and have done ^H6213 unto him according to the deserving ^H1576 of his hands; ^H3027

¹⁷ (For my father ^H1 fought ^H3898 for you, and adventured ^H7993 his life ^H5315 far, ^H5048 and delivered ^H5337 you out of the hand ^H3027 of Midian: ^H4080

¹⁸ And ye are risen up ^H6965 against my father's ^H1 house ^H1004 this day, ^H3117 and have slain ^H2026 his sons, ^H1121 threescore and ten ^H7657 persons, ^H376 upon one ^H259 stone, ^H68 and have made Abimelech, ^H40 the son ^H1121 of his maidservant, ^H519 king ^H4427 over the men ^H1167 of Shechem, ^H7927 because he is your brother;) ^H251

¹⁹ If ye then have dealt ^H6213 truly ^H571 and sincerely ^H8549 with Jerubbaal ^H3378 and with his house ^H1004 this day, ^H3117 then rejoice ^H8055 ye in Abimelech, ^H40 and let him also rejoice ^H8055 in you:

²⁰ But if not, let fire ^H784 come out ^H3318 from Abimelech, ^H40 and devour ^H398 the men ^H1167 of Shechem, ^H7927 and the house ^H1004 of Millo; ^{H4407 H1037} and let fire ^H784 come out ^H3318 from the men ^H1167 of Shechem, ^H7927 and from the house ^H1004 of Millo, ^{H4407 H1037} and devour ^H398 Abimelech. ^H40

---

¹ And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and spake with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

² Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, that all the sons of Jerubbaal, who are threescore and ten persons, rule over you, or that one rule over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

³ 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.

⁴ And they gave him threescore and ten `pieces' of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.

⁵ 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: but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

⁶ And all the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.

⁷ And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on 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.

⁸ The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us.

⁹ But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

¹⁰ And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹¹ But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

¹² And the trees said unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹³ And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my new wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to wave to and fro over the trees?

¹⁴ Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

¹⁵ And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye 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 ye have dealt truly and uprightly, 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, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

¹⁸ and 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 maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);

¹⁹ if ye then have dealt truly and uprightly with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

²⁰ but 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.

---

¹ and Abimelech son of Jerubbaal goeth to Shechem, unto his mother's brethren, and speaketh unto them, and unto all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

² `Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, Which `is' good for you -- the ruling over you of seventy men (all the sons of Jerubbaal), or the ruling over you of one man? -- and ye have remembered that I `am' your bone and your flesh.'

³ And his mother's brethren speak concerning him, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, all these words, and their heart inclineth after Abimelech, for they said, `He `is' our brother;'

⁴ and they give to him seventy silverings out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hireth with them men, vain and unstable, and they go after him;

⁵ and he goeth into the house of his father at Ophrah, and slayeth his brethren, sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone; and Jotham, youngest son of Jerubbaal, is left, for he was hidden.

⁶ And all the masters of Shechem are gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and come and cause Abimelech to reign for king at the oak of the camp which `is' in Shechem;

⁷ and they declare `it' to Jotham, and he goeth and standeth on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifteth up his voice, and calleth, and saith to them, `Hearken unto me, O masters of Shechem, and God doth hearken unto you:

⁸ `The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king, and they say to the olive, Reign thou over us.

⁹ And the olive saith to them, Have I ceased from my fatness, by which they honour gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?

¹⁰ And the trees say to the fig, Come thou, reign over us.

¹¹ And the fig saith to them, Have I ceased from my sweetness, and my good increase, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?

¹² `And the trees say to the vine, Come thou, reign over us.

¹³ And the vine saith to them, Have I ceased from my new wine, which is rejoicing gods and men, that I have gone to stagger over the trees?

¹⁴ And all the trees say unto the bramble, Come thou, reign over us.

¹⁵ And the bramble saith unto the trees, If in truth ye are anointing me for king over you, come, take refuge in my shadow; and if not -- fire cometh out from the bramble, and devoureth the cedars of Lebanon.

¹⁶ `And, now, if in truth and in sincerity ye have acted, when ye make Abimelech king; and if ye have done good with Jerubbaal, and with his house; and if according to the deed of his hands ye have done to him --

¹⁷ because my father hath fought for you, and doth cast away his life from `him', and deliver you from the hand of Midian;

¹⁸ and ye have risen against the house of my father to-day, and slay his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and cause Abimelech son of his handmaid to reign over the masters of Shechem, because he `is' your brother --

¹⁹ yea, if in truth and in sincerity ye have acted with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and he doth rejoice -- even he -- in you;

²⁰ and if not -- fire cometh out from Abimelech and devoureth the masters of Shechem and the house of Millo, and fire cometh out from the masters of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devoureth Abimelech.'

