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Si Abimelec

Isa ka adlaw, nagkadto si Abimelec nga anak ni Gideon[a] sa mga paryente sang iya iloy sa Shekem kag ginsilingan sila, “Pamangkuta ninyo ang tanan nga taga-Shekem kon ano ang gusto nila: panguluhan sila sang 70 ka anak ni Gideon ukon sang isa lang niya ka anak? Dumdumon ninyo nga ako mismo paryente ninyo.”

Gani nagpakighambal ang mga paryente ni Abimelec sa mga taga-Shekem. Nagsugot sila nga si Abimelec ang magapangulo sa ila, tungod kay paryente nila siya. Ginhatagan nila si Abimelec sang 70 ka bilog nga pilak halin sa templo ni Baal Berit, kag gin-gamit niya ini sa pagsuhol sa mga bugoy sa pagsunod sa iya. Dayon nagkadto si Abimelec sa balay sang iya amay sa Ofra. Kag didto, sa ibabaw sang isa ka bato, ginpamatay niya ang iya 70[b] ka utod sa amay nga si Gideon. Pero ang kamanghuran nga si Jotam wala mapatay tungod kay nakapanago siya. Nagkadto ang mga taga-Shekem kag taga-Bet Millo sa may dako nga kahoy sa Shekem kag didto ginhimo nila nga hari si Abimelec.

Sang mabatian ini ni Jotam, nagtaklad siya sa ibabaw sang Bukid sang Gerizim kag nagsinggit sa ila, “Mga taga-Shekem, pamatii ninyo ako kon gusto ninyo nga pamatian kamo sang Dios. Sugiran ko kamo sang isa ka estorya parte sa mga kahoy nga nagpangita sang magahari sa ila. Nagsiling sila sa kahoy nga olibo, ‘Ikaw ang maghari sa amon.’ Nagsabat ang olibo, ‘Mas pilion ko pa bala ang maghari sa inyo sang sa maghatag sang lana nga ginagamit sa pagpadungog sa mga dios kag sa mga tawo? Indi gid!

10 “Dayon nagsiling sila sa kahoy nga higera, ‘Ikaw na lang ang maghari sa amon.’ 11 Nagsabat ang higera, ‘Mas pilion ko pa bala ang maghari sa inyo sang sa maghatag sang manamit nga bunga? Indi gid!

12 “Dayon nagsiling sila sa ubas, ‘Ikaw na lang ang maghari sa amon.’ 13 Nagsabat ang ubas, ‘Mas pilion ko pa bala ang maghari sa inyo sang sa maghatag sang bino nga makapalipay sa mga dios kag sa mga tawo? Indi gid!

14 “Gani nagsiling na lang sila tanan sa tunukon nga kahoy-kahoy, ‘Ikaw na lang ang maghari sa amon.’ 15 Nagsabat ang tunukon nga kahoy-kahoy, ‘Kon gusto gid ninyo nga ako ang maghari sa inyo, magpahandong kamo sa akon. Pero kon indi gani kamo, mapaguwa ako sang kalayo nga magasunog sa mga kahoy nga sedro sang Lebanon.’ ”

16 Dayon nagsiling si Jotam, “Matarong bala kag husto ang inyo paghimo kay Abimelec nga hari? Maayo bala ang inyo ginhimo sa akon amay nga si Gideon kag sa iya pamilya? Kag nagakabagay man bala sa iya hinimuan? 17 Dumduma ninyo nga nagpakig-away ang akon amay para luwason kamo sa mga Midianhon. Gintaya niya ang iya kabuhi para sa inyo. 18 Pero karon ginkontra ninyo ang pamilya sang akon amay. Ginpamatay ninyo ang 70 niya ka anak sa ibabaw sang isa ka bato. Kag ginhimo ninyo nga hari si Abimelec, nga anak sang akon amay sa iya suluguon nga babayi, tungod lamang kay paryente ninyo siya. 19 Gani kon para sa inyo matarong kag husto ang ginhimo ninyo sa akon amay kag sa iya pamilya, kabay pa nga malipay kamo kay Abimelec kag siya amo man sa inyo. 20 Pero kon indi, kabay pa nga laglagon kamo ni Abimelec nga daw sa lamunon kamo sang kalayo. Kag kamo nga mga taga-Shekem kag taga-Bet Millo, laglagon man ninyo si Abimelec nga daw sa lamunon man siya sang kalayo.” 21 Pagkahambal sadto ni Jotam, nagpalagyo siya pakadto sa Beer kag didto nag-estar tungod kay nahadlok siya sa iya utod nga si Abimelec.

22 Pagkatapos sang tatlo ka tuig nga pagdumala ni Abimelec sa mga Israelinhon, 23 ginpaaway sang Dios si Abimelec kag ang katawhan sang Shekem. Nagrebelde ang mga taga-Shekem kay Abimelec. 24 Natabo ini agod pabayaron si Abimelec kag ang mga taga-Shekem nga nagbulig sa iya sa pagpamatay sa 70 ka anak ni Gideon nga iya mga utod. 25 Nagbutang ang mga taga-Shekem sang mga tawo sa bukid sa pag-ambus kay Abimelec, kag ginahold-ap nila ang mga nagaagi didto. Nabalitaan ini ni Abimelec.

