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Abimeleki

Ní ọjọ́ kan Abimeleki ọmọ Jerubbaali lọ sí ọ̀dọ̀ àwọn arákùnrin ìyá rẹ̀ ní Ṣekemu ó sì bá wọn sọ̀rọ̀ àti gbogbo àwọn ìbátan ìyá rẹ̀ wí pé, “Ẹ bi gbogbo àwọn ará Ṣekemu léèrè, ‘Èwo ló sàn fún un yín, ṣé kí gbogbo àwọn àádọ́rin ọmọ Jerubbaali jẹ ọba lórí yín ni tàbí kí ẹnìkan ṣoṣo ṣe àkóso yín?’ Ṣùgbọ́n ẹ rántí pé ẹran-ara yín àti ẹ̀jẹ̀ yín ni èmi ń ṣe.”

Nígbà tí àwọn arákùnrin rẹ̀ sọ èyí ní etí àwọn ará Ṣekemu, ọkàn wọn fà sí àti tẹ̀lé Abimeleki torí, wọ́n sọ wí pé, “Arákùnrin wa ní í ṣe.” Wọ́n fún un ní àádọ́rin ṣékélì fàdákà láti ilé òrìṣà Baali-Beriti, Abimeleki fi owó náà gba àwọn jàǹdùkú àti aláìníláárí ènìyàn tí wọ́n sì di olùtẹ̀lé rẹ̀. Ó kó wọn lọ sí ilé baba rẹ̀ ní Ofira, níbẹ̀ ní orí òkúta kan ṣoṣo ni ó ti pa àádọ́rin nínú àwọn arákùnrin rẹ̀, àwọn Jerubbaali, ṣùgbọ́n Jotamu, àbíkẹ́yìn nínú àwọn ọmọ Jerubbaali, bọ́ yọ nítorí pé ó sápamọ́. Gbogbo àwọn ará Ṣekemu àti àwọn ará Beti-Milo pàdé pọ̀ ní ẹ̀bá igi óákù ní ibi òpó ní Ṣekemu láti fi Abimeleki jẹ ọba.

Nígbà tí wọ́n sọ ohun tí ó ń ṣẹlẹ̀ yìí fún Jotamu, ó gun orí ṣóńṣó òkè Gerisimu lọ, ó sì ké lóhùn rara pé, “Ẹ tẹ́tí sí mi, ẹ̀yin àgbàgbà Ṣekemu, kí Ọlọ́run le tẹ́tí sí yín. Ní ọjọ́ kan àwọn igi jáde lọ láti fi òróró yan ọba fún ara wọn. Wọ́n pe igi Olifi pé, ‘Wá ṣe ọba wa.’

“Ṣùgbọ́n igi Olifi dá wọn lóhùn pé, ‘Èmi yóò ha fi òróró mi sílẹ̀ èyí tí a ń lò láti fi ọ̀wọ̀ fún àwọn ọlọ́run àti ènìyàn kí èmi sì wá ṣe olórí àwọn igi?’

10 “Àwọn igi sọ fún igi ọ̀pọ̀tọ́ pé, ‘Wá jẹ ọba ní orí wa.’

11 “Ṣùgbọ́n ọ̀pọ̀tọ́ dá wọn lóhùn pé, ‘Kí èmi fi èso mi tí ó dára tí ó sì dùn sílẹ̀ láti wá ṣe olórí àwọn igi?’

12 “Àwọn igi sì tún sọ fún àjàrà pé, ‘Wá, kí o ṣe ọba wa.’

13 “Ṣùgbọ́n àjàrà dáhùn pé, ‘Ṣé kí èmi dẹ́kun àti máa so èso wáìnì mi èyí tí ó ń mú inú Ọlọ́run àti àwọn ènìyàn dùn láti máa ṣe olórí àwọn igi?’

14 “Ní ìparí gbogbo àwọn igi lọ bá igi ẹ̀gún wọ́n sì sọ fún un pé, ‘Wá kí ó ṣe ọba wa.’

15 “Igi ẹ̀gún dá àwọn igi lóhùn pé, ‘Bí olóòtítọ́ ni ẹ bá fẹ́ yàn mí ní ọba yín. Ẹ sá àsálà sí abẹ́ ibòòji mi; ṣùgbọ́n tí kì í bá ṣe bẹ́ẹ̀ jẹ́ kí iná jáde láti inú igi ẹ̀gún kí ó sì jó àwọn igi kedari àti ti Lebanoni run!’

