Judges 9:1-35 ▼

1 Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and spoke to them and to all his maternal grandfather’s clan, saying, “

2 Please speak in the presence of all the lords of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that 70 men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you or that one man rule over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”

3 His mother’s relatives spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the lords of Shechem, and they were favorable to Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

4 So they gave him 70 pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men with this money, and they followed him.

5 He went to his father’s house in Ophrah and killed his 70 brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on top of a large stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

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

7 When they told Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and called to them: Listen to me, lords of Shechem, and may God listen to you:

8 The trees set out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, “Reign over us.”

9 But the olive tree said to them,” Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, and rule over the trees?”

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

11 But the fig tree said to them,” Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, and rule over trees?”

12 Later, the trees said to the grapevine,” Come and reign over us.”

13 But the grapevine said to them,” Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, and rule over trees?”

14 Finally, all the trees said to the bramble,” Come and reign over us.”

15 The bramble said to the trees,” If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out from the bramble 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 rewarded him appropriately for what he did—

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

18 and now you have attacked my father’s house today, killed his 70 sons on top of a large stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave, king over the lords of Shechem ‘because he is your brother—

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

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

21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and lived there because of his brother Abimelech.

22 When Abimelech had ruled over Israel three years,

23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully,

24 so that the crime against the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood would be avenged on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the lords of Shechem, who had helped him kill his brothers.

25 The lords of Shechem rebelled against him by putting people on the tops of the mountains to ambush and rob everyone who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.

26 Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the lords of Shechem trusted him.

27 So they went out to the countryside and harvested grapes from their vineyards. They trampled the grapes and held a celebration. Then they went to the house of their god, and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.

28 Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal, and isn’t Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?

29 If only these people were in my power, I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “Gather your army and come out.”

30 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was angry.

31 So he sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed, with his brothers, have come to Shechem and are turning the city against you.

32 Now tonight, you and the people with you are to come wait in ambush in the countryside.

33 Then get up early, and at sunrise charge the city. When he and the people who are with him come out against you, do to him whatever you can.”

34 So Abimelech and all the people with him got up at night and waited in ambush for Shechem in four units.

35 Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. Then Abimelech and the people who were with him got up from their ambush.