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.

²¹ And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

²² When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

²³ Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

²⁴ That 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.

²⁵ And 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.

²⁶ And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

²⁷ And 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.

²⁸ And 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?

²⁹ And 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.

³⁰ And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

³¹ And 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.

³² Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

³³ And 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.

³⁴ And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

³⁵ And 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.

³⁶ And 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.

³⁷ And 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.

³⁸ Then 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.

³⁹ And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

⁴⁰ And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

⁴¹ And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

⁴² And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

⁴³ And 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.

⁴⁴ And 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.

⁴⁵ And 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.

⁴⁶ And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

⁴⁷ And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

⁴⁸ And 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.

⁴⁹ And 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.

⁵⁰ Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

⁵¹ But 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.

⁵² And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

⁵³ And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.

⁵⁴ Then 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 women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

⁵⁵ And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

⁵⁶ Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

⁵⁷ And 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.

---

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

²¹ And Jotham ^H3147 ran away, ^H1272 and fled, ^H5127 and went ^H3212 to Beer, ^H876 and dwelt ^H3427 there, for fear ^H6440 of Abimelech ^H40 his brother. ^H251

²² When Abimelech ^H40 had reigned ^H7786 three ^H7969 years ^H8141 over Israel, ^H3478

²³ Then God ^H430 sent ^H7971 an evil ^H7451 spirit ^H7307 between Abimelech ^H40 and the men ^H1167 of Shechem; ^H7927 and the men ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 dealt treacherously ^H898 with Abimelech: ^H40

²⁴ That the cruelty ^H2555 done to the threescore and ten ^H7657 sons ^H1121 of Jerubbaal ^H3378 might come, ^H935 and their blood ^H1818 be laid ^H7760 upon Abimelech ^H40 their brother, ^H251 which slew ^H2026 them; and upon the men ^H1167 of Shechem, ^H7927 which aided ^{H2388 H3027} him in the killing ^H2026 of his brethren. ^H251

²⁵ And the men ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 set ^H7760 liers in wait ^H693 for him in the top ^H7218 of the mountains, ^H2022 and they robbed ^H1497 all that came ^H5674 along that way ^H1870 by them: and it was told ^H5046 Abimelech. ^H40

²⁶ And Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651 came ^H935 with his brethren, ^H251 and went over ^H5674 to Shechem: ^H7927 and the men ^H1167 of Shechem ^H7927 put their confidence ^H982 in him.

²⁷ And they went out ^H3318 into the fields, ^H7704 and gathered ^H1219 their vineyards, ^H3754 and trode ^H1869 the grapes, and made ^H6213 merry, ^H1974 and went ^H935 into the house ^H1004 of their god, ^H430 and did eat ^H398 and drink, ^H8354 and cursed ^H7043 Abimelech. ^H40

²⁸ And Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651 said, ^H559 Who is Abimelech, ^H40 and who is Shechem, ^H7927 that we should serve ^H5647 him? is not he the son ^H1121 of Jerubbaal? ^H3378 and Zebul ^H2083 his officer? ^H6496 serve ^H5647 the men ^H582 of Hamor ^H2544 the father ^H1 of Shechem: ^H7927 for why should we serve ^H5647 him?

²⁹ And would to God this people ^H5971 were under ^H5414 my hand! ^H3027 then would I remove ^H5493 Abimelech. ^H40 And he said ^H559 to Abimelech, ^H40 Increase ^H7235 thine army, ^H6635 and come out. ^H3318

³⁰ And when Zebul ^H2083 the ruler ^H8269 of the city ^H5892 heard ^H8085 the words ^H1697 of Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed, ^H5651 his anger ^H639 was kindled. ^H2734

³¹ And he sent ^H7971 messengers ^H4397 unto Abimelech ^H40 privily, ^H8649 saying, ^H559 Behold, Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651 and his brethren ^H251 be come ^H935 to Shechem; ^H7927 and, behold, they fortify ^H6696 the city ^H5892 against thee.

