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