Judges 9:39-57 ▼

39 And Gaal went out before the lords of Shechem and fought with Abimeleck.

40 And Abimeleck chased him, and he fled before him, and many people fell slain, even to the entrance of the gate.

41 And Abimeleck dwelt at Adomah; and Zebul expelled Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

42 And it came to pass on the next day, that the people went out into the fields, and they told Abimeleck.

43 And he took the people and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields, and he looked, and, behold, the people were coming forth out of the city; and he rose up against them and slew them.

44 And Abimeleck and the company that was with him rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and the two other companies rushed against all the people who were in the fields, and slew them.

45 And Abimeleck fought in the city all that day; and he took the city, and he slew all the people that were in it, and he destroyed the city, and sowed it with salt.

46 And when all the lords of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they came to take refuge in the house of the god of the covenant.

47 And it was told Abimeleck that all the lords of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48 And Abimeleck went up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimeleck took an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and took it and laid it on his shoulder, and said to the people that were with him, What you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done.

49 So every man cut down his branch and followed Abimeleck, and they piled them up, and then set the city on fire, so that all the men that were in the tower of Shechem died in fire, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimeleck went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez and took it.

51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women and all the lords of the city, and shut it behind themselves, and went to the top of the tower.

52 And Abimeleck advanced as far as the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to set it on fire.

53 And a certain woman threw a piece of an upper millstone upon Abimeleck's head and broke his skull.

54 Then he called hastily to his young armorbearer, and said to him, Draw your sword and slay me with it, that men may not say of me, A woman slew him. So the young man thrust him through, and he died.

55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimeleck was dead, they departed every man to his place.

56 Thus God requited the wickedness of Abimeleck, which he did to his father, in slaying his seventy brothers;

57 And all the wickedness of the men of Shechem did God bring upon their heads; and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Nedo-baal.