1 A nd 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,

Then 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 S peak, 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.

“Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and bone.”

3 A nd 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 his mother’s brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

4 A nd 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.

So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men; and they followed him.

5 A nd 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.

Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself.

6 A nd 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 all the men of Shechem gathered together, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem. The Parable of the Trees

7 A nd 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.

Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them: “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, That God may listen to you!

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

“The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’

9 B ut 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?

But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, With which they honor God and men, And go to sway over 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 reign over us!’

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

But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, And go to sway over trees?’

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

“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us!’

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

But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, Which cheers both God and men, And go to sway over trees?’

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

“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us!’

15 A nd 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.

And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you, Then come and take shelter in my shade; But if not, let fire come out of the bramble And devour the cedars of Lebanon!’

16 N ow 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;

“Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves—

17 ( For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;

18 A nd 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;)

but you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother—

19 I f 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:

if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in 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 from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!”

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

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

22 W hen Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

After Abimelech had reigned over Israel 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:

God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

24 T hat 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.

that the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers.

25 A nd 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.

And the men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told Abimelech.

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 came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27 A nd 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.

So they went out into the fields, and gathered grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and made merry. And they went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.

28 A nd 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?

Then 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 officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?

29 A nd 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.

If only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”

30 A nd when Zebul the ruler 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, his anger was aroused.

31 A nd 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.

And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Take note! Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and here they are, fortifying the city against you.

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

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

33 A nd 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.

And it shall be, as soon as the sun is up in the morning, that you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may then do to them as you find opportunity.”

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

So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

35 A nd 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.

When Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate, Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from lying in wait.

36 A nd 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.

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” But Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”

37 A nd 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.

So Gaal spoke again and said, “See, people are coming down from the center of the land, and another company is coming from the Diviners’ Terebinth Tree.”

38 T hen 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.

Then Zebul said to him, “Where indeed is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out, if you will, and fight with them now.”

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

So Gaal went out, leading the men 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.

And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded, to the very entrance of the gate.

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

Then Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they would not dwell in Shechem.

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

And it came about on the next day that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech.

43 A nd 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.

So he took his people, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field. And he looked, and there were the people, coming out of the city; and he rose against them and attacked 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.

Then Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city; and the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and killed them.

45 A nd 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.

So Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were in it; and he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

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

Now when all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard that, they entered the stronghold of the temple of the god Berith.

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

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

48 A nd 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.

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

49 A nd 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.

So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, put them against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

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

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

51 B ut 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.

But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women—all the people of the city—fled there and shut themselves in; then they went up to the top of the tower.

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

So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

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

But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone 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 men say not of me, A women slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

Then he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his young man thrust him through, and he died.

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

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

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

Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers.

57 A nd 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.

And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.