| International Standard Version | NET Bible |
| 1Then Jerubbaal's son Abimelech went to his mother's relatives in Shechem. He spoke to the entire family of his mother's father, telling them, | 1Now Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to see his mother's relatives. He said to them and to his mother's entire extended family, |
| 2"Ask all the "lords" of Shechem, 'What's better for you? That 70 men, each of them Jerubbaal's sons, rule over you? Or that one man rule over you?' Keep in mind that I'm like your own close relative." | 2"Tell all the leaders of Shechem this: 'Why would you want to have seventy men, all Jerub-Baal's sons, ruling over you, when you can have just one ruler? Recall that I am your own flesh and blood.'" |
| 3So his mother's relatives spoke all of this on his behalf in the presence of all the "lords" of Shechem. Since they were inclined to follow Abimelech, they said, "He's our relative!" | 3His mother's relatives spoke on his behalf to all the leaders of Shechem and reported his proposal. The leaders were drawn to Abimelech; they said, "He is our close relative." |
| 4and they gave him 70 silver coins from the temple that they had built to Baal-berith. Abimelech hired some worthless and useless men, who followed him | 4They paid him seventy silver shekels out of the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech then used the silver to hire some lawless, dangerous men as his followers. |
| 5to his father's house in Ophrah. There he murdered his own brothers, Jerubbaal's sons—all 70 of them—in one place. But Jerubbaal's youngest son Jotham survived by hiding himself. | 5He went to his father's home in Ophrah and murdered his half-brothers, the seventy legitimate sons of Jerub-Baal, on one stone. Only Jotham, Jerub-Baal's youngest son, escaped, because he hid. |
| 6All the men from Shechem and Beth-millo gathered together and set up Abimelech as king near the pillar erected in Shechem. | 6All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo assembled and then went and made Abimelech king by the oak near the pillar in Shechem. |
| 7When Jotham was informed about this, he went out, took his stand on top of Mount Gerizim, and cried out loudly, "Listen to me, you "lords" of Shechem, and God will listen to you. | 7When Jotham heard the news, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He spoke loudly to the people below, "Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you! |
| 8"Once upon a time the trees went out to consecrate a king for themselves. "So they told the olive tree, 'Reign over us!' | 8"The trees were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!' |
| 9But the olive tree asked them, 'Should I stop producing my rich oils by which both God and men are honored and go take dominion over trees?' | 9But the olive tree said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees!' |
| 10"So the trees told the fig tree, 'Hey you! Come and reign over us!' | 10"So the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!' |
| 11But the fig tree asked them, 'Should I leave my sweet, good fruit and go take dominion over trees?' | 11But the fig tree said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit, just to sway above the other trees!' |
| 12"So the trees told the grape vine, 'Hey you! Come and reign over us!' | 12"So the trees said to the grapevine, 'You come and be our king!' |
| 13But the grape vine asked them, 'Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go take dominion over trees?' | 13But the grapevine said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees!' |
| 14"So all the trees told the bramble bush, 'Hey you! Come and reign over us!' | 14"So all the trees said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our king!' |
| 15Then the bramble bush replied to the trees, 'If you really are consecrating me to rule you, come and put your confidence in my shade; but if not, may fire spring out from the bramble bush and burn up the cedars of Lebanon…' | 15The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to choose me as your king, then come along, find safety under my branches! Otherwise may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!' |
| 16"Now then, if you have been acting in good faith and integrity by making a king out of Abimelech, if you have treated Jerubbaal and his household appropriately by acting toward him as he deserved — | 16"Now, if you have shown loyalty and integrity when you made Abimelech king, if you have done right to Jerub-Baal and his family, if you have properly repaid him-- |
| 17because my father fought on your behalf, throwing away all concern for his own life, and delivered you from Midian's domination. | 17my father fought for you; he risked his life and delivered you from Midian's power. |
| 18"But now as for you, you've rebelled against my father's house today. You've murdered his sons—70 men—in one place, and you've installed Abimelech, the son of his mistress, as king to rule over the "lords" of Shechem, since he's related to you. | 18But you have attacked my father's family today. You murdered his seventy legitimate sons on one stone and made Abimelech, the son of his female slave, king over the leaders of Shechem, just because he is your close relative. |
