1 J erubbaal’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,

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 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.’”

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 S o 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.”

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 family of Baal-berith. Abimelech used the money to hire wild men of no worth who 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 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.

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 T hen 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.

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 W hen 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.

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 ne time the trees went out to choose a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, ‘Rule 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, ‘Should I leave my riches of oil by 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 and rule 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, ‘Should I leave my good sweet 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 S o the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and rule over us!’

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

13 B ut the vine said to them, ‘Should I leave my new wine which makes God and men happy, 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 T hen all the trees said to the thorn bush, ‘You come and rule over us!’

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

15 A nd 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.’

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 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.

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. He put his life in danger to set you free from the power of Midian.

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

18 B ut 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.

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 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.

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 burn up the people of Shechem and Beth-millo. Then let it burn up 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 J otham ran away from them and went to Beer. He stayed there, because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.

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

22 A bimelech ruled over Israel for three years.

Abimelech reigned three years over Israel.

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

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

24 G od 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.

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 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.

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 moved with his family 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 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.

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 G aal 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?

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 I f 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.’”

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, he was very angry.

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

31 H e 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.

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

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

33 T hen 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.”

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

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

35 G aal 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.

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 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.”

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, 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.”

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 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!”

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

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

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

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

42 T he men went out to the field the next day and told Abimelech.

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

43 S o 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.

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 A bimelech 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.

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. He took the city and killed the people who were in it. Then he destroyed the city and covered 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 A ll 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.

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

47 A bimelech was told 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 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.”

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 S o 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.

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. He fought against it and took 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. 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.

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 A bimelech came to the tower and fought against it. He went near the door of the building 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 a grain-crushing stone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.

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

54 A bimelech 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.

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 man went home.

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

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

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

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

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.