16 “Báyìí tí ó bá jẹ́ pé ẹ̀yin ṣe ohun tí ó ní ọlá àti pẹ̀lú ẹ̀mí òtítọ́ ní fífi Abimeleki jẹ ọba, tí ó bá ṣe pé ohun tí ó tọ́ ni ẹ ṣe sí Jerubbaali àti ìdílé rẹ̀, bí ẹ bá san ẹ̀san tó yẹ fún un. 17 Nítorí pé baba mi jà nítorí yín, ó fi ẹ̀mí rẹ̀ wéwu láti gbà yín sílẹ̀ lọ́wọ́ àwọn ará Midiani; 18 ṣùgbọ́n lónìí ẹ̀yin ṣọ̀tẹ̀ sí ilé baba mi, ní orí òkúta kan ṣoṣo ni ẹ ti pa àwọn àádọ́rin ọmọ rẹ̀, ẹ̀yin sì ti fi Abimeleki ọmọ ẹrúbìnrin rẹ̀ jẹ ọba lórí àwọn ènìyàn Ṣekemu nítorí tí ó jẹ́ arákùnrin yín. 19 Bí ohun tí ẹ ṣe sí Jerubbaali àti ìdílé rẹ̀ bá jẹ́ ohun tí ó yẹ, tí ẹ sì ṣe òtítọ́ inú sí i, kí ẹ ní ayọ̀ nínú Abimeleki kí òun náà sì ní ayọ̀ nínú yín. 20 Ṣùgbọ́n tí kò bá ṣe bẹ́ẹ̀ jẹ́ kí iná jó jáde wá láti ọ̀dọ̀ Abimeleki kí ó sì jó yín run. Ẹ̀yin ará Ṣekemu àti ará Beti-Milo, kí iná pẹ̀lú jáde láti ọ̀dọ̀ yín wá ẹ̀yin ará Ṣekemu àti ará Beti-Milo kí ó sì jó Abimeleki run.”

21 Lẹ́yìn tí Jotamu ti sọ èyí tan, ó sá àsálà lọ sí Beeri, ó sì gbé níbẹ̀ nítorí ó bẹ̀rù arákùnrin rẹ̀ Abimeleki.

22 Lẹ́yìn tí Abimeleki ti ṣe àkóso Israẹli fún ọdún mẹ́ta, 23 Ọlọ́run rán ẹ̀mí búburú sáàárín Abimeleki àti àwọn ará Ṣekemu, àwọn ẹni tí ó hu ìwà ọ̀tẹ̀. 24 Ọlọ́run ṣe èyí láti gbẹ̀san àwọn ìwà búburú, àti ìtàjẹ̀ sílẹ̀ àwọn àádọ́rin (70) ọmọ Jerubbaali lára Abimeleki arákùnrin wọn àti lára àwọn ènìyàn Ṣekemu, ẹni tí ó ràn án lọ́wọ́ láti pa àwọn arákùnrin rẹ̀. 25 Nítorí ìkórìíra tí wọ́n ni sí àwọn olórí, ni Ṣekemu dẹ àwọn ènìyàn sí àwọn orí òkè láti máa dá àwọn ènìyàn tó ń kọjá lọ́nà, kí wọn sì máa jà wọ́n lólè, àwọn kan ló sọ èyí fún Abimeleki.

26 Gaali ọmọ Ebedi àti àwọn arákùnrin rẹ̀ wá sí Ṣekemu, àwọn ará Ṣekemu sì gbẹ́kẹ̀lé wọn, wọ́n sì fi inú tán wọn. 27 Lẹ́yìn ìgbà tí wọ́n jáde lọ sí oko, wọ́n sì ṣa èso àjàrà wọn jọ, wọ́n fún èso àjàrà náà, wọ́n sì ṣe àjọ̀dún nínú ilé òrìṣà wọn. Nígbà tí wọ́n ń jẹ tí wọ́n ń mu wọ́n fi Abimeleki ré. 28 Gaali ọmọ Ebedi dáhùn pé, “Ta ni Abimeleki tàbí ta ni Ṣekemu tí àwa ó fi sìn ín? Ọmọ Jerubbaali kọ́ ní ṣe tàbí Sebulu kọ́ ní igbákejì rẹ̀? Ẹ má sin àwọn ará Hamori baba àwọn ará Ṣekemu, Èéṣe tí a ó fi sin Abimeleki? 29 Bí àwọn ènìyàn yìí bá wà ní abẹ́ ìṣàkóso mi ni! Ẹ̀yin ó bọ́ àjàgà rẹ̀ kúrò ní ọrùn yín (Èmi yóò yọ Abimeleki kúrò). Èmi yóò wí fún Abimeleki pé, ‘Kó gbogbo àwọn ogun rẹ jáde láti jà.’ ”