26 Sadto nga tion, si Gaal nga anak ni Ebed nagsaylo sa Shekem upod ang iya mga utod. Nagsalig sa iya ang mga taga-Shekem. 27 Sang tion sang tigpamupo sang ubas, naghimo ang mga tawo sang bino halin sa sini nga mga ubas. Kag naghiwat sila sang piesta sa templo sang ila dios. Kag samtang nagakinaon sila didto kag nagaininom, ginalibak nila si Abimelec. 28 Nagsiling si Gaal, “Ano kita nga klase sang mga tawo sa Shekem? Ngaa nagapasakop kita kay Abimelec? Sin-o gid bala siya? Indi bala nga anak lang siya ni Gideon? Ti, ngaa magpasakop kita sa iya ukon kay Zebul nga nagadumala para sa iya? Dapat magpasakop kamo sa kaliwat sang inyo katigulangan nga si Hamor. 29 Kon sakop ko lang kamo, sigurado gid nga mapahalin ko si Abimelec. Hambalon ko gid siya nga ipreparar niya ang iya mga soldado kag magpakig-away sa aton.”

30 Sang mabatian ni Zebul nga pangulo sang banwa ang ginsiling ni Gaal, naakig gid siya. 31 Gani sekreto nga nagpasugo siya sang mga mensahero nga magkadto kay Abimelec. Amo ini ang ginpasiling niya, “Si Gaal kag ang iya mga utod nagsaylo diri sa Shekem, kag ginaganyat nila ang mga tawo nga magkontra sa imo. 32 Gani karon sa gab-i, upda ang imo mga tinawo kag magpanago anay kamo sa kaumahan sa guwa sang banwa. 33 Buwas, pagbutlak sang adlaw, dali-dalia ninyo salakay ang banwa. Kon magpakig-away sila ni Gaal, himua ang gusto mo nga himuon sa ila.”

34 Pagkagab-i, naglakat si Abimelec kag ang iya mga tinawo. Naggrupo sila sa apat ka grupo kag nagpanago sa guwa lang sang Shekem. 35 Sang makita nila nga nagguwa si Gaal kag nagtindog sa may puwertahan sang banwa, nagguwa sila sa ila ginapanaguan agod magsalakay. 36 Sang makita sila ni Gaal, nagsiling siya kay Zebul, “Tan-awa! May mga tawo nga nagapadulhog halin sa mga putokputokan sang mga bukid.” Nagsabat si Zebul, “Mga landong lang ina sang mga bukid. Panan-awan mo lang ina nga daw mga tawo.”

37 Nagsiling si Gaal, “Pero tan-awa! May mga tawo man nga nagahalin sa tunga sang duha ka bukid, kag may ara pa gid sa alagyan malapit sa dako nga kahoy sang mga manugpakot!”

38 Nagsabat si Zebul sa iya, “Diin na karon ang imo ginapahambog? Indi bala nga nagsiling ka, ‘Sin-o gid bala si Abimelec nga magpasakop kita sa iya?’ Karon ara na ang ginayaguta mo! Ngaa indi ka magpakig-away sa ila?”

39 Gani gintipon ni Gaal ang mga taga-Shekem kag nagpakig-away sila kay Abimelec. 40 Sang ulihi nagpalagyo si Gaal, kag ginlagas siya ni Abimelec. Madamo ang nagkalamatay sa inaway; ang mga pilason naglalapta hasta sa may puwertahan sang banwa.

41 Pagkatapos sadto, nagtiner si Abimelec sa Aruma. Wala gintugutan ni Zebul nga magbalik sa Shekem si Gaal kag ang iya mga utod.

42 Pagkaaga, nabalitaan ni Abimelec nga makadto sa kaumahan ang mga taga-Shekem. 43 Gani gin-grupo niya sa tatlo ka grupo ang iya mga tinawo kag nagkadto sila sa kaumahan kag naghulat sa pagsalakay. Sang makita nila ang mga taga-Shekem nga nagapaguwa sa banwa, nagsugod sila sa pagsalakay. 44 Ang grupo ni Abimelec nagplastar sa may puwertahan dampi sang banwa samtang ginpamatay sang duha niya ka grupo ang mga taga-Shekem sa may kaumahan. 45 Bilog gid nga adlaw ang pagpakig-away nila ni Abimelec. Sang ulihi nasakop gid man nila ang banwa, kag ginpamatay nila ang mga pumuluyo sini. Pagkatapos gin-guba nila ang banwa kag ginsabwagan dayon sang asin.