| 19So if you've acted in good faith and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his household today, then you're welcome to Abimelech, and he's welcome to you… | 19So if you have shown loyalty and integrity to Jerub-Baal and his family today, then may Abimelech bring you happiness and may you bring him happiness! |
| 20But if not, may fire spring out from Abimelech and consume the "lords" of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire spring out from the "lords" of Shechem and Beth-millo to consume Abimelech." | 20But if not, may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech!" |
| 21Then Jotham escaped by running away. He went to Beer and remained there because of his brother Abimelech. | 21Then Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother. |
| 22Abimelech dominated Israel for three years. | 22Abimelech commanded Israel for three years. |
| 23Then God sent an evil spirit to divide Abimelech and the "lords" of Shechem | 23God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech. |
| 24so that the violence committed against the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might come back on their brother Abimelech, who murdered them, and so it might come back on the "lords" of Shechem, who provoked him to murder his brothers. | 24He did this so the violent deaths of Jerub-Baal's seventy sons might be avenged and Abimelech, their half-brother who murdered them, might have to pay for their spilled blood, along with the leaders of Shechem who helped him murder them. |
| 25The "lords" of Shechem sent out men to ambush him on the mountain tops, and they robbed everyone who came by them along the roads, and this was reported to Abimelech. | 25The leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech by putting bandits in the hills, who robbed everyone who traveled by on the road. But Abimelech found out about it. |
| 26Meanwhile, Ebed's son Gaal arrived with his relatives and crossed over into Shechem. The "lords" of Shechem put their faith in him. | 26Gaal son of Ebed came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him. |
| 27They went out into the fields, harvested their vineyards, made some wine, and threw a party. Then they went into the temple of their god, ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech. | 27They went out to the field, harvested their grapes, squeezed out the juice, and celebrated. They came to the temple of their god and ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech. |
| 28Then Ebed's son Gaal remarked, "Who is this Abimelech? And who is Shechem? Should we serve him? Isn't he Jerubbaal's son? Isn't Zebul his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's ancestor—but why are we serving him? | 28Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul the deputy he appointed? Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem! But why should we serve Abimelech? |
| 29If only authority over this people were given to me. Then I would remove Abimelech!" Then he challenged Abimelech: "Build up your army and then come out and fight!" | 29If only these men were under my command, I would get rid of Abimelech!" He challenged Abimelech, "Muster your army and come out for battle!" |
| 30When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard what Ebed's son Gaal had said, he flew into a rage. | 30When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious. |
| 31He sent messengers to Abimelech in secret and told him, "Look out! Ebed's son Gaal and his family have arrived here in Shechem. Watch out! They're stirring up the city against you. | 31He sent messengers to Abimelech, who was in Arumah, reporting, "Beware! Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming to Shechem and inciting the city to rebel against you. |
| 32So get up at night, take your soldiers with you, and wait in ambush out in the field. | 32Now, come up at night with your men and set an ambush in the field outside the city. |
| 33Tomorrow morning when the sun is up, get up early and attack the city. When Gaal and his army come out to fight you, do whatever you can to them." | 33In the morning at sunrise quickly attack the city. When he and his men come out to fight you, do what you can to him." |
| 34So Abimelech and his entire army got up that night and waited in ambush against Shechem in four separate companies. | 34So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem--they divided into four units. |
| 35Ebed's son Gaal went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate while Abimelech and his army were creeping out of their ambush. | 35When Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city's gate, Abimelech and his men got up from their hiding places. |
| 36When Gaal saw the army, he observed to Zebul, "Look there! People are coming down from the top of the mountains." But Zebul replied to him, "You're looking at morning shadows cast by the mountains. They just look like men to you." | 36Gaal saw the men and said to Zebul, "Look, men are coming down from the tops of the hills." But Zebul said to him, "You are seeing the shadows on the hills--it just looks like men." |
| 37Gaal spoke up again to say, "Look! People are coming down from the highest part of the land, and there's a company approaching from the diviner's oak tree." | 37Gaal again said, "Look, men are coming down from the very center of the land. A unit is coming by way of the Oak Tree of the Diviners." |