³² Now therefore up ^H6965 by night, ^H3915 thou and the people ^H5971 that is with thee, and lie in wait ^H693 in the field: ^H7704

³³ And it shall be, that in the morning, ^H1242 as soon as the sun ^H8121 is up, ^H2224 thou shalt rise early, ^H7925 and set ^H6584 upon the city: ^H5892 and, behold, when he and the people ^H5971 that is with him come out ^H3318 against thee, then mayest thou do ^H6213 to them as thou ^H3027 shalt find occasion. ^H4672

³⁴ And Abimelech ^H40 rose up, ^H6965 and all the people ^H5971 that were with him, by night, ^H3915 and they laid wait ^H693 against Shechem ^H7927 in four ^H702 companies. ^H7218

³⁵ And Gaal ^H1603 the son ^H1121 of Ebed ^H5651 went out, ^H3318 and stood ^H5975 in the entering ^H6607 of the gate ^H8179 of the city: ^H5892 and Abimelech ^H40 rose up, ^H6965 and the people ^H5971 that were with him, from lying in wait. ^H3993

³⁶ And when Gaal ^H1603 saw ^H7200 the people, ^H5971 he said ^H559 to Zebul, ^H2083 Behold, there come ^H3381 people ^H5971 down ^H3381 from the top ^H7218 of the mountains. ^H2022 And Zebul ^H2083 said ^H559 unto him, Thou seest ^H7200 the shadow ^H6738 of the mountains ^H2022 as if they were men. ^H582

³⁷ And Gaal ^H1603 spake ^H1696 again ^H3254 and said, ^H559 See there come ^H3381 people ^H5971 down ^H3381 by the middle ^H2872 of the land, ^H776 and another ^H259 company ^H7218 come ^H935 along by the plain ^H436 of ^H1870 Meonenim. ^H6049

³⁸ Then said ^H559 Zebul ^H2083 unto him, Where is now ^H645 thy mouth, ^H6310 wherewith thou saidst, ^H559 Who is Abimelech, ^H40 that we should serve ^H5647 him? is not this the people ^H5971 that thou hast despised? ^H3988 go out, ^H3318 I pray now, ^H4994 and fight ^H3898 with them.

³⁹ And Gaal ^H1603 went out ^H3318 before ^H6440 the men ^H1167 of Shechem, ^H7927 and fought ^H3898 with Abimelech. ^H40

⁴⁰ And Abimelech ^H40 chased ^H7291 him, and he fled ^H5127 before ^H6440 him, and many ^H7227 were overthrown ^H5307 and wounded, ^H2491 even unto the entering ^H6607 of the gate. ^H8179

⁴¹ And Abimelech ^H40 dwelt ^H3427 at Arumah: ^H725 and Zebul ^H2083 thrust out ^H1644 Gaal ^H1603 and his brethren, ^H251 that they should not dwell ^H3427 in Shechem. ^H7927

⁴² And it came to pass on the morrow, ^H4283 that the people ^H5971 went out ^H3318 into the field; ^H7704 and they told ^H5046 Abimelech. ^H40

⁴³ And he took ^H3947 the people, ^H5971 and divided ^H2673 them into three ^H7969 companies, ^H7218 and laid wait ^H693 in the field, ^H7704 and looked, ^H7200 and, behold, the people ^H5971 were come forth ^H3318 out of the city; ^H5892 and he rose up ^H6965 against them, and smote ^H5221 them.

⁴⁴ And Abimelech, ^H40 and the company ^H7218 that was with him, rushed forward, ^H6584 and stood ^H5975 in the entering ^H6607 of the gate ^H8179 of the city: ^H5892 and the two ^H8147 other companies ^H7218 ran upon ^H6584 all the people that were in the fields, ^H7704 and slew ^H5221 them.

