1 A nd Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother’s father, saying,

Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal (Gideon) went to Shechem to his mother’s kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family,

2 “ Speak, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?’ Also, remember that I am your bone and your flesh.”

Say, I pray you, 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 man rule over you? Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

3 A nd his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem; and they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our relative.”

And his mother’s kinsmen spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, He is our brother.

4 T hey gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him.

And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and foolhardy men who followed him.

5 T hen he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.

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

6 A ll the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.

And all the men of Shechem gathered together and all of Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king by the oak (terebinth) of the pillar at Shechem.

7 N ow when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and called out. Thus he said to them, “Listen to me, O men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood at the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, Hear me, men of Shechem, that God may hear you.

8 O nce the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’

One time the trees 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 to them, ‘Shall I leave my fatness with which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?’

But the olive tree said to them, Should I leave my fatness, by which God and man are honored, and go to wave over the trees?

10 T hen the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come, reign over us!’

Then the trees said to the fig tree, You come and reign over us.

11 B ut the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’

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

12 T hen the trees said to the vine, ‘You come, reign over us!’

Then the trees said to the vine (grapevine), You come and reign over us.

13 B ut the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to wave over the trees?’

And the vine (grapevine) replied, Should I leave my new wine, which rejoices God and man, and go to wave over the trees?

14 F inally all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come, reign over us!’

Then all the trees said to the bramble, You come and reign over us.

15 T he bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

And the bramble said to the trees, If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

16 “ Now therefore, if you have dealt in truth and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have dealt with him as he deserved—

Now therefore, if you acted sincerely and honorably when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved—

17 f or my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian;

For my father fought for you, jeopardized his life, and rescued you from the hand of Midian;

18 b ut you have risen against my father’s house today and have killed his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your relative—

And you have risen up against my father’s house this day and have slain his sons, seventy men, on one stone and have made Abimelech, son of his maidservant, king over the people of Shechem because he is your kinsman—

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

If you then have acted sincerely and honorably with Jerubbaal and 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 consume the men of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech.”

But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the people of Shechem and Beth-millo, and let fire come out from the people of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.

21 T hen Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer and remained there because of Abimelech his brother. Shechem and Abimelech Fall

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

22 N ow Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.

Abimelech reigned three years over Israel.

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

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

24 s o that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.

That the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and that their blood might be laid upon Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.

25 T he men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road; and it was told to Abimelech.

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

26 N ow Gaal the son of Ebed came with his relatives, and crossed over into Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.

And Gaal son of Ebed came with his kinsmen and moved into Shechem, and the men of Shechem put confidence in him.

27 T hey went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trod them, and held a festival; and they went into the house of their god, and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.

And they went out into the field, gathered their vineyard fruits and trod them, and held a festival; and going into the house of their god, they ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.

28 T hen 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 Zebul not his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?

Gaal son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Were not the son of Jerubbaal and Zebul, his officer, servants of the men of Hamor the father and founder of Shechem? Then why should we serve him?

29 W ould, therefore, that this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out.”

Would that this people were under my hand! Then would I remove Abimelech and say to him, Increase your army and come out.

30 W hen Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.

When Zebul the city’s mayor heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

31 H e sent messengers to Abimelech deceitfully, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are stirring up the city against you.

And he sent messengers to Abimelech slyly, saying, Behold, Gaal son of Ebed and his kinsmen have come to Shechem; and behold, they stir up the city to rise against you.

32 N ow therefore, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.

Now therefore, rise up by night, you and the men with you, and lie in wait in the field.

33 I n the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to them whatever you can.”

Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and set upon the city; and when Gaal and the men with him come out against you, do to them as opportunity permits.

34 S o Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

And Abimelech rose up by night, and all the men with him, and they laid in wait against Shechem in four companies.

35 N ow Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from the ambush.

And Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood in the entrance of the city’s gate. Then Abimelech and the men with him rose up from ambush.

36 W hen 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 are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.”

When Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, Look, men are coming down from the mountaintops! Zebul said to him, The shadow of the mountains looks to you like men.

37 G aal spoke again and said, “Behold, people are coming down from the highest part of the land, and one company comes by the way of the diviners’ oak.”

And Gaal spoke again and said, See, men are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the oak of Meonenim.

38 T hen Zebul said to him, “Where is your boasting now with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them!”

Then said Zebul to Gaal, Where is your mouth now, you who said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Are not these the men whom you have despised? Go out now and fight with them.

39 S o Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.

And Gaal went out ahead of the men of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.

40 A bimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate.

And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded—even to the entrance of the gate.

41 T hen Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem.

And Abimelech lodged at Arumah, and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his kinsmen so that they could not live in Shechem.

42 N ow it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was told to Abimelech.

The next day the men went out into the fields, and Abimelech was told.

43 S o he took his people and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and saw the people coming out from the city, he arose against them and slew them.

He took his men and divided them into three companies and laid in wait in the field; and he looked and behold, the people were coming out of the city. And he rose up against them and smote them.

44 T hen Abimelech and the company who was with him dashed forward and stood in the entrance of the city gate; the other two companies then dashed against all who were in the field and slew them.

And Abimelech and the company with him rushed forward and stood in the entrance of the city’s gate, while the two other companies rushed upon all who were in the field and slew them.

45 A bimelech fought against the city all that day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he razed the city and sowed it with salt.

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He took the city and slew the people who were in it. He demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

46 W hen all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

And when all the men of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-berith.

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

Abimelech was told that all the people of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48 S o Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do likewise.”

And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the men with him; and Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bundle of brush, picked it up, and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men with him, What you have seen me do, make haste to do also.

49 A ll the people also cut down each one his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those inside, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.

So each of the men cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold and set on fire over the people in it, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1, 000 men and women.

50 T hen Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it.

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

51 B ut there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower.

But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the people of the city—men and women—fled to it, shut themselves in, and went to the roof of the tower.

52 S o Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire.

And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

53 B ut a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.

But a certain woman cast an upper millstone upon Abimelech’s head and broke his skull.

54 T hen he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, ‘A woman slew him.’” So the young man pierced him through, and he died.

Then he called hastily to the young man, his armor-bearer, and said to him, Draw your sword and slay me, so that men may not say of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

55 W hen the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each departed to his home.

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

56 T hus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers.

Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech which he had done to his father by slaying his seventy brothers;

57 A lso God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

And all the wickedness of the men of Shechem God repaid upon their heads and caused to come upon them the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.