1 a nd Abimelech son of Jerubbaal goeth to Shechem, unto his mother's brethren, and speaketh unto them, and unto all the family of the house 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, I pray you, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, Which good for you -- the ruling over you of seventy men (all the sons of Jerubbaal), or the ruling over you of one man? -- and ye have remembered that I 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 brethren speak concerning him, in the ears of all the masters of Shechem, all these words, and their heart inclineth after Abimelech, for they said, `He 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 a nd they give to him seventy silverings out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech hireth with them men, vain and unstable, and they go after 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 a nd he goeth into the house of his father at Ophrah, and slayeth his brethren, sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone; and Jotham, youngest son of Jerubbaal, is left, for he was hidden.

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 nd all the masters of Shechem are gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and come and cause Abimelech to reign for king at the oak of the camp which 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 a nd they declare to Jotham, and he goeth and standeth on the top of mount Gerizim, and lifteth up his voice, and calleth, and saith to them, `Hearken unto me, O masters of Shechem, and God doth hearken unto 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 ` The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king, and they say to the olive, Reign thou 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 A nd the olive saith to them, Have I ceased from my fatness, by which they honour gods and men, that I have gone to stagger 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 A nd the trees say to the fig, Come thou, reign over us.

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

11 A nd the fig saith to them, Have I ceased from my sweetness, and my good increase, that I have gone to stagger 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 ` And the trees say to the vine, Come thou, reign over us.

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

13 A nd the vine saith to them, Have I ceased from my new wine, which is rejoicing gods and men, that I have gone to stagger 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 A nd all the trees say unto the bramble, Come thou, reign over us.

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

15 A nd the bramble saith unto the trees, If in truth ye are anointing me for king over you, come, take refuge in my shadow; and if not -- fire cometh out from the bramble, and devoureth 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 ` And, now, if in truth and in sincerity ye have acted, when ye make Abimelech king; and if ye have done good with Jerubbaal, and with his house; and if according to the deed of his hands ye have done to him --

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 b ecause my father hath fought for you, and doth cast away his life from, and deliver you from the hand of Midian;

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

18 a nd ye have risen against the house of my father to-day, and slay his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and cause Abimelech son of his handmaid to reign over the masters of Shechem, because he 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 y ea, if in truth and in sincerity ye have acted with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice ye in Abimelech, and he doth rejoice -- even he -- 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 a nd if not -- fire cometh out from Abimelech and devoureth the masters of Shechem and the house of Millo, and fire cometh out from the masters of Shechem and from the house of Millo, and devoureth 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 A nd Jotham hasteth, and fleeth, and goeth to Beer, and dwelleth there, from the face of Abimelech his brother.

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

22 A nd Abimelech is prince over Israel three years,

Abimelech reigned three years over Israel.

23 a nd God sendeth an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal 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 f or the coming in of the violence the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and of their blood to place on Abimelech their brother, who slew them, and on the masters of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brethren.

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 A nd the masters of Shechem set for him ambushes on the top of the hills, and rob every one who passeth over by them in the way, and it is declared 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 A nd Gaal son of Ebed cometh -- also his brethren -- and they pass over into Shechem, and the masters of Shechem 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 a nd go out into the field, and gather their vineyards, and tread, and make praises, and go into the house of their god, and eat and drink, and revile 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 A nd Gaal son of Ebed saith, `Who Abimelech, and who Shechem, that we serve him? is not son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his commander? Serve ye the men of Hamor father of Shechem, and wherefore do we serve him -- we?

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 a nd oh that this people were in my hand -- then I turn Abimelech aside;' and he saith to Abimelech, `Increase thy host, 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 A nd Zebul, prince of the city, heareth the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burneth,

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

31 a nd he sendeth messengers unto Abimelech deceitfully, saying, `Lo, Gaal son of Ebed and his brethren are coming into Shechem, and lo, they are fortifying the city against thee;

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 a nd, now, rise by night, thou and the people who with thee, and lay wait in the field,

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

33 a nd it hath been, in the morning, about the rising of the sun, thou dost rise early, and hast pushed against the city; and lo, he and the people who with him are going out unto thee -- and thou hast done to him as thy hand doth find.'

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 A nd Abimelech riseth, and all the people who with him, by night, and they lay wait against Shechem -- four detachments;

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

35 a nd Gaal son of Ebed goeth out, and standeth at the opening of the gate of the city, and Abimelech riseth -- also the people who with him -- 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 a nd Gaal seeth the people, and saith unto Zebul, `Lo, people are coming down from the top of the hills;' and Zebul saith unto him, `The shadow of the hills thou art seeing like 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 A nd Gaal addeth yet to speak, and saith, `Lo, people are coming down from the high part of the land, and another detachment is coming by the way of the oak of Meonenim.'

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 A nd Zebul saith unto him, `Where now thy mouth, in that thou sayest, Who Abimelech that we serve him? is not this the people against which thou hast kicked? go out, I pray thee now, and fight against it.'

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 A nd Gaal goeth out before the masters of Shechem, and fighteth against Abimelech,

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

40 a nd Abimelech pursueth him, and he fleeth from his presence, and many fall wounded -- unto the opening of the gate.

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

41 A nd Abimelech abideth in Arumah, and Zebul casteth out Gaal and his brethren from dwelling in Shechem.

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

42 A nd it cometh to pass, on the morrow, that the people go out to the field, and they declare to Abimelech,

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

43 a nd he taketh the people, and divideth them into three detachments, and layeth wait in a field, and looketh, and lo, the people are coming out from the city, and he riseth against them, and smiteth 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 nd Abimelech and the detachments who with him have pushed on, and stand at the opening of the gate of the city, and the two detachments have pushed against all who are in the field, and smite 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 nd Abimelech hath fought against the city all that day, and captureth the city, and the people who in it he hath slain, and he breaketh down the city, and soweth it 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 nd all the masters of the tower of Shechem hear, and go in unto the high place of the house of the god 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 nd it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together,

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

48 a nd Abimelech goeth up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people who with him, and Abimelech taketh the great axe in his hand, and cutteth off a bough of the trees, and lifteth it up, and setteth on his shoulder, and saith unto the people who with him, `What ye have seen I have done -- haste, do ye like it.'

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 nd all the people also cut down each one his bough, and go after Abimelech, and set at the high place, and burn by these the high place with fire, and also all the men of the tower of Shechem die, 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 A nd Abimelech goeth unto Thebez, and encampeth against Thebez, and captureth it,

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

51 a nd a strong tower hath been in the midst of the city, and thither flee do all the men and the women, and all the masters of the city, and they shut behind them, and go 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 nd Abimelech cometh unto the tower, and fighteth against it, and draweth nigh unto the opening 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 a nd a certain woman doth cast a piece of a rider on the head of Abimelech, and breaketh his skull,

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

54 a nd he calleth hastily unto the young man bearing his weapons, and saith to him, `Draw thy sword, and thou hast put me to death, lest they say of me -- A woman slew him;' and his young man pierced him through, and he dieth.

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 A nd the men of Israel see that Abimelech dead, and go each one to his place;

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

56 a nd God turneth back the evil of Abimelech which he did to his father to slay his seventy brethren;

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

57 a nd all the evil of the men of Shechem hath God turned back on their head, and come unto them doth the cursing of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.

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.