⁴⁵ And Abimelech ^H40 fought ^H3898 against the city ^H5892 all that day; ^H3117 and he took ^H3920 the city, ^H5892 and slew ^H2026 the people ^H5971 that was therein, and beat down ^H5422 the city, ^H5892 and sowed ^H2232 it with salt. ^H4417

⁴⁶ And when all the men ^H1167 of the tower ^H4026 of Shechem ^H7927 heard ^H8085 that, they entered ^H935 into an hold ^H6877 of the house ^H1004 of the god ^H410 Berith. ^H1286

⁴⁷ And it was told ^H5046 Abimelech, ^H40 that all the men ^H1167 of the tower ^H4026 of Shechem ^H7927 were gathered together. ^H6908

⁴⁸ And Abimelech ^H40 gat him up ^H5927 to mount ^H2022 Zalmon, ^H6756 he and all the people ^H5971 that were with him; and Abimelech ^H40 took ^H3947 an axe ^H7134 in his hand, ^H3027 and cut down ^H3772 a bough ^H7754 from the trees, ^H6086 and took ^H5375 it, and laid ^H7760 it on his shoulder, ^H7926 and said ^H559 unto the people ^H5971 that were with him, What ye have seen ^H7200 me do, ^H6213 make haste, ^H4116 and do ^H6213 as I ^H3644 have done.

⁴⁹ And all the people ^H5971 likewise cut down ^H3772 every man ^H376 his bough, ^H7754 and followed ^{H3212 H310} Abimelech, ^H40 and put ^H7760 them to the hold, ^H6877 and set ^H3341 the hold ^H6877 on fire ^H784 upon them; so that all the men ^H582 of the tower ^H4026 of Shechem ^H7927 died ^H4191 also, about a thousand ^H505 men ^H376 and women. ^H802

⁵⁰ Then went ^H3212 Abimelech ^H40 to Thebez, ^H8405 and encamped ^H2583 against Thebez, ^H8405 and took ^H3920 it.

⁵¹ But there was a strong ^H5797 tower ^H4026 within ^H8432 the city, ^H5892 and thither fled ^H5127 all the men ^H582 and women, ^H802 and all they ^H1167 of the city, ^H5892 and shut ^H5462 it to them, and gat them up ^H5927 to the top ^H1406 of the tower. ^H4026

⁵² And Abimelech ^H40 came ^H935 unto the tower, ^H4026 and fought ^H3898 against it, and went hard ^H5066 unto the door ^H6607 of the tower ^H4026 to burn ^H8313 it with fire. ^H784

⁵³ And a certain ^H259 woman ^H802 cast ^H7993 a piece ^H6400 of a millstone ^H7393 upon Abimelech's ^H40 head, ^H7218 and all to brake ^H7533 his skull. ^H1538

⁵⁴ Then he called ^H7121 hastily ^H4120 unto the young man ^H5288 his armourbearer, ^{H5375 H3627} and said ^H559 unto him, Draw ^H8025 thy sword, ^H2719 and slay ^H4191 me, that men say ^H559 not of me, A woman ^H802 slew ^H2026 him. And his young man ^H5288 thrust him through, ^H1856 and he died. ^H4191

⁵⁵ And when the men ^H376 of Israel ^H3478 saw ^H7200 that Abimelech ^H40 was dead, ^H4191 they departed ^H3212 every man ^H376 unto his place. ^H4725

⁵⁶ Thus God ^H430 rendered ^H7725 the wickedness ^H7451 of Abimelech, ^H40 which he did ^H6213 unto his father, ^H1 in slaying ^H2026 his seventy ^H7657 brethren: ^H251

⁵⁷ And all the evil ^H7451 of the men ^H582 of Shechem ^H7927 did God ^H430 render ^H7725 upon their heads: ^H7218 and upon them came ^H935 the curse ^H7045 of Jotham ^H3147 the son ^H1121 of Jerubbaal. ^H3378

---

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.

²¹ And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

²² And Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.

²³ And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

²⁴ that the violence done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.

²⁵ And the men of Shechem set liers-in-wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

²⁶ And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.

²⁷ And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod `the grapes', and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

²⁸ And 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 ye the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him?

²⁹ And would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

³⁰ And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

³¹ And he sent messengers unto Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city `to take part' against thee.

³² Now therefore, up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

³³ and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and rush upon the city; and, behold, when he and the people that are with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

³⁴ And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

³⁵ And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from the ambushment.

³⁶ And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

³⁷ And Gaal spake again and said, See, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company cometh by the way of the oak of Meonenim.

³⁸ Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, that thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.

³⁹ And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

⁴⁰ And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even unto the entrance of the gate.

⁴¹ And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

⁴² And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

⁴³ And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; And he rose up against them, and smote them.

⁴⁴ And Abimelech, 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 upon all that were in the field, and smote them.

⁴⁵ And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

⁴⁶ And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard thereof, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.

⁴⁷ And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

⁴⁸ And 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 up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

⁴⁹ And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

⁵⁰ Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

⁵¹ But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and gat them up to the roof of the tower.

⁵² And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and drew near unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

⁵³ And a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech's head, and brake his skull.

⁵⁴ Then he called hastily unto the young man his armorbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and kill me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

⁵⁵ And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

⁵⁶ Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren;

⁵⁷ and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

---

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.'

²¹ And Jotham hasteth, and fleeth, and goeth to Beer, and dwelleth there, from the face of Abimelech his brother.

²² And Abimelech is prince over Israel three years,

²³ and God sendeth an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech,

²⁴ for the coming in of the violence `to' the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and of their blood to place `it' on Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and on the masters of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.

²⁵ And the masters of Shechem set for him ambushes on the top of the hills, and rob every one who passeth over by them in the way, and it is declared to Abimelech.

²⁶ And Gaal son of Ebed cometh -- also his brethren -- and they pass over into Shechem, and the masters of Shechem trust in him,

²⁷ and go out into the field, and gather their vineyards, and tread, and make praises, and go into the house of their god, and eat and drink, and revile Abimelech.

²⁸ And Gaal son of Ebed saith, `Who `is' Abimelech, and who `is' Shechem, that we serve him? is `he' not son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his commander? Serve ye the men of Hamor father of Shechem, and wherefore do we serve him -- we?

²⁹ and oh that this people were in my hand -- then I turn Abimelech aside;' and he saith to Abimelech, `Increase thy host, and come out.'

³⁰ And Zebul, prince of the city, heareth the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burneth,

³¹ and he sendeth messengers unto Abimelech deceitfully, saying, `Lo, Gaal son of Ebed and his brethren are coming into Shechem, and lo, they are fortifying the city against thee;

³² and, now, rise by night, thou and the people who `are' with thee, and lay wait in the field,

³³ and it hath been, in the morning, about the rising of the sun, thou dost rise early, and hast pushed against the city; and lo, he and the people who `are' with him are going out unto thee -- and thou hast done to him as thy hand doth find.'

³⁴ And Abimelech riseth, and all the people who `are' with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem -- four detachments;

³⁵ and Gaal son of Ebed goeth out, and standeth at the opening of the gate of the city, and Abimelech riseth -- also the people who `are' with him -- from the ambush,

³⁶ and Gaal seeth the people, and saith unto Zebul, `Lo, people are coming down from the top of the hills;' and Zebul saith unto him, `The shadow of the hills thou art seeing like men.'

³⁷ And Gaal addeth yet to speak, and saith, `Lo, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and another detachment is coming by the way of the oak of Meonenim.'

³⁸ And Zebul saith unto him, `Where `is' now thy mouth, in that thou sayest, Who `is' Abimelech that we serve him? is not this the people against which thou hast kicked? go out, I pray thee now, and fight against it.'

³⁹ And Gaal goeth out before the masters of Shechem, and fighteth against Abimelech,

⁴⁰ and Abimelech pursueth him, and he fleeth from his presence, and many fall wounded -- unto the opening of the gate.

⁴¹ And Abimelech abideth in Arumah, and Zebul casteth out Gaal and his brethren from dwelling in Shechem.