30 Nígbà tí Sebulu, alákòóso ìlú náà gbọ́ ohun tí Gaali ọmọ Ebedi sọ, inú bí i gidigidi. 31 Ó ránṣẹ́ sí Abimeleki pé, “Gaali ọmọ Ebedi àti àwọn arákùnrin rẹ̀ wá láti máa gbé ní Ṣekemu ṣùgbọ́n, wọ́n ń rú àwọn ènìyàn sókè láti ṣọ̀tẹ̀ sí ọ. 32 Wá ní òru kí ìwọ àti àwọn ogun rẹ sápamọ́ dè wọ́n nínú igbó. 33 Ní òwúrọ̀ kùtùkùtù bí oòrùn ti ń yọ ìwọ yóò wọ inú ìlú náà lọ láti bá a jà. Yóò sì ṣe nígbà tí Gaali àti àwọn ogun rẹ̀ tí ó wà pẹ̀lú rẹ̀ bá jáde sí ọ láti bá ọ jà, ìwọ yóò ṣe ohunkóhun tí o bá fẹ́ sí wọn.”

34 Abimeleki àti gbogbo àwọn ogun rẹ̀ sì jáde ní òru, wọ́n sì sápamọ́ sí ọ̀nà mẹ́rin yí Ṣekemu ká. 35 Gaali ọmọ Ebedi jáde síta, ó sì dúró ní ẹnu-ọ̀nà ibodè ìlú náà ní àkókò tí Abimeleki àti àwọn ọmọ-ogun rẹ̀ jáde kúrò níbi tí wọn sápamọ́ sí.

36 Nígbà tí Gaali rí àwọn ènìyàn náà, ó sọ fún Sebulu pé, “Wò ó, àwọn ènìyàn ń ti orí òkè sọ̀kalẹ̀ wá!”

Sebulu sì wí fún un pé, “Òjìji òkè wọ̀n-ọn-nì ni ìwọ rí bi ẹni pé ènìyàn.”

37 Gaali ké ó ní, “Wòkè, àwọn ènìyàn ń tọ̀ wá bọ̀ láti agbede-méjì ilẹ̀ wá àti ẹ̀gbẹ́ kan sì ń ti ọ̀nà igi óákù Meonenimu wá.”

38 Nígbà náà ni Sebulu dá a lóhùn pé, “Níbo ni ẹnu tí ó ń ṣe ni wà báyìí. Ṣe bí o wí pé, ‘Ta ni Abimeleki tí àwa ó fi máa sìn ín?’ Àwọn ẹni tí ó gàn án kọ́ nìyí? Jáde lọ kí o sì bá wọn jà!”

39 Gaali sì síwájú àwọn ogun ará Ṣekemu lọ kọjú Abimeleki láti bá wọn jagun. 40 Abimeleki sì lé e, ọ̀pọ̀lọpọ̀ àwọn ọmọ-ogun ṣubú wọ́n sì gbọgbẹ́ bí wọ́n ṣe ń sálọ, títí dé ẹnu-ọ̀nà ibùdó ìlú náà. 41 Abimeleki dúró sí Aruma, nígbà tí Sebulu lé Gaali àti àwọn arákùnrin rẹ̀ kúrò ni Ṣekemu, kò sì jẹ́ kí wọ́n gbé Ṣekemu mọ́.

