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,

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 “ 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.”

“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 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.”

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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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 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 out to choose a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, ‘Rule 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 riches of oil by which God and men 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 rule 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 good sweet fruit, and go to wave over the trees?’

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

So the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and rule 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?’

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

Then all the trees said to the thorn bush, ‘You come and rule 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 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 “ 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 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 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. He put his life in danger to set you free from the power 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—

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 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 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 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 burn up the people of Shechem and Beth-millo. Then let it burn up Abimelech.”

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

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

22 N ow Abimelech ruled 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 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.

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 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.

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 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.

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

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 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 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 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.”

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

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

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.

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

So you and the people who are with you get up during the night and hide 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 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 S o Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait 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 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.

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 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, “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 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.”

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

So Gaal went out in front of the leaders 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.

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

Abimelech stayed at Arumah. But Zebul drove out Gaal and his family so they could not stay 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 men went out to the field the next day and told Abimelech.

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.

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 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.

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 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.

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 W hen all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-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 I t was told Abimelech that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

Abimelech was told that all the leaders 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.”

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

Then Abimelech went to Thebez. He fought against it 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 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 S o Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance 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 certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.

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

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

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

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

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

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