⁴² And it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the people go out to the field, and they declare `it' to Abimelech,

⁴³ and he taketh the people, and divideth them into three detachments, and layeth wait in a field, and looketh, and lo, the people are coming out from the city, and he riseth against them, and smiteth them.

⁴⁴ And Abimelech and the detachments who `are' with him have pushed on, and stand at the opening of the gate of the city, and the two detachments have pushed against all who are in the field, and smite them,

⁴⁵ and Abimelech hath fought against the city all that day, and captureth the city, and the people who `are' in it he hath slain, and he breaketh down the city, and soweth it `with' salt.

⁴⁶ And all the masters of the tower of Shechem hear, and go in unto the high place of the house of the god Berith,

⁴⁷ and it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together,

⁴⁸ and Abimelech goeth up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people who `are' with him, and Abimelech taketh the great axe in his hand, and cutteth off a bough of the trees, and lifteth it up, and setteth `it' on his shoulder, and saith unto the people who `are' with him, `What ye have seen I have done -- haste, do ye like it.'

⁴⁹ And all the people also cut down each one his bough, and go after Abimelech, and set `them' at the high place, and burn by these the high place with fire, and also all the men of the tower of Shechem die, about a thousand men and women.

⁵⁰ And Abimelech goeth unto Thebez, and encampeth against Thebez, and captureth it,

⁵¹ and a strong tower hath been in the midst of the city, and thither flee do all the men and the women, and all the masters of the city, and they shut `it' behind them, and go up on the roof of the tower.

⁵² And Abimelech cometh unto the tower, and fighteth against it, and draweth nigh unto the opening of the tower to burn it with fire,

⁵³ and a certain woman doth cast a piece of a rider on the head of Abimelech, and breaketh his skull,

⁵⁴ and he calleth hastily unto the young man bearing his weapons, and saith to him, `Draw thy sword, and thou hast put me to death, lest they say of me -- A woman slew him;' and his young man pierced him through, and he dieth.

⁵⁵ And the men of Israel see that Abimelech `is' dead, and go each one to his place;

⁵⁶ and God turneth back the evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay his seventy brethren;

⁵⁷ and all the evil of the men of Shechem hath God turned back on their head, and come unto them doth the cursing of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.

---

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."

²¹ And Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abim'elech his brother.

²² Abim'elech ruled over Israel three years.

²³ And God sent an evil spirit between Abim'elech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abim'elech;

²⁴ that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubba'al might come and their blood be laid upon Abim'elech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.

²⁵ And the men of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountain tops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told Abim'elech.

²⁶ And Ga'al the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his kinsmen; and the men of Shechem put confidence in him.

²⁷ And they went out into the field, and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank and reviled Abim'elech.

²⁸ And Ga'al the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abim'elech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Did not the son of Jerubba'al and Zebul his officer serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem? Why then should we serve him?

²⁹ Would that this people were under my hand! then I would remove Abim'elech. I would say to Abim'elech, 'Increase your army, and come out.'"

³⁰ When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Ga'al the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

³¹ And he sent messengers to Abim'elech at Aru'mah, saying, "Behold, Ga'al the son of Ebed and his kinsmen have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.

³² Now therefore, go by night, you and the men that are with you, and lie in wait in the fields.

³³ Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city; and when he and the men that are with him come out against you, you may do to them as occasion offers."

³⁴ And Abim'elech and all the men that were with him rose up by night, and laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

³⁵ And Ga'al the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and Abim'elech and the men that were with him rose from the ambush.

³⁶ And when Ga'al saw the men, he said to Zebul, "Look, men are coming down from the mountain tops!" And Zebul said to him, "You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men."

³⁷ Ga'al spoke again and said, "Look, men are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak."

³⁸ Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your mouth now, you who said, 'Who is Abim'elech, that we should serve him?' Are not these the men whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them."

³⁹ And Ga'al went out at the head of the men of Shechem, and fought with Abim'elech.

⁴⁰ And Abim'elech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate.

