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,

Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, 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.'

“Please speak 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 reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and bone.”

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 brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was 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;

So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men; and they 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.

Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because 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, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem. The Parable of the Trees

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:

Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them: “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, That God may listen to 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 once 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 cease giving my oil, With which they honor God and men, And go to sway over 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 cease my sweetness and my good fruit, And go to sway over trees?’

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

“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘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?

But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, Which cheers both God and men, And go to sway over 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 truth you anoint me as king over you, Then come and take shelter 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 have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves—

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, risked his life, and delivered 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 --

but you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, 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 then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with 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 from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from 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 he went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. Downfall of Abimelech

22 A nd Abimelech is prince over Israel three years,

After Abimelech had reigned 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,

God sent a spirit of ill will 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 crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of 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 him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; 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,

Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers 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.

So they went out into the fields, and gathered grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and made merry. And they went into the house of their god, 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?

Then 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 officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but 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 only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “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 ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was aroused.

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 secretly, saying, “Take note! Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and here they are, fortifying the city against you.

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

Now therefore, get up by night, you and the people who are 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.'

And it shall be, as soon as the sun is up in the morning, that you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may then do to them as you find opportunity.”

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

So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and lay 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,

When Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate, Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from lying in wait.

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, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” But Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows 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.'

So Gaal spoke again and said, “See, people are coming down from the center of the land, and another company is coming from the Diviners’ Terebinth Tree.”

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 to him, “Where indeed is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out, if you will, and fight with them now.”

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

So Gaal went out, leading 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 from him; and many fell wounded, to the very entrance of the gate.

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

Then Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they would 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 about 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.

So he took his people, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field. And he looked, and there were the people, coming out of the city; and he rose against them and attacked 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,

Then Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city; and the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and killed 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.

So Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were in it; and 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,

Now when all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard that, they entered 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 that all the men 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 who were with him. And Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it and laid it on his shoulder; then he said to the people who were with him, “What you 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.

So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, put them against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people 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 he 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 men and women—all the people of the city—fled there and shut themselves in; then they went 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,

So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he 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 dropped an upper millstone on 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 quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So 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, every man to 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 repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing 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 evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.