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

Jerubbaal’s son Abimelech went to his mother’s family at Shechem. He said to them and to all those of the family of his mother’s father,

2 S peak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, What would seem better unto you, that seventy persons reign over you, all the sons of Jerubbaal; or that one reign over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

“Speak to all the leaders of Shechem. Say to them, ‘Which is better for you? Should all seventy of Jerubbaal’s sons rule over you? Or should one man rule over you? Remember that I am your own bone and flesh.’”

3 A nd his mother’s brethren spoke for 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.

So his mother’s family spoke all these words for him in the ears of the leaders of Shechem. And they decided to follow Abimelech. For they said, “He is our brother.”

4 A nd they gave him seventy shekels of silver out of the house of Baalberith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light men who followed him.

They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the family of Baal-berith. Abimelech used the money to hire wild men of no worth who followed him.

5 A nd coming unto his father’s house at Ophrah, he slew his brethren, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy persons, upon a stone; yet Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, was left, for he hid himself.

Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah. And he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. He killed all seventy men upon one stone. But Jerubbaal’s youngest son Jotham was left alive, because he hid himself.

6 A nd all the men of Shechem gathered together with all the house of Millo and went and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

Then all the men of Shechem and of Beth-millo gathered together. They went and made Abimelech king, by the tree that had been set up 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.

When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He called out to them in a loud voice, “Listen to me, O men of Shechem. So God may listen to you.

8 T he trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

One time the trees went out to choose a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, ‘Rule over us!’

9 B ut the olive tree replied, Should I leave my fatness, which because of me, God and man are honoured, to go and sway over the trees?

But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my riches of oil by which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’

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

Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and rule over us!’

11 B ut the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness and my good fruit to go and sway over the trees?

But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I leave my good sweet fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’

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

So the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and rule over us!’

13 A nd the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheers God and man, to go and sway over the trees?

But the vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine which makes God and men happy, and go to wave over the trees?’

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

Then all the trees said to the thorn bush, ‘You come and rule over us!’

15 A nd the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and confide under my shadow; and if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

And the thorn bush said to the trees, ‘If in truth you are choosing me as king over you, come and be safe in my shadow. But if not, may fire come out of the thorn bush and burn up the tall trees of Lebanon.’

16 N ow therefore, if ye have proceeded with truth and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have recompensed him according to the work of his hands

“Now it may be that you have acted in truth and honor in making Abimelech king. It may be that you have acted well toward Jerubbaal and his house, by paying him for what he did.

17 ( For my father fought for you and cast his life far from him to deliver you out of the hand of Midian;

For my father fought for you. He put his life in danger to set you free from the power of Midian.

18 a nd ye are risen up against my father’s house this day and have slain his sons, seventy men, upon a stone and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem because he is your brother;)

But you have gone against my father’s house today. You have killed seventy of his sons on one stone. Abimelech is the son of my father’s woman servant. And you have made him king over the people of Shechem, because he is your brother.

19 i f ye then have dealt in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.

If you have acted in truth and honor toward Jerubbaal and his house today, then be happy with Abimelech. And let him be happy with you.

20 B ut 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.

But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and burn up the people of Shechem and Beth-millo. Then let it burn up Abimelech.”

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

Jotham ran away from them and went to Beer. He stayed there, because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.

22 ¶ When Abimelech had dominated over Israel three years,

Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.

23 t hen God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem, and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech

Then God sent a bad spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. The men of Shechem were not faithful to Abimelech.

24 t hat the cruelty done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal and their blood might come to be laid upon Abimelech their brother who slew them and upon the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brethren.

God did this to punish Abimelech and the men of Shechem, because the seventy sons of Jerubbaal were killed by their brother Abimelech. And the men of Shechem gave him the strength to do it.

25 A nd the men of Shechem set ambushers for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them; and it was told Abimelech.

The men of Shechem went against Abimelech by hiding men on the mountain tops. They robbed all who passed by them on the road. Abimelech was told about it.

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

Now Gaal the son of Ebed moved with his family into Shechem. And the men of Shechem put their trust in him.

27 A nd they went out into the fields and gathered their vineyards and trod the grapes and made merry and went into the house of their gods and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.

They went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vines and crushed them. Then they had a special supper in the house of their god. They ate and drank and wished bad to come to Abimelech.

28 A nd Gaal, the son of Ebed, said, Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? And is not Zebul his deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. For why should we serve him?

Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech? And who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? Is not Zebul his leader? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem, but why should we serve Abimelech?

