Judges 9

1 Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,

2 “Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”

3 And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

4 So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.

5 He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

6 Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.

7 When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.

8 One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’

9 But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’

11 But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’

12 Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’

13 But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’

14 Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’

15 But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’

16 Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—

17 for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,

18 but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—

19 if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.

20 But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”

21 Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.

22 After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,

23 God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,

24 in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.

25 The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.

26 Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27 And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.

28 Then Gaal 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? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?

29 If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”

30 When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.

31 So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.

32 Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.

33 And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”

34 So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

35 Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.

36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”

37 Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”

38 “Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”

39 So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,

40 but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.

41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.

42 The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.

43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them.

44 Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down.

45 And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

46 On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

47 And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,

48 he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”

49 So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.

51 But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.

52 When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.

53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.

54 He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.

55 And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.

56 In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.

57 And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

1 ¶ And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed 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 men of Shechem, Whether [is] better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, [which are] threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I [am] your bone and your flesh.

3 And his mother's brethren spake of 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 And they gave him threescore and ten [pieces] of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

5 And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, [being] threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that [was] in Shechem.

7 ¶ 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 went forth [on a time] to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

9 But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

10 And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, [and] reign over us.

11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, [and] reign over us.

13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

14 Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, [and] reign over us.

15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, [then] come [and] put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

17 (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

18 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he [is] your brother;)

19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, [then] rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

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

22 ¶ When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

24 That the cruelty [done] to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait 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 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 And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode [the grapes], and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who [is] Abimelech, and who [is] Shechem, that we should serve him? [is] not [he] the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

29 And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

30 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.

32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that [is] with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

33 And it shall be, [that] 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 [is] with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

34 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that [were] with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that [were] with him, from lying in wait.

36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as [if they were] men.

37 And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.

38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where [is] now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who [is] Abimelech, that we should serve him? [is] not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.

39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown [and] wounded, [even] unto the entering of the gate.

41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait 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 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 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that [was] therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard [that], they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48 And Abimelech gat him 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 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put [them] to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

50 ¶ Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut [it] to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.

54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

56 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

1 And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and spake unto them, and unto all the family of his mother's father's house, saying:

2 Speak ye, I pray thee, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, saying, Which is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, should be lords over you, or that one man should be lord over you? Remember also that I am your bones and your flesh.

3 And his mother's brethren spake all these words of him in the ears of all the men of safety: and their heart inclined toward Abimelech, because they remembered: He is our brother.

4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver of the house of Baal-Berith. And Abimelech did dine therewith loose, frivolous men that followed him.

5 And he came into his father's house to Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, upon one stone. And Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal remained: for he was hid.

6 And all the men of Shechem, and all the house of Millo, gathered themselves together, and went and made Abimelech king by the high oak which is in Shechem.

7 And it was told Jotham, that he went and stood upon the top of mount Grisim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them: Hear me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hear you also.

8 And the trees went to anoint a king over them, and said unto the olive tree, Be our king.

9 But the olive tree answered and said unto them, Shall I leave my fatness, which both gods and men glorify in me, and go to hover over the trees?

10 And the trees said unto the fig tree, Come thou, and be our king.

11 But the fig tree said unto them, Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to hover above the trees?

12 And the trees said unto the vine, Come thou, and be our king.

13 But the vine said unto them, Shall I leave my wine, which maketh glad gods and men, and go to hover over the trees?

14 And all the trees said unto the thornbush, Come thou, and be our king.

15 And the thornbush said unto the trees, If it be true that ye anoint me king over you, come and trust under my shadow: but if not, let fire come out of the thornbush, and consume the cedars of Lebanon.

16 Now therefore have ye done right and truly in making Abimelech king? And ye have done well to Jerubbaal, and to his house, and have done unto him as he hath done unto you,

17 That my father fought for your sakes, and cast away his soul, to deliver you out of the hand of Midian?

18 And ye rise up this day against my father's house, and slay his children, even seventy men, upon one stone; and make you a king, Abimelech the son of his handmaid, over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother.

