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.
Then Abimelech the sonne of Ierubbaal went to Shechem vnto his mothers brethren, and communed with them, and with all the familie, and house of his mothers father, saying,
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.
Say, I pray you, in the audience of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, that all the sonnes of Ierubbaal, which are seuentie persons, reigne ouer you, either that one reigne ouer you? Remember also, that I am your bone, and your flesh.
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.
Then his mothers brethren spake of him in the audience of all the men of Shechem, all these wordes: and their hearts were moued to follow Abimelech: for sayd they, 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.
And they gaue him seuentie pieces of siluer out of the house of Baal-berith, wherewith Abimelech hired vayne and light fellowes which followed 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.
And he went vnto his fathers house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren, the sonnes of Ierubbaal, about seuentie persons vpon one stone: yet Iotham the yongest sonne of Ierubbaal was left: for he hid himselfe.
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.
And all the men of Shechem gathered together with all the house of Millo, and came and made Abimelech King in the playne, where the stone was erected in Shechem.
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.
And when they told it to Iotham, he went and stoode in the top of mount Gerizim, and lift vp his voyce, and cryed, and sayd vnto them, Hearken vnto mee, you men of Shechem, that God may hearken vnto 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.
The trees went foorth to anoynt a King ouer them, and sayde vnto the oliue tree, Reigne thou ouer vs.
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 oliue tree said vnto them, Should I leaue my fatnes, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to aduance me aboue ye trees?
10 And they said the trees to the fig tree come you reign over us.
Then the trees sayde to the fig tree, Come thou, and be King ouer vs.
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 answered them, Should I forsake my sweetenesse, and my good fruite, and goe to aduance me aboue the trees?
12 And they said the trees to the vine come you (reign *Q(k)*) over us.
Then sayd the trees vnto the Vine, Come thou, and be king ouer vs.
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 Vine sayde vnto them, Should I leaue my wine, whereby I cheare God and man, and goe to aduance me aboue the trees?
14 And they said all the trees to the thorn bush come you reign over us.
Then said all the trees vnto the bramble, Come thou, and reigne ouer vs.
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.
And the bramble said vnto the trees, If ye will in deede anoynt me King ouer you, come, and put your trust vnder my shadowe: and if not, the fire shall come out of the bramble, 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 therefore, if ye doe truely and vncorruptly to make Abimelech King, and if ye haue delt well with Ierubbaal and with his house, and haue done vnto him according to the deseruing of his handes,
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 aduentured his life, and deliuered you out of the handes 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.
And yee are risen vp against my fathers house this day, and haue slayne his children, about seuentie persons vpon one stone, and haue made Abimelech the sonne of his mayde seruant, King ouer the men of Shechem, because hee 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 ye then haue delt truely and purely with Ierubbaal, and with his house this day, then reioyce with 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, let a fire come out from Abimelech, and consume the men of Shechem and the house of Millo: also let a fire come foorth from the men of Shechem, and from the house of 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.
And Iotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there for feare of Abimelech his brother.
22 And he ruled Abimelech over Israel three years.
So Abimelech reigned three yeere ouer Israel.
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.
But God sent an euil spirit betweene Abimelech, and the men of Shechem: and the men of Shechem brake their promise to Abimelech,
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.
That the crueltie toward the seuentie sonnes of Ierubbaal and their blood might come and be laide vpon Abimelech their brother, which had slayne them, and vpon the men of Shechem, which had ayded him to kill his brethren.
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.
So the men of Shechem set men in wayte for him in the toppes of the mountaines: who robbed all that passed that way by them: and it was tolde 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.
Then Gaal the sonne of Ebed came with his brethren, and they went to Shechem: and the men 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.
Therefore they went out into the field, and gathered in their grapes and troade them, and made merie, and went into the house of their gods, and did eate and drinke, and 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 the sonne of Ebed sayde, Who is Abimelech? and who is Shechem, that wee should serue him? Is he not the sonne of Ierubbaal? and Zebul is his officer? Serue rather the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serue him?
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!
Now would God this people were vnder mine hand: then would I put away Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine 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.
And when Zebul the ruler of the citie heard the wordes of Gaal the sonne of Ebed, his wrath was kindled.