| 38So Zebul replied, "Right... So where's your boasting now? You said, 'Who is Abimelech? Should we serve him?' Isn't this the army that you insulted? So go out right now and fight them!" | 38Zebul said to him, "Where now are your bragging words, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you insulted? Go out now and fight them!" |
| 39So Gaal went out in full view of the "lords" of Shechem and fought Abimelech. | 39So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out and fought Abimelech. |
| 40Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran away from him. Many fell wounded right up to the entrance to the city gate. | 40Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran from him. Many Shechemites fell wounded at the entrance of the gate. |
| 41Afterwards, Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul expelled Gaal and his family so they couldn't remain in Shechem. | 41Abimelech went back to Arumah; Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. |
| 42The next day, the people went out to the field, and Abimelech learned about it. | 42The next day the Shechemites came out to the field. When Abimelech heard about it, |
| 43So he took his army, divided it into three separate companies, and laid in ambush out in the field. When Abimelech noticed the people coming out from the city, his army attacked them and killed them. | 43he took his men and divided them into three units and set an ambush in the field. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and struck them down. |
| 44Then Abimelech and the soldiers who were with him rushed forward and commandeered the entrance to the city gate while the other two companies ran out to kill everyone who was in the field. | 44Abimelech and his units attacked and blocked the entrance to the city's gate. Two units then attacked all the people in the field and struck them down. |
| 45Abimelech fought against the city all that day, captured the city, killed the people in it, then tore the city to the ground and sowed it with salt. | 45Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed all the people in it. Then he leveled the city and spread salt over it. |
| 46When all the "lords" at the tower of Shechem heard what had happened, they retreated into the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith. | 46When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. |
| 47Abimilech was told that all of the "lords" of the Shechem Tower had assembled there. | 47Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place. |
| 48So he went up to Mount Zalmon, accompanied by his entire army. Abimelech had an axe in his hand, so he cut down a branch from a tree, lifted it up, and laid it on his shoulder. Then he told the army that had accompanied him, "You've seen what I just did. Hurry up! Do the same thing!" | 48He and all his men went up on Mount Zalmon. He took an ax in his hand and cut off a tree branch. He put it on his shoulder and said to his men, "Quickly, do what you have just seen me do!" |
| 49Then his entire army also cut down a branch for each soldier, followed Abimelech to the inner chamber, and set fire to it while they were inside. As a result, all the men of the tower of Shechem died, including about a thousand men and women. | 49So each of his men also cut off a branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the stronghold and set fire to it. All the people of the Tower of Shechem died--about a thousand men and women. |
| 50Later on, Abimelech went to Thebez, set up a siege encampment there, and captured it. | 50Abimelech moved on to Thebez; he besieged and captured it. |
| 51But there was a fortified tower in the center of the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city escaped to it, shut themselves in, and went up to the roof of the tower. | 51There was a fortified tower in the center of the city, so all the men and women, as well as the city's leaders, ran into it and locked the entrance. Then they went up to the roof of the tower. |
| 52So Abimelech approached the tower, attacked it, and approached the tower's gate, intending to burn it down. | 52Abimelech came and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire, |
| 53But a certain woman threw an upper millstone down on Abimelech's head, fracturing his skull. | 53a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered his skull. |
| 54So he cried out to his young armor bearer and ordered him, "Draw your sword and kill me, so no one will say about me that 'A woman killed him.'" So the young man pierced him through, and he died. | 54He quickly called to the young man who carried his weapons, "Draw your sword and kill me, so they will not say, 'A woman killed him.'" So the young man stabbed him and he died. |
| 55When the men of Israel noticed that Abimelech was dead, they each left for home. | 55When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home. |
| 56That's how God repaid Abimelech for the evil thing he did to his father by killing his 70 brothers. | 56God repaid Abimelech for the evil he did to his father by murdering his seventy half-brothers. |
| 57God also repaid the men of Shechem for their wickedness, and the curse of Jerubbaal's son Jotham came true for them. | 57God also repaid the men of Shechem for their evil deeds. The curse spoken by Jotham son of Jerub-Baal fell on them. |
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