19 Now therefore, if ye have dealt justly and uprightly with Jerubbaal, and with his house this day, be glad in Abimelech, and let him be glad in you.

20 And if not, then let fire go out from Abimelech, and consume the men of Sure, and the house of Millo; and let fire go out from the men of Sure, and from the house of Millo, and consume Abimelech.

21 And Jotham fled, and escaped, and went to Bear, and dwelt there before Abimelech his brother.

22 And it came to pass, when Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years,

23 God sent an evil will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem. For the men of Shechem promised Abimelech;

24 And they reproached the seventy sons of Jerubbaal for their iniquity, and laid the blood of them upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them, and upon the men of safety, which strengthened his hand to slay his brethren.

25 And the men of Sichern set an ambush in the tops of the mountains, and spoiled all that walked by them in the way. And it was told Abimelech.

26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came, and his brethren, and entered into Shechem. And the men of Shechem relied upon him;

27 And they went out into the field, and gathered their vineyards, and pressed wine; and made a dance, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech? and what is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is not he the son of Jerubbaal, and hath set Zebul his servant over the men of Hemor, the father of Shechem? Why should we serve him?

29 Would to God that the people were under my hand, that I might drive out Abimelech! And it was said unto Abimelech, Increase thine army, and go forth.

30 For Zebul the ruler of the city, when he heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, was wroth in his anger.

31 And he sent word unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren are come to Shechem, and have made the city abominable unto thee.

32 Arise therefore by night, thou, and thy people that are with thee, and set an ambush upon them in the field.

33 And in the morning, when the sun riseth, arise early, and overtake the city. And when he and the people that are with him shall come out unto thee, do unto him as thine hand findeth.

34 And Abimelech arose by night, and all the people that were with him, and stood in safety with four companies.

35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood at the door of the gate of the city. And Abimelech arose out of the ambush, he and the people that were with him.

36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said unto Zebul, Behold, a people cometh down from the height of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadows of the mountains for people.

37 And Gaal spake yet more, and said, Behold, a people cometh down out of the midst of the land, and a multitude cometh by the way of the magic region.

38 And Zebul said unto him, Where is now here thy mouth, which said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? Is not this the people whom thou hast despised? Go forth therefore, and fight with him.

39 And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

40 But Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him: and there fell many slain unto the door of the gate.

41 And Abimelech abode in Arumah. And Zebul drove out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in the covert.

42 And in the morning the people went out into the field. And Abimelech was told,

43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and set an ambush upon them in the field. And when he saw that the people were gone out of the city, he rose up against them, and smote them.

44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, attacked them, and stood at the gate of the city: and two of the company attacked all that were in the field, and smote them.

45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and took it, and slew the people that were therein, and brake down the city, and sowed salt in it.

46 And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard it, they went into the fortress of the house of Berith the god.

47 And when Abimelech heard that all the men of the tower of Sichern were gathered together,

48 And he went up into mount Zalmon with all his people that were with him, and took an axe in his hand, and cut down a branch from the trees, and took it up, and laid it upon his shoulder, and said unto all the people that were with him, As ye have seen me do, so do ye hasted, as I have done.

49 And all the people cut off every man a bough, and went after Abimelech, and laid them by the fortress, and set it on fire: and all the men of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

50 And Abimelech went to Thebez, and besieged it, and took it.

51 And there was a strong tower in the midst of the city, upon which all the men and women, and all the inhabitants of the city, fled; and they shut them up behind them, and went up into the roof of the tower.

52 And Abimelech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew nigh unto the door of the tower, and burned it with fire.

53 And a woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and brake his skull.

54 And Abimelech made haste, and called unto the lad that bare his weapons, and said unto him, Put forth thy sword, and slay me, lest it be said of me, A woman slew him. And his lad thrust him through, and he died.

55 And when the children of Israel that were with him saw that Abimelech was dead, they went every man to his place.

56 So God paid Abimelech for the evil that he had done to his father, in that he slew his seventy brethren.

57 Likewise all the evil of the men of Shechem God forgave on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them.