Judges 9 Parallel Bible Translations

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1 Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal [Gideon], went to Shechem to see the uncles on his mother's side of the family. He spoke to them and his mother's whole family. Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother’s relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother’s family, Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother’s brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother’s clan,
2 He said, |Please ask all citizens of Shechem, 'What seems best to you? Do you really want all of Jerubbaal's 70 sons to rule you or just one man? Remember, I'm your own flesh and blood.'| “Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?’ Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.” “Ask all the citizens of Shechem, ‘Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal’s sons rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember, I am your flesh and blood.”
3 His uncles repeated everything he said to all citizens of Shechem. They were persuaded to follow Abimelech because he was their relative. And his mother’s relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.” When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, “He is related to us.”
4 So they gave him 70 pieces of silver from the temple of Baal Berith. With the silver, Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men to follow him. And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him. They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers.
5 Then he went to his father's home in Ophrah. There he executed his 70 brothers, Jerubbaal's sons. But Jotham, Jerubbaal's youngest son, survived because he hid. And he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself. He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding.
6 All the citizens from Shechem and Beth Millo united. They went to the oak tree that was still standing in Shechem and proclaimed Abimelech king. And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem. Then all the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king.
7 When Jotham was told about this, he went to a high spot on Mount Gerizim. He shouted to them, |Listen to me, you citizens of Shechem, so that God might listen to you. When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, “Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you. When Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, “Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may listen to you.
8 |The trees went to anoint someone to be king over them. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!' The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
9 But the olive tree responded, 'Should I stop producing oil, which people use to honor gods and humans, in order to rule the trees?' But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’ “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!' And the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us.’ “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
11 But the fig tree responded, 'Should I stop producing my good, sweet fruit in order to rule the trees?' But the fig tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?’ “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 Then the trees said to the grapevine, 'You come and be our king!' And the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us.’ “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
13 But the grapevine responded, 'Should I stop producing my wine, which makes gods and humans happy, in order to rule the trees?' But the vine said to them, ‘Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?’ “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 Then all the trees said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our king!' Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us.’ “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
15 But the thornbush responded to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me to be your king, then come and take shelter in my shade. But if not, fire will come out of the thornbush and burn up 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.’ “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’
16 |If you acted with sincerity and integrity when you made Abimelech king, [be happy.] If you treated Jerubbaal and his family well, if you treated him as he deserved, be happy. “Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity 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— “Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves?
17 My father fought for you. He risked his life and rescued you from Midian. for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian, Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of Midian.
18 But today you have attacked my father's family. You have executed his 70 sons. You have made Abimelech, who is the son of my father's slave girl, king over the citizens of Shechem just because he's your brother. and you have risen up against my father’s house this day and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative— But today you have revolted against my father’s family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you.
19 So if you are now acting with sincerity and integrity toward Jerubbaal and his family, then be happy with Abimelech and let Abimelech be happy with you. if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. So have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too!
20 But if that's not the case, let fire come out of Abimelech and burn up citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo. Also let fire come out of citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo and burn up Abimelech.| But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech.” But if you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!”
21 Then Jotham ran away quickly. He went to Beerah and lived there [to avoid] his brother Abimelech. And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother. Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek.
22 Abimelech ruled Israel for three years. Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. After Abimelek had governed Israel three years,
23 Then God sent an evil spirit to cause problems between Abimelech and citizens of Shechem. So citizens of Shechem turned against Abimelech. And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, God stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek.
24 God did this so that the bloody violence committed against Jerubbaal's 70 sons would happen to Abimelech and citizens of Shechem. Citizens of Shechem had helped Abimelech execute his brothers. that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
25 So citizens of Shechem set ambushes for Abimelech on top of the mountains. They also robbed everyone who passed by them on the road. This was reported to Abimelech. And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech. In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek.
26 Then Gaal (son of Ebed) and his brothers moved into Shechem. Citizens of Shechem trusted him. And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him. Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him.
27 They went into the country and harvested grapes in the vineyards to make wine. Then they made an offering of praise in the temple of their gods. They ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech. And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held a festival; and they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech. After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek.
28 Gaal (son of Ebed) said, |Who's Abimelech, and who are we, the people of Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn't he Jerubbaal's son, and isn't Zebul his officer? Serve the descendants of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelech? And Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who are we of 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? Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek?
29 How I wish I controlled these people! Then I'd get rid of Abimelech. I would tell him, 'Get yourself a big army and come out.' | Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would say to Abimelech, ‘Increase your army, and come out.’” If only this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, ‘Call out your whole army!’”