46 Sang mabalitaan ini sang mga nagaestar sa Tore sang Shekem, nagpanago sila sa mabakod nga lugar sang templo ni El Berit.[c] 47 Pagkahibalo sini ni Abimelec, 48 gindala niya ang iya mga tinawo sa Bukid sang Zalmon. Pag-abot nila didto, nagkuha si Abimelec sang wasay kag nagpang-utod sang mga sanga sang kahoy kag ginpas-an. Ginsilingan man niya ang iya mga tinawo, “Magdali-dali kamo kag himua ninyo ang akon ginhimo.” 49 Gani ang kada isa sa ila nagpas-an sang kahoy kag nagsunod kay Abimelec. Gintumpok nila ang mga kahoy sa mabakod nga lugar sang templo ni El Berit kag gintutdan. Gani nagkalamatay ang tanan nga tawo nga nagaestar sadto sa Tore sang Shekem. Mga 1,000 sila tanan pati mga babayi.

50 Pagkatapos nagkadto sila ni Abimelec sa Tebez kag ginsakop man nila ini. 51 Pero may mapag-on didto nga tore nga sa diin nagpalagyo ang mga taga-Tebez. Ginsiradhan nila ini kag nagsaka sila sa atop sang tore. 52 Ginsalakay ni Abimelec ang tore. Kag sang sunugon na niya kuntani ini, 53 ginhulugan siya sang babayi sing galingan nga bato, kag naglitik ang iya ulo. 54 Dali-dali niya nga gintawag ang manugdala sang iya armas kag ginsilingan, “Gabuta ang imo espada kag patya ako agod indi sila makasiling nga isa lang ka babayi ang nakapatay sa akon.” Gani ginbuno siya sang iya suluguon kag napatay siya. 55 Sang makita sang mga tinawo ni Abimelec[d] nga patay na siya, nagpalauli sila.

56 Sa amo nga paagi, ginpabayad sang Dios si Abimelec sa ginhimo niya nga malaot sa iya amay nga amo ang pagpatay sa 70 niya ka utod. 57 Ginpabayad man sang Dios ang mga taga-Shekem sa tanan nila nga kalautan. Gani natuman ang sumpa ni Jotam nga anak ni Gideon.

Footnotes

  1. 9:1 Gideon: sa Hebreo, Jerubaal. Amo man ini sa bersikulo 2, 5, 24, 28, 57.
  2. 9:5 70: Ang buot silingon, mga (approximately) 70.
  3. 9:46 El Berit: ukon, Baal Berit.
  4. 9:55 mga tinawo ni Abimelec: sa literal, mga Israelinhon.

Abimelek

Abimelek(A) son of Jerub-Baal(B) went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan, “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.(C)

When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.” They gave him seventy shekels[a] of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith,(D) and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels,(E) who became his followers. He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers,(F) the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham,(G) the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.(H) Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo(I) gathered beside the great tree(J) at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.

When Jotham(K) was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim(L) and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’

“But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’

10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’

11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’

12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’

13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine,(M) which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’

14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’

15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade;(N) but if not, then let fire come out(O) of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’(P)

16 “Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? 17 Remember that my father fought for you and risked(Q) his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian. 18 But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons(R) on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. 19 So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today?(S) If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! 20 But if you have not, let fire come out(T) from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem(U) and Beth Millo,(V) and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”

21 Then Jotham(W) fled, escaping to Beer,(X) and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.

22 After Abimelek had governed Israel three years, 23 God stirred up animosity(Y) between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. 24 God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons,(Z) the shedding(AA) of their blood, might be avenged(AB) on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him(AC) murder his brothers. 25 In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek.

26 Now Gaal son of Ebed(AD) moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. 27 After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden(AE) them, they held a festival in the temple of their god.(AF) While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. 28 Then Gaal son of Ebed(AG) said, “Who(AH) is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor,(AI) Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek? 29 If only this people were under my command!(AJ) Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”[b](AK)

30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry. 31 Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. 32 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait(AL) in the fields. 33 In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.(AM)

34 So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. 35 Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate(AN) just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.(AO)

36 When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!”

Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”

37 But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill,[c] and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.”

38 Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed?(AP) Go out and fight them!”

39 So Gaal led out[d] the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. 40 Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. 41 Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.

42 The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. 43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies(AQ) and set an ambush(AR) in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. 44 Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down. 45 All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city(AS) and scattered salt(AT) over it.

46 On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple(AU) of El-Berith. 47 When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, 48 he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon.(AV) He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!” 49 So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.

50 Next Abimelek went to Thebez(AW) and besieged it and captured it. 51 Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. 52 Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, 53 a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.(AX)

54 Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me,(AY) so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died. 55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.

56 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers. 57 God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness.(AZ) The curse of Jotham(BA) son of Jerub-Baal came on them.

Footnotes

  1. Judges 9:4 That is, about 1 3/4 pounds or about 800 grams
  2. Judges 9:29 Septuagint; Hebrew him.” Then he said to Abimelek, “Call out your whole army!”
  3. Judges 9:37 The Hebrew for this phrase means the navel of the earth.
  4. Judges 9:39 Or Gaal went out in the sight of

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,

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.