⁴¹ And Abim'elech dwelt at Aru'mah; and Zebul drove out Ga'al and his kinsmen, so that they could not live on at Shechem.

⁴² On the following day the men went out into the fields. And Abim'elech was told.

⁴³ He took his men and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the fields; and he looked and saw the men coming out of the city, and he rose against them and slew them.

⁴⁴ Abim'elech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and slew them.

⁴⁵ And Abim'elech fought against the city all that day; he took the city, and killed the people that were in it; and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.

⁴⁶ When all the people of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-be'rith.

⁴⁷ Abim'elech was told that all the people of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.

⁴⁸ And Abim'elech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the men that were with him; and Abim'elech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bundle of brushwood, and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men that were with him, "What you have seen me do, make haste to do, as I have done."

⁴⁹ So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abim'elech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.

⁵⁰ Then Abim'elech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

⁵¹ But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the people of the city fled to it, all the men and women, and shut themselves in; and they went to the roof of the tower.

⁵² And Abim'elech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

⁵³ And a certain woman threw an upper millstone upon Abim'elech's head, and crushed his skull.

⁵⁴ Then he called hastily to the young man his armor-bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

⁵⁵ And when the men of Israel saw that Abim'elech was dead, they departed every man to his home.

⁵⁶ Thus God requited the crime of Abim'elech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers;

⁵⁷ and God also made all the wickedness of the men of Shechem fall back upon their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubba'al.

---

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.

²¹ Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and lived there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

²² Abimelech was prince over Israel three years.

²³ God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

²⁴ that 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.

²⁵ The men of Shechem set liers-in-wait for him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

²⁶ Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.

²⁷ They went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and trod [the grapes], and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

²⁸ Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve you the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: but why should we serve him?

²⁹ Would that this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. He said to Abimelech, Increase your army, and come out.

³⁰ When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

³¹ He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers are come to Shechem; and, behold, they constrain the city [to take part] against you.

³² Now therefore, up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field:

³³ and it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early, and rush on the city; and, 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.

³⁴ Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

³⁵ Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people who were with him, from the ambush.

³⁶ When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the tops of the mountains. Zebul said to him, You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

³⁷ Gaal spoke again and said, Behold, there come people down by the middle of the land, and one company comes by the way of the oak of Meonenim.

³⁸ Then said Zebul to him, Where is now your mouth, that you said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that you have despised? go out now, I pray, and fight with them.

³⁹ Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

⁴⁰ Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and there fell many wounded, even to the entrance of the gate.

⁴¹ Abimelech lived at Arumah: and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

⁴² It happened on the next day, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

⁴³ He took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and, behold, the people came forth out of the city; He rose up against them, and struck them.

⁴⁴ Abimelech, 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.

⁴⁵ Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and killed the people who were therein: and he beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

⁴⁶ When all the men of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered into the stronghold of the house of Elberith.

⁴⁷ It was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

⁴⁸ Abimelech got him up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it up, and laid it on his shoulder: and he said to the people who were with him, What you have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

⁴⁹ All the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire on them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

⁵⁰ Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

⁵¹ But there was a strong tower within the city, and there fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut themselves in, and got them up to the roof of the tower.

⁵² Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

⁵³ A certain woman cast an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, and broke his skull.

⁵⁴ Then 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.

⁵⁵ When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man to his place.

⁵⁶ Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did to his father, in killing his seventy brothers;

⁵⁷ and all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God requite on their heads: and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

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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.

²¹ Then Jotham straight away went in flight to Beer, and was living there for fear of his brother Abimelech.

²² So Abimelech was chief over Israel for three years.

²³ And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the townsmen of Shechem; and the townsmen of Shechem were false to Abimelech;

²⁴ So that punishment for the violent attack made on the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and for their blood, might come on Abimelech, their brother, who put them to death, and on the townsmen of Shechem who gave him their help in putting his brothers to death.

²⁵ And the townsmen of Shechem put secret watchers on the tops of the mountains, and they made attacks on all who went by on the road and took their goods; and word of this came to Abimelech.