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

If only these people were under my rule! Then I would send Abimelech away. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Make your army strong, and come out.’”

30 A nd when Zebul, the prince of the city, heard the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, he was very angry.

31 A nd he sent messengers unto Abimelech astutely, saying, Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brethren have come to Shechem; and, behold, they have fortified the city against thee.

He sent men to bring news to Abimelech in secret. They said, “See, Gaal the son of Ebed has come to Shechem with his family. They are turning the city against you.

32 N ow, therefore, rise up by night, thou and the people that are with thee, and put an ambush in the field.

So you and the people who are with you get up during the night and hide in the field.

33 A nd 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 are with him come out against thee, then thou may do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

Then get up early in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, and rush against the city. When Gaal and the people who are with him come out against you, do whatever you can to them.”

34 A nd Abimelech rose up and all the people that were with him, by night, and they put an ambush against Shechem in four companies.

So Abimelech and all who were with him got up during the night. They hid and waited in four groups to fight against Shechem.

35 A nd Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out and stood in the entering of the gate of the city; and Abimelech and all the people that were with him rose up from the ambush.

Gaal the son of Ebed came out and stood in the city gate. And Abimelech and the people who were with him came out of their hiding places.

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

When Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, “See, men are coming down from the mountain tops!” But Zebul said to him, “It is the shadow of the mountains that looks like men to you.”

37 A nd Gaal spoke again and said, See there come people who descend through the middle of the land, and another company comes along by the plain of Meonenim.

Gaal spoke again, saying, “See, men are coming down from the highest part of the land. One group is coming on the way from the oak tree of those who tell the future.”

38 T hen Zebul said unto him, Where is now thy mouth, with which thou didst say, Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Is not this the people that thou hast despised? Go out now and fight with them.

Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your proud talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the men whom you hated? Go out now and fight with them!”

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

So Gaal went out in front of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.

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

Abimelech went after Gaal. And Gaal ran away from him. Many were hurt and fell all the way to the gate.

41 A nd Abimelech dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren that they should not dwell in Shechem.

Abimelech stayed at Arumah. But Zebul drove out Gaal and his family so they could not stay in Shechem.

42 A nd it came to pass on the next day that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech.

The men went out to the field the next day and told Abimelech.

43 A nd he took the people and divided them into three companies and set ambushes 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.

So he took his men and divided them into three groups, and they waited in the field. When he saw Gaal’s people coming out of the city, Abimelech went against them and killed them.

44 A nd 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.

Abimelech and the group with him rushed and stood in the city gate. The other two groups then rushed against all who were in the field and killed them.

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

Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He took the city and killed the people who were in it. Then he destroyed the city and covered it with salt.

46 A nd when those of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into the stronghold of the temple of the god Berith.

All the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard about it. And they went into the inside room of the house of the god of El-berith.

47 A nd it was told Abimelech how all those of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48 T hen Abimelech went 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.

So Abimelech and all who were with him went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees. Then he lifted it onto his shoulder. He said to the men who were with him, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”

49 A nd all the people likewise cut down each one his bough and followed Abimelech and put them next to the stronghold and set the stronghold on fire upon them; so that all those of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

So each of the men cut down his branch also, and followed Abimelech. They put the branches around the inside room and set it on fire. So all the men of the tower of Shechem died. There were about 1, 000 men and women in all.

50 ¶ Then Abimelech went to Thebez and laid siege against Thebez and took it.

Then Abimelech went to Thebez. He fought against it and took it.

51 B ut in the midst of the city there was a strong tower, and all the men and women fled there, and all those of the city, and shutting the doors behind them, they climbed up to the top of the tower.

But there was a strong tower in the center of the city. All the men and women and leaders of the city ran to it and shut themselves in. And they went up on the roof of the tower.

52 A nd Abimelech came to the tower, and fighting against it, he came to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it. He went near the door of the building to burn it with fire.

53 B ut a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.

But a certain woman threw a grain-crushing stone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.

54 T hen he called hastily unto the young man, his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword and slay me that it not be said of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

Abimelech was quick to call the young man who carried his heavy battle-clothes, saying, “Take your sword and kill me. Or else it will be said that a woman killed me.” So the young man killed him with a sword.

55 A nd when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed each one unto his place.

When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each man went home.

56 T hus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did against his father in slaying his seventy brethren.

So God punished Abimelech for the sin he had done against his father by killing his seventy brothers.

57 A nd all the evil of the men of Shechem God rendered upon their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal.

God punished the men of Shechem for all their sin. The words that Jotham the son of Jerubbaal spoke against them came true.