30 Zebul, Shechem's ruler, heard what Gaal (son of Ebed) had said, and he became angry. When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled. When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very angry.
31 He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech. |Watch out! Gaal (son of Ebed) and his brothers have come to Shechem. They have turned the city against you. And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you. Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, “Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
32 You and your men must start out tonight. Set an ambush [for them] in the fields [around Shechem]. Now therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field. Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields.
33 In the morning, when the sun rises, get up quickly and raid the city. When Gaal and his men come out to attack you, do whatever you want to him.| Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them as your hand finds to do.” In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them.”
34 Abimelech and all his troops started out at night. He used four companies to set ambushes around Shechem. So Abimelech and all the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies. So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies.
35 Gaal (son of Ebed) went out and stood at the entrance to the city. Then Abimelech and his troops rose from their ambush. And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush. Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place.
36 When Gaal saw the troops, he said to Zebul, |Look, troops are coming down from the mountaintops!| Zebul replied, |The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.| And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops!” And Zebul said to him, “You mistake the shadow of the mountains for men.” When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” Zebul replied, “You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men.”
37 Gaal spoke again, |No, there are troops coming down from Tabbur Haares. One company is coming along the road by the Fortunetellers' Tree.| Gaal spoke again and said, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the Diviners’ Oak.” But Gaal spoke up again: “Look, people are coming down from the central hill, and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners’ tree.”
38 Then Zebul said to him, |Where is your big mouth now? You were the one who said, 'Who's Abimelech that we should serve him?' Aren't these the troops [whose ruler] you despised? Now go out and fight him.| Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your mouth now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them.” Then Zebul said to him, “Where is your big talk now, you who said, ‘Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?’ Aren’t these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!”
39 Then Gaal led citizens of Shechem out to fight Abimelech. And Gaal went out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech. So Gaal led out the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek.
40 Abimelech chased Gaal so that he ran away from him. Many were killed at the entrance of the city. And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him. And many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate. Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled.
41 Abimelech continued to live at Arumah. Zebul threw Gaal and his brothers out and would not let them live in Shechem. And Abimelech lived at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives, so that they could not dwell at Shechem. Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem.
42 The next day the people [of Shechem] went into the fields. Abimelech was told about it. On the following day, the people went out into the field, and Abimelech was told. The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek.
43 So he took his troops, divided them into three companies, and set an ambush in the fields. He watched and saw the people coming out of the city. Then he began to attack them. He took his people and divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. And he looked and saw the people coming out of the city. So he rose against them and killed them. So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them.
44 Abimelech and his company charged the city and captured its entrance. The other two companies charged at everyone in the fields and attacked them. Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and killed them. Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields and struck them down.
45 Abimelech attacked the city all day long. He captured the city and killed the people in it. He also tore down the city and scattered salt all over the land. And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and he razed the city and sowed it with salt. All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it.
46 All the citizens of Shechem's Tower heard about it and went into the basement of the temple of El Berith. When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-berith. On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.
47 When Abimelech was told that they had gathered there, Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together. When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there,
48 he and all his men went to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took an ax, cut some brushwood, and carried it on his shoulder. He told his men, |Hurry and do what you've seen me do!| And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a bundle of brushwood and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men who were with him, “What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done.” he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, “Quick! Do what you have seen me do!”
49 So all his troops also cut brushwood and followed Abimelech. They piled the brushwood on top of the basement and set it on fire with the people inside. So all the people in Shechem's Tower died too. There were about a thousand men and women. So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1,000 men and women. So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died.
50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez, camped there, and captured it. Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it. Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged it and captured it.
51 Now, there was a strong tower inside the town. All the men, women, and leaders of the town fled to it. They locked the door behind them and went up on the roof of the tower. But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in, and they went up to the roof of the tower. Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women—all the people of the city—had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof.
52 Abimelech came to the tower. He began to fight against it and went near the entrance of the tower to burn it down. And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire. Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire,
53 Then a woman threw a small millstone that hit Abimelech on the head and cracked his skull. And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull. a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked his skull.
54 He quickly called his armorbearer. He told him, |Take your sword and kill me! I don't want anyone to say, 'A woman killed Abimelech.' | His armorbearer did as he said, so Abimelech died. Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” And his young man thrust him through, and he died. Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can’t say, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his servant ran him through, and he died.
55 When the people of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home. And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home. When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home.
56 So God paid back Abimelech for the evil he had done to his father when he killed his 70 brothers. Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
57 God also paid back the men of Shechem for all their evil. So the curse of Jotham, son of Jerubbaal, came true. And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal. God also made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them.
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