Judges 9 Parallel Bible Translations

Judges 9 ▼
swipe to see more →
ISV
Intl. Standard Version
ESV
English Standard Version
NIV
New International Version
+Add
1 Then 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, 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 |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.| “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 So 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!| 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 and 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 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 to 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. 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 men from Shechem and Beth-millo gathered together and set up Abimelech as king near the pillar erected in Shechem. 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 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. 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 |Once upon a time the trees went out to consecrate a king for themselves. |So they told the olive tree, 'Reign over us!' 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 asked them, 'Should I stop producing my rich oils by which both God and men are honored and go take dominion over 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 |So the trees told the fig tree, 'Hey you! Come and reign over us!' 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 asked them, 'Should I leave my sweet, good fruit and go take dominion over 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 |So the trees told the grape vine, 'Hey you! Come and reign over us!' 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 grape vine asked them, 'Should I leave my new wine, which cheers God and man, and go take dominion over 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 |So all the trees told the bramble bush, 'Hey you! Come and reign over us!' 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 Then 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...' 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 |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 — “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 because my father fought on your behalf, throwing away all concern for his own life, and delivered you from Midian's domination. 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 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. 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'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... 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 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.| 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 escaped by running away. He went to Beer and remained there because of 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 dominated 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 divide Abimelech and the |lords| of Shechem 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 so 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. 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 The |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. 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 Meanwhile, Ebed's son Gaal arrived with his relatives and crossed over into Shechem. The |lords| of Shechem put their faith in 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 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. 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 Then 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? 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 If 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!| 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 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard what Ebed's son Gaal had said, he flew into a rage. 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 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. 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 So get up at night, take your soldiers with you, and wait in ambush out in the field. 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 Tomorrow 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.| 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 So Abimelech and his entire army got up that night and waited in ambush against Shechem in four separate companies. 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 Ebed'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. 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 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.| 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 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.| 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 So 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!| 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 So Gaal went out in full view of the |lords| of Shechem and fought 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 him, and Gaal ran away from him. Many fell wounded right up to the entrance to the city gate. 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 Afterwards, Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul expelled Gaal and his family so they couldn't remain 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 went out to the field, and Abimelech learned 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 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. 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 Then 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. 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 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. 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 When all the |lords| at the tower of Shechem heard what had happened, they retreated into the inner chamber 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 Abimilech was told that all of the |lords| of the Shechem Tower had assembled 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 So 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!| 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 Then 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. 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 Later on, Abimelech went to Thebez, set up a siege encampment 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 But 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. 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 So Abimelech approached the tower, attacked it, and approached the tower's gate, intending 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 But a certain woman threw an upper millstone down on Abimelech's head, fracturing 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 So 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. 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 men of Israel noticed that Abimelech was dead, they each left for 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 That's how God repaid Abimelech for the evil thing he did to his father by killing 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 repaid the men of Shechem for their wickedness, and the curse of Jerubbaal's son Jotham came true for them. 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.
Previous chapter
Top of Page
Top of Page