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.
Therefore he sent messengers vnto Abimelech priuily, saying, Beholde, Gaal the sonne of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem, and beholde, they fortifie the citie against thee.
32 And therefore arise night you and the people which [is] with you and lie in wait in the field.
Now therefore arise by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lye in wayte in the fielde.
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 rise early in the morning as soone as the sunne is vp, and assault the citie: and when he and the people that is with him, shall come out against thee, doe to him what thou canst.
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 rose vp, and all the people that were with him by night: and they lay in wayte against Shechem in foure bandes.
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.
Then Gaal the sonne of Ebed went out and stood in the entring of the gate of the citie: and Abimelech rose vp, and the folke that were with him, from lying in waite.
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.
And when Gaal sawe the people, he said to Zebul, Beholde, there come people downe from the tops of the mountaines: and Zebul said vnto him, The shadowe of the mountaines seeme men vnto thee.
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.
And Gaal spake againe, and said, See, there come folke downe by the middle of the land, and another bande commeth by the way of the plaine of Meonenim.
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.
Then sayd Zebul vnto him, Where is now thy mouth, that said, Who is Abimelech, that we should serue him? Is not this the people that thou hast despised? Go out now, I pray thee, and fight with them.
39 And he went out Gaal before [the] citizens of Shechem and he fought against Abimelech.
And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with 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 he fledde before him, and many were ouerthrowen and wounded, euen vnto the entring of the gate.
41 And he dwelt Abimelech at Arumah and he drove out Zebul Gaal and brothers his from dwelling at Shechem.
And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren that they should not dwell in Shechem.
42 And it was from [the] next day and it went out the people the field and people told to Abimelech.
And on the morowe, the people went out into the fielde: which was tolde 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.
And he tooke the people, and deuided them into three bandes, and layde wayte in the fieldes, and looked, and beholde, the people were come out of the citie, and he rose vp against them, and smote 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.
And Abimelech, and the bandes that were with him, russhed forwarde, and stoode in the entring of the gate of the citie: and the two other bandes ran vpon all the people that were in the fielde and slewe them.
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 when Abimelech had fought against the citie all that day, he tooke the citie, and slewe the people that was therein, and destroyed the citie and sowed salt in it.
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.
And when all the men of the towre of Shechem heard it, they entred into an holde of the house of the god Berith.
47 And it was told to Abimelech that they had gathered together all [the] citizens of [the] tower of Shechem.
And it was tolde Abimelech, that all the men of the towre of Shechem were gathered together.
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.
And Abimelech gate him vp to mounte Zalmon, hee and all the people that were with him: and Abimelech tooke axes with him, and cut downe boughes of trees, and tooke them, and bare them on his shoulder, and sayde vnto the folke that were with him, What ye haue seene me doe, make haste, and doe like me.
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.
Then all the people also cut downe euery man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the holde, and set the holde on fire with them: so all the men of the towre of Shechem dyed also, about a thousand men and women.
50 And he went Abimelech to Thebez and he encamped at Thebez and he captured it.
Then went Abimelech to Tebez, and besieged Tebez, and tooke 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 towre within the citie, and thither fledde all the men and women, and all the chiefe of the citie, and shut it to them, and went vp to the toppe of the towre.
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.
And Abimelech came vnto the towre and fought against it, and went hard vnto the doore of the towre 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 certaine woman cast a piece of a milstone vpon Abimelechs head, and brake his braine pan.
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.
Then Abimelech called hastily his page that bare his harneis, and sayde vnto him, Drawe thy sworde and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slewe him. And his page thrust him thorowe, and he dyed.
55 And they saw [the] man of Israel that he was dead Abimelech and they went everyone to own place his.
And when the men of Israel sawe that Abimelech was dead, they departed euery man vnto his owne place.
56 And he repaid God [the] evil of Abimelech which he had done to father his by killing seventy brothers his.
Thus God rendred the wickednes of Abimelech, which he did vnto his father, in slaying his seuentie brethren.
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.
Also all the wickednes of the men of Shechem did God bring vpon their heads. So vpon them came the curse of Iotham the sonne of Ierubbaal.
