Judges 9
1 And he went Abimelech [the] son of Jerub-Baal Shechem towards to [the] brothers of mother his and he spoke to them and to all [the] clan of [the] house of [the] father of mother his saying.
Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,
2 Speak please in [the] ears of all [the] citizens of Shechem what? [is] good for you ¿ to rule over you seventy man all [the] sons of Jerub-Baal or? to rule over you a man one and you will remember that [am] bone your and flesh your I.
“Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
3 And they spoke [the] brothers of mother his on him in [the] ears of all [the] citizens of Shechem all the words these and it turned aside heart their after Abimelech for they said [is] brother our he.
And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
4 And they gave to him seventy silver (from [the] house of Baal-*L(abh)*) Berith and he hired for them Abimelech men unprincipled and undisciplined and they went after him.
So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.
5 And he went [the] house of father his Ophrah towards and he killed brothers his [the] sons of Jerub-Baal (seventy *L(abh)*) man on stone one and he was left Jotham [the] son of Jerub-Baal young for he hid himself.
He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.
6 And they gathered all [the] citizens of Shechem and all Beth Millo and they went and they made king Abimelech to king near [the] great tree set up which [was] in Shechem.
Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.
7 And people told to Jotham and he went and he stood on [the] top of [the] mountain of Gerizim and he lifted up voice his and he called out and he said to them listen to me O citizens of Shechem so he may listen to you God.
When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.
8 Certainly they went the trees to anoint over them a king and they said to the olive tree (reign! *Q(k)*) over us.
One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 And it said to them the olive tree ¿ will I cease fatness my which by me people honor gods and men and will I go to sway over the trees.
But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
10 And they said the trees to the fig tree come you reign over us.
Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11 And it said to them the fig tree ¿ will I cease sweetness my and fruit my good and will I go to sway over the trees.
But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 And they said the trees to the vine come you (reign *Q(k)*) over us.
Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 And it said to them the vine ¿ will I cease new wine my which makes glad gods and men and will I go to sway over the trees.
But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 And they said all the trees to the thorn bush come you reign over us.
Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 And it said the thorn bush to the trees if in truth you [are] anointing me to king over you come take refuge in shade my and if not let it go out a fire from the thorn bush and let it consume [the] cedars of Lebanon.
But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 And now if in faithfulness and in integrity you have acted and you have made king Abimelech and if good you have done with Jerub-Baal and with house his and if according to [the] dealing of hands his you have done to him.
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 done to him as he deserves—
17 That he fought father my on you and he threw life his from in front and he delivered you from [the] hand of Midian.
for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,
18 And you you have risen up on [the] house of father my this day and you have killed sons his seventy man on stone one and you have made king Abimelech [the] son of female slave his over [the] citizens of Shechem for [is] brother your he.
but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—
19 And if in faithfulness and in integrity you have acted with Jerub-Baal and with house his the day this rejoice in Abimelech so he may rejoice also he in you.
if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.
20 And if not let it go out a fire from Abimelech and let it consume [the] citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo and let it go out a fire from [the] citizens of Shechem and from Beth Millo and let it consume Abimelech.
But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”
21 And he fled Jotham and he ran away and he went Beer towards and he dwelt there [away] from before Abimelech brother his.
Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
22 And he ruled Abimelech over Israel three years.
After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,
23 And he sent God a spirit evil between Abimelech and between [the] citizens of Shechem and they dealt treacherously [the] citizens of Shechem with Abimelech.
God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,
24 To come [the] violence of seventy [the] sons of Jerub-Baal and blood their to put on Abimelech brother their who he killed them and on [the] citizens of Shechem who they strengthened hands his to kill brothers his.
in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
25 And they set to him [the] citizens of Shechem ambushers on [the] tops of the mountains and they robbed every [one] who he passed by on them on the road and it was told to Abimelech.
The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.
26 And he came Gaal [the] son of Ebed and brothers his and they passed on in Shechem and they trusted in him [the] citizens of Shechem.
Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27 And they went out the field and they gathered grapes vineyards their and they trod [them] and they made rejoicings and they went [the] house of god their and they ate and they drank and they cursed Abimelech.
And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.
28 And he said - Gaal [the] son of Ebed who? [is] Abimelech and who? [is] Shechem that we will serve him ¿ not [is he] [the] son of Jerub-Baal and [is] Zebul? deputy his serve [the] men of Hamor [the] father of Shechem and why? will we serve him we.
Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?
29 And who? will he give the people this in hand my and I will remove Abimelech and he said of Abimelech make numerous army your and come out!
If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”
30 And he heard Zebul [the] official of the city [the] words of Gaal [the] son of Ebed and it burned anger his.
When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.
31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech in treachery saying here! Gaal [the] son of Ebed and brothers his [are] coming Shechem towards and here they [are] shutting up the city on you.
So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
32 And therefore arise night you and the people which [is] with you and lie in wait in the field.
Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.
33 And it will be in the morning when rises the sun you will rise early and you will make a raid on the city and there! he and the people which [is] with him [are] going out against you and you will do to him just as it will find hand your.
And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”
34 And he arose Abimelech and all the people which [was] with him night and they lay in wait on Shechem four companies.
So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 And he went out Gaal [the] son of Ebed and he stood [the] entrance of [the] gate of the city and he arose Abimelech and the people which [was] with him from the ambush.
Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.
36 And he saw Gaal the people and he said to Zebul there! a people [is] coming down from [the] tops of the mountains and he said to him Zebul [the] shadow of the mountains you [are] seeing like men.
When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
37 And he repeated again Gaal to speak and he said there! a people [are] coming down from with [the] center of the land and a company one [is] coming from [the] direction of [the] great tree of [the] soothsayer.
Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”
38 And he said to him Zebul where? then [is] mouth your O [you] who you said who? [is] Abimelech that we will serve him ¿ not [is] this the people which you rejected it go out please now and fight against him.
“Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”
39 And he went out Gaal before [the] citizens of Shechem and he fought against Abimelech.
So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,
40 And he pursued him Abimelech and he fled from before him and they fell [those] fatally wounded many to [the] entrance of the gate.
but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.
41 And he dwelt Abimelech at Arumah and he drove out Zebul Gaal and brothers his from dwelling at Shechem.
Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 And it was from [the] next day and it went out the people the field and people told to Abimelech.
The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
43 And he took the people and he divided them into three companies and he lay in wait in the field and he saw and there! the people [was] going out from the city and he rose up on them and he struck down them.
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 And Abimelech and the companies which [were] with him they made a raid and they stood [the] entrance of [the] gate of the city and [the] two the companies they made a raid on all [those] who [were] in the field and they struck down them.
Then Abimelech 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 Abimelech [was] fighting against the city all the day that and he captured the city and the people which [was] in it he killed and he pulled down the city and he sowed it salt.
And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.
46 And they heard all [the] citizens of [the] tower of Shechem and they went into [the] underground chamber of [the] house of El-Berith.
On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
47 And it was told to Abimelech that they had gathered together all [the] citizens of [the] tower of Shechem.
And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,
48 And he went up Abimelech [the] mountain of Zalmon he and all the people which [was] with him and he took Abimelech the axes in hand his and he cut off a branch of wood and he lifted up it and he put [it] on shoulder his and he said to the people which [was] with him whatever you have seen I have done hurry do like me.
he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. 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 And they cut off also all the people everyone own branch his and they went after Abimelech and they put [them] over the underground chamber and they set on fire over them the underground chamber with fire and they died also all [the] men of [the] tower of Shechem about a thousand man and woman.
So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.
50 And he went Abimelech to Thebez and he encamped at Thebez and he captured it.
Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.
51 And a tower of strength it was in [the] middle of the city and they fled there towards all the men and the women and all [the] citizens of the city and they shut [the] door behind them and they went up on [the] roof of the tower.
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 And he came Abimelech to the tower and he fought against it and he drew near to [the] entrance of the tower to burn it with fire.
When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
53 And she threw a woman one a mill-stone of an upper mill-stone on [the] head of Abimelech and it crushed skull his.
But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.
54 And he called quickly to the young man - [who] carried armor his and he said to him draw sword your and kill me lest people should say of me a woman she killed him and he pierced through him young man his and he died.
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 they saw [the] man of Israel that he was dead Abimelech and they went everyone to own place his.
And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
56 And he repaid God [the] evil of Abimelech which he had done to father his by killing seventy brothers his.
In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
57 And all [the] evil of [the] men of Shechem he repaid God on head their and it came to them [the] curse of Jotham [the] son of Jerub-Baal.
And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