²⁶ Then Gaal, the son of Ebed, came with his brothers, and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their faith in him.

²⁷ And they went out into their fields and got in the fruit of their vines, and when the grapes had been crushed, they made a holy feast and went into the house of their god, and over their food and drink they were cursing Abimelech.

²⁸ And Gaal, the son of Ebed, said, Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we are to be his servants? Is it not right for the son of Jerubbaal and Zebul his captain to be servants to the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? But why are we to be his servants?

²⁹ If only I had authority over this people! I would put Abimelech out of the way, and I would say to Abimelech, Make your army strong, and come out.

³⁰ Now Zebul, the ruler of the town, hearing what Gaal, the son of Ebed, had said, was moved to wrath.

³¹ And he sent to Abimelech at Arumah, saying, See, Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brothers have come to Shechem, and they are working up the town against you.

³² So now, get up by night, you and your people, and keep watch in the field secretly;

³³ And in the morning, when the sun is up, get up early and make a rush on the town; and when he and his people come out against you, do to them whatever you have a chance to do.

³⁴ So Abimelech and the people with him got up by night, in four bands, to make a surprise attack on Shechem.

³⁵ And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out, and took his place at the doorway into the town; then Abimelech and his people got up from the place where they had been waiting.

³⁶ And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, See! people are coming down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said to him, You see the shade of the mountains like men.

³⁷ And Gaal said again, See! people are coming down from the middle of the land, and one band is coming by way of the oak-tree of the Seers.

³⁸ Then Zebul said to him, Now where is your loud talk when you said, Who is Abimelech that we are to be his servants? Is this not the people whom you were rating so low? Go out now, and make war on them.

³⁹ So Gaal went out at the head of the townsmen of Shechem and made war on Abimelech.

⁴⁰ And Abimelech went after him and he went in flight before him; and a great number were falling by the sword all the way up to the town.

⁴¹ Then Abimelech went back to Arumah; and Zebul sent Gaal and his brothers away and would not let them go on living in Shechem.

⁴² Now the day after, the people went out into the fields; and news of it came to Abimelech.

⁴³ And he took his people, separating them into three bands, and was waiting secretly in the field; and when he saw the people coming out of the town, he went up and made an attack on them.

⁴⁴ And Abimelech with his band made a rush, and took up their position at the doorway into the town; and the other two bands made a rush on all those who were in the fields, and overcame them.

⁴⁵ And all that day Abimelech was fighting against the town; and he took it, and put to death the people who were in it, and had the town pulled down and covered with salt.

⁴⁶ Then all the townsmen of the tower of Shechem, hearing of it, went into the inner room of the house of El-berith.

⁴⁷ And word was given to Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were there together.

⁴⁸ Then Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, with all his people; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and, cutting down branches of trees, took them and put them on his back. And he said to the people who were with him, Be quick and do as you have seen me do.

⁴⁹ So all the people got branches, every man cutting down a branch, and they went with Abimelech at their head and, massing the branches against the inner room, put fire to the room over them; so all those who were in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, were burned to death with it.

⁵⁰ Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and put his army in position against Thebez and took it.

⁵¹ But in the middle of the town there was a strong tower, to which all the men and women of the town went in flight and, shutting themselves in, went up to the roof of the tower.

⁵² And Abimelech came to the tower and made an attack on it, and got near to the door of the tower for the purpose of firing it.

⁵³ But a certain woman sent a great stone, such as is used for crushing grain, on to the head of Abimelech, cracking the bone.

⁵⁴ Then quickly crying out to his body-servant, he said to him, Take out your sword and put an end to me straight away, so that men may not say of me, His death was the work of a woman. So the young man put his sword through him, causing his death.

⁵⁵ And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they went away, every man to his place.

⁵⁶ In this way Abimelech was rewarded by God for the evil he had done to his father in putting his seventy brothers to death;

⁵⁷ And God sent back on to the heads of the men of Shechem all the evil they had done, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, came on them.