---

¹ Now Abim'elech the son of Jerubba'al went to Shechem to his mother's kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,

² "Say in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubba'al rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh."

³ And his mother's kinsmen spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the men of Shechem; and their hearts inclined to follow Abim'elech, for they said, "He is our brother."

⁴ And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Ba'al-be'rith with which Abim'elech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him.

⁵ And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brothers the sons of Jerubba'al, seventy men, upon one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubba'al was left, for he hid himself.

⁶ And all the citizens of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abim'elech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.

⁷ When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Ger'izim, and cried aloud and said to them, "Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

⁸ The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'

⁹ But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my fatness, by which gods and men are honored, and go to sway over the trees?'

¹⁰ And the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come you, and reign over us.'

¹¹ But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to sway over the trees?'

¹² And the trees said to the vine, 'Come you, and reign over us.'

¹³ But the vine said to them, 'Shall I leave my wine which cheers gods and men, and go to sway over the trees?'

¹⁴ Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'Come you, and reign over us.'

¹⁵ And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'

¹⁶ "Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and honor when you made Abim'elech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubba'al and his house, and have done to him as his deeds deserved--

¹⁷ for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Mid'ian;

¹⁸ and you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abim'elech, the son of his maidservant, king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your kinsman--

¹⁹ if you then have acted in good faith and honor with Jerubba'al and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abim'elech, and let him also rejoice in you;

²⁰ but if not, let fire come out from Abim'elech, and devour the citizens of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the citizens of Shechem, and from Beth-millo, and devour Abim'elech."

---

¹ Abimelech 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, Whether is 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.

³ His mother's brothers spoke 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.

⁴ They gave him seventy [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baal Berith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light fellows, who followed him.

⁵ He 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.

⁶ All the men of Shechem assembled themselves together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar that was in Shechem.

⁷ When they told it to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said to them, Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

⁸ The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, Reign you over us.

⁹ But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, with which by me they honor God and man, and go to wave back and forth over the trees?

¹⁰ The trees said to the fig tree, Come you, 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 you, 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 said all the trees to the bramble, Come you, 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, and adventured his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

¹⁸ and you are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy persons, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maid-servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother);

¹⁹ if you then have dealt truly and righteously with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice you in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

²⁰ but 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.

---

¹ Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem to his mother's family, and said to them and to all the family of his mother's father,

² Say now in the ears of all the townsmen of Shechem, Is it better for you to be ruled by all the seventy sons of Jerubbaal or by one man only? And keep in mind that I am your bone and your flesh.

³ So his mother's family said all this about him in the ears of all the townsmen of Shechem: and their hearts were turned to Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.

⁴ And they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech got the support of a number of uncontrolled and good-for-nothing persons.

⁵ Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and put his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, to death on the same stone; however, Jotham, the youngest, kept himself safe by going away to a secret place.

⁶ And all the townsmen of Shechem and all Beth-millo came together and went and made Abimelech their king, by the oak of the pillar in Shechem.

⁷ Now Jotham, on hearing of it, went to the top of Mount Gerizim, and crying out with a loud voice said to them, Give ear to me, you townsmen of Shechem, so that God may give ear to you.

⁸ One day the trees went out to make a king for themselves; and they said to the olive-tree, Be king over us.

⁹ But the olive-tree said to them, Am I to give up my wealth of oil, by which men give honour to God, and go waving over the trees?

¹⁰ Then the trees said to the fig-tree, You come and be king over us.

¹¹ But the fig-tree said to them, Am I to give up my sweet taste and my good fruit and go waving over the trees?

¹² Then the trees said to the vine, You come and be king over us.

¹³ But the vine said to them, Am I to give up my wine, which makes glad God and men, to go waving over the trees?

¹⁴ Then all the trees said to the thorn, You come and be king over us.

¹⁵ And the thorn said to the trees, If it is truly your desire to make me your king, then come and put your faith in my shade; and if not, may fire come out of the thorn, burning up the cedars of Lebanon.

¹⁶ So now, if you have done truly and uprightly in making Abimelech king, and if you have done well to Jerubbaal and his house in reward for the work of his hands;

¹⁷ (For my father made war for you, and put his life in danger, and made you free from the hands of Midian;

¹⁸ And you have gone against my father's family this day, and have put to death his sons, even seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his servant-wife, king over the townsmen of Shechem because he is your brother;)

¹⁹ If then you have done what is true and upright to Jerubbaal and his family this day, may you have joy in Abimelech, and may he have joy in you;

²⁰ But if not, may fire come out from Abimelech, burning up the townsmen of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the townsmen of Shechem and Beth-millo, for the destruction of Abimelech.