Judges 9:39-57 ▼

39 So Gaal (loathing) went out before the leaders of Shechem (shoulder) and fought against Abimelech (my father is king),

40 but Abimelech (my father is king) pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.

41 Abimelech (my father is king) stayed in Arumah (I shall be exalted), and Zebul (exalted) drove Gaal (loathing) and his brothers out of Shechem (shoulder).

42 The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech (my father is king).

43 So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them.

44 Then Abimelech (my father is king) and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down.

45 And all that day Abimelech (my father is king) fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

46 On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem (shoulder) entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith (Baal-berith).

47 And when Abimelech (my father is king) was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem (shoulder) were gathered there,

48 he (my father is king) and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon (shady). Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you⁺ have seen me do.”

49 So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech (my father is king). Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem (shoulder), about a thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimelech (my father is king) went to Thebez (conspicuous), encamped against it, and captured it.

51 But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.

52 When Abimelech (my father is king) came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.

53 But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s (my father is king) head, crushing his skull.

54 He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.

55 And when the Israelites (God prevails) saw that Abimelech (my father is king) was dead, they all went home.

56 In this way God {Elohim} repaid the wickedness that Abimelech (my father is king) had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.

57 And God {Elohim} also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem (shoulder) back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham (YHWH is perfect) son of Jerubbaal (let Baal contend) came upon them.