42 Ní ọjọ́ kejì àwọn ará Ṣekemu sì jà lọ́ sí oko, ẹnìkan ló ṣe òfófó rẹ̀ fún Abimeleki. 43 Ó kó àwọn ènìyàn rẹ̀, ó pín wọn sí ẹgbẹ́ mẹ́ta ó sì sápamọ́ sí inú oko. Nígbà tí ó sì rí tí àwọn ènìyàn náà ń jáde kúrò nínú ìlú, ó dìde ó gbóguntì wọ́n. 44 Abimeleki àti àwọn ọmọ-ogun tí ó wà pẹ̀lú rẹ̀ sáré síwájú, wọ́n gba ẹnu ibodè ìlú náà, wọ́n sì dúró níbẹ̀. Àwọn ẹgbẹ́ méjì tókù sì sáré sí àwọn tó wà ní oko wọ́n sì gbóguntì wọ́n. 45 Ní gbogbo ọjọ́ náà ni Abimeleki fi bá àwọn ará ìlú náà jà, ó sì ṣẹ́gun wọn, ó sì pa àwọn ènìyàn ìlú náà ó wó ìlú náà palẹ̀ pátápátá ó sì fọ́n iyọ̀ sí i.

46 Àwọn ènìyàn ilé ìṣọ́ Ṣekemu gbọ́ ohun tí ó ṣẹlẹ̀, wọ́n sálọ fún ààbò sí inú ilé ìṣọ́ òrìṣà El-Beriti. 47 Nígbà tí wọ́n sọ fún Abimeleki pé gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn ilé ìṣọ́ Ṣekemu kó ara wọn jọ pọ̀. 48 Abimeleki àti gbogbo àwọn ọmọ-ogun rẹ̀ gun òkè Salmoni lọ. Ó gé àwọn ẹ̀ka díẹ̀ pẹ̀lú àáké, ó gbé àwọn ẹ̀ka wọ̀nyí sí èjìká rẹ̀. Ó sọ fún àwọn ọmọ-ogun rẹ̀ pé, “Ẹ ṣe ohun tí ẹ rí tí mo ń ṣe yìí ní kíákíá.” 49 Báyìí gbogbo àwọn ọkùnrin tí ó wà lọ́dọ̀ rẹ̀ gé àwọn ẹ̀ka igi wọn tẹ̀lé Abimeleki. Wọ́n kó wọn ti ilé ìṣọ́ agbára níbi tí àwọn ènìyàn sápamọ́ sí wọ́n sì fi iná sí i, tóbẹ́ẹ̀ tí gbogbo àwọn ọkùnrin ilé ìṣọ́ Ṣekemu fi kú pẹ̀lú. Gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn náà tí ó tó ẹgbẹ̀rún ènìyàn lọ́kùnrin àti lóbìnrin sì kú.

50 Abimeleki tún lọ sí Tebesi, ó yí ìlú náà ká pẹ̀lú àwọn ọmọ-ogun, ó sì ṣẹ́gun rẹ̀. 51 Ilé ìṣọ́ kan tí ó ní agbára sì wà nínú ìlú náà. Gbogbo àwọn ènìyàn ìlú náà ọkùnrin àti obìnrin sá sínú ilé ìṣọ́ náà. Wọ́n ti ara wọn mọ́ ibẹ̀ wọ́n sì sálọ sí inú àjà ilé ìṣọ́ náà. 52 Abimeleki lọ sí ìsàlẹ̀ ilé ìṣọ́ náà, ó sì ń bá a jà. Ṣùgbọ́n bí ó ti súnmọ́ ẹnu-ọ̀nà ilé ìṣọ́ náà láti dáná sun ún, 53 obìnrin kan sọ ọmọ ọlọ lu Abimeleki lórí, ó sì fọ́ ọ ní agbárí.

54 Ní ojú kan náà ni ó pe ẹni tí ó ru àpáta rẹ̀ pé, “Yára yọ idà rẹ kí o sì pa mí, kí wọn má ba à sọ pé, ‘Obìnrin ni ó pa á.’ ” Ọ̀dọ́mọkùnrin náà sì fi ọ̀kọ̀ gún un, ó sì kú. 55 Nígbà tí àwọn ará Israẹli rí i pé Abimeleki kú, olúkúlùkù wọn padà sí ilé rẹ̀.

56 Báyìí ni Ọlọ́run san ẹ̀san ìwà búburú ti Abimeleki hù sí baba rẹ̀ ní ti pípa tí ó pa, àwọn àádọ́rin (70) arákùnrin rẹ̀. 57 Ọlọ́run jẹ́ kí ìwà búburú àwọn ará Ṣekemu pẹ̀lú padà sí orí wọn. Ègún Jotamu ọmọ Jerubbaali pàápàá wá sí orí wọn.

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.