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,

¶ And Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem unto his mother’s brethren and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,

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.'

Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, What would seem better unto you, that seventy persons reign over you, all the sons of Jerubbaal; or that one reign 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 brethren spoke for 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.

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 shekels of silver out of the house of Baalberith, with which Abimelech hired vain and light 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 coming unto his father’s house at Ophrah, he slew his brethren, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy persons, upon a stone; yet 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 with all the house of Millo and went and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in 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:

¶ And 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.

8 ` The trees have diligently gone to anoint over them a king, and they say to the olive, Reign thou over us.

The trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou 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 replied, Should I leave my fatness, which because of me, God and man are honoured, to go and sway over the trees?

10 A nd the trees say to the fig, Come thou, reign over us.

And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou 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 unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness and my good fruit to go and sway over the trees?

12 ` And the trees say to the vine, Come thou, reign over us.

Then the trees said unto the vine, Come thou 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 said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheers God and man, to go and sway over the trees?

14 A nd all the trees say unto the bramble, Come thou, reign over us.

Then all the trees said unto the bramble, Come thou 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 unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and confide under my shadow; and 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 ye have proceeded with truth and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have recompensed him according to the work of his hands

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 and cast his life far from him to deliver you out of 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 ye are risen up against my father’s house this day and have slain his sons, seventy men, upon a stone and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem because he is your brother;)

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 ye then have dealt in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye 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 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.

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,

¶ When Abimelech had dominated over Israel three years,

23 a nd God sendeth an evil spirit between Abimelech and the masters of Shechem, and the masters of Shechem deal treacherously with Abimelech,

then 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 cruelty done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal and their blood might come to be laid upon Abimelech their brother who slew them and upon the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brethren.

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 ambushers for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them; and it was told 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, the son of Ebed, came with his brethren and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their 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 fields and gathered their vineyards and trod the grapes and made merry and went into the house of their gods and 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?

And 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 deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. For 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.'

If these people were under my hand, then I would remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army and come out.

30 A nd Zebul, prince of the city, heareth the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and his anger burneth,

And when Zebul, the prince of the city, heard the words of Gaal, the 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 unto Abimelech astutely, saying, Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brethren have come to Shechem; and, behold, they have fortified the city against thee.

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, thou and the people that are with thee, and put an ambush 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.'

And 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 are with him come out against thee, then thou may do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

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 and all the people that were with him, by night, and they put an ambush 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, the son of Ebed, went out and stood in the entering of the gate of the city; and Abimelech and all the people that were with him rose up from the 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.'

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold people that come down from the tops of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were 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 there come people who descend through the middle of the land, and another company comes along by the plain 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 Zebul said unto him, Where is now thy mouth, with which thou didst say, Who is Abimelech that we should serve him? Is not this the people that thou hast 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 before 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 were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

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

And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah; and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren that they should not dwell 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,

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

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.

And he took the people and divided them into three companies and set ambushes 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.

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 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.

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, and he took the city and slew the people that were therein and beat down 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 those of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into the stronghold of the temple of the god Berith.

47 a nd it is declared to Abimelech that all the masters of the tower of Shechem have gathered themselves together,

And it was told Abimelech how all those 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.'

Then Abimelech went 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.

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.

And all the people likewise cut down each one his bough and followed Abimelech and put them next to the stronghold and set the stronghold on fire upon them; so that all those of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

50 A nd Abimelech goeth unto Thebez, and encampeth against Thebez, and captureth it,

¶ Then Abimelech went to Thebez and laid siege 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 in the midst of the city there was a strong tower, and all the men and women fled there, and all those of the city, and shutting the doors behind them, they climbed up to the top 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 fighting against it, he came to 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 woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech’s head and crushed 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 unto the young man, his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword and slay me that it not be said 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 Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed each one unto his place.

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

Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did against his father in slaying his seventy brethren.

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 evil of the men of Shechem God rendered upon their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal.