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1 Now 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, 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 |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.'| “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 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.| 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 They 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. 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 He 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. 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 leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo assembled and then went and made Abimelech king by the oak near the pillar 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 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! 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 were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. 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 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!' 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 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 said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit, just to sway above the other 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 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 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!' 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 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 The 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!' 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, 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-- “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 delivered you from Midian's power. 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 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. 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 have shown loyalty and integrity to Jerub-Baal and his family today, then may Abimelech bring you happiness and may you bring him happiness! 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 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!| 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 to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother. 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 commanded Israel for three years. Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. After Abimelek had governed Israel three years,
23 God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to 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 He 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. 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 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. 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 Gaal son of Ebed came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to 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 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. 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 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? 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 these men were under my command, I would get rid of Abimelech!| He challenged Abimelech, |Muster your army and come out for battle!| 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 city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious. 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, 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. 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 Now, come up at night with your men and set an ambush in the field outside the city. 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 at sunrise quickly attack the city. When he and his men come out to fight you, do what you can 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 So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem--they divided into four units. 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 When 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. 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 Gaal 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.| 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 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.| 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 Zebul 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!| 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 led the leaders of Shechem out 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 from him. Many Shechemites fell wounded at the entrance of the 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 Abimelech went back to Arumah; Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of 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 Shechemites came out to the field. When Abimelech heard 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 he 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. 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 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. 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. He captured the city and killed all the people in it. Then he leveled the city and spread salt over it. 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 leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold 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 Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place. 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 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!| 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 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. 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 Abimelech moved on to Thebez; he besieged 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 There 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. 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 and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire, 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 a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered 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 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. 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 Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they 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 God repaid Abimelech for the evil he did to his father by murdering his seventy half-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 evil deeds. The curse spoken by Jotham son of Jerub-Baal fell on 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.
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