Judges 9

Abimelech's Conspiracy

1 Now Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's relatives and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,2 "Say in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh."

3 And his mother's relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the leaders of Shechem, and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother."4 And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him.5 And he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.6 And all the leaders of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.

7 When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim and cried aloud and said to them, "Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, that God may listen to you.8 The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'9 But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?'10 And the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and reign over us.'11 But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit and go hold sway over the trees?'12 And the trees said to the vine, 'You come and reign over us.'13 But the vine said to them, 'Shall I leave my wine that cheers God and men and go hold sway over the trees?'14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come and reign over us.'15 And the bramble said to the trees, 'If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'

16 "Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and integrity when you made Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house and have done to him as his deeds deserved—17 for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian,18 and you have risen up against my father's house this day and have killed his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative—19 if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech."21 And Jotham ran away and fled and went to Beer and lived there, because of Abimelech his brother.

The Downfall of Abimelech

22 Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.23 And God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,24 that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.25 And the leaders of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountaintops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way. And it was told to Abimelech.

26 And Gaal the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his relatives, and the leaders of Shechem put confidence in him.27 And they went out into the field and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them and held a festival; and they went into the house of their god and ate and drank and reviled Abimelech.28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?29 Would that this people were under my hand! Then I would remove Abimelech. I would sayt to Abimelech, 'Increase your army, and come out.'"

30 When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.31 And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly,t saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem, and they are stirring upt the city against you.32 Now therefore, go by night, you and the people who are with you, and set an ambush in the field.33 Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city. And when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may do to them as your hand finds to do."

34 So Abimelech and all the men who were with him rose up by night and set an ambush against Shechem in four companies.35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from the ambush.36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops!" And Zebul said to him, "You mistaket the shadow of the mountains for men."37 Gaal spoke again and said, "Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak."38 Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your mouth now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them."39 And Gaal went out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him. And many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate.41 And Abimelech lived at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives, so that they could not dwell at Shechem.

42 On the following day, the people went out into the field, and Abimelech was told.43 He took his people and divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. And he looked and saw the people coming out of the city. So he rose against them and killed them.44 Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city, while the two companies rushed upon all who were in the field and killed them.45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed the people who were in it, and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.

46 When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-berith.47 Abimelech was told that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.48 And Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a bundle of brushwood and took it up and laid it on his shoulder. And he said to the men who were with him, "What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done."49 So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abimelech put it against the stronghold, and they set the stronghold on fire over them, so that all the people of the Tower of Shechem also died, about 1,000 men and women.

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez and captured it.51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in, and they went up to the roof of the tower.52 And Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.53 And a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull.54 Then he called quickly to the young man his armor-bearer and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, 'A woman killed him.'" And his young man thrust him through, and he died.55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home.56 Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers.57 And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.

Judges 9

Abimelech Murders His Brothers

1 Now Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to see his mother’s relatives.t He said to them and to his mother’s entire extended family,t2 “Tellt all the leaders of Shechem this: ‘Why would you wantt to have seventy men, all Jerub-Baal’s sons, ruling over you, when you can have just one ruler? Recall that I am your own flesh and blood.’”t3 His mother’s relativest spoke on his behalf tot all the leaders of Shechem and reported his proposal.t The leaders were drawn to Abimelech;t they said, “He is our close relative.”t4 They paid him seventy silver shekels out of the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech then used the silver to hire some lawless, dangeroust men as his followers.t5 He went to his father’s home in Ophrah and murdered his half-brothers,t the seventy legitimatet sons of Jerub-Baal, on one stone. Only Jotham, Jerub-Baal’s youngest son, escaped,t because he hid.

6 All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo assembled and then went and made Abimelech king by the oak near the pillars in Shechem.

Jotham’s Parable

7 When Jotham heard the news,t he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He spoke loudly to the people below,t “Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you!
8 “The trees were determined to go outt and choose a king for themselves.t They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king!’t

9 But the olive tree said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees!’t
10 “So the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and be our king!’t

11 But the fig tree said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit, just to sway above the other trees!’t
12 “So the trees said to the grapevine, ‘You come and be our king!’t

13 But the grapevine said to them, ‘I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees!’t
14 “So all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘You come and be our king!’t

15 The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to chooset me as your king, then come along, find safety under my branches!t Otherwiset may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’
16 “Now, if you have shown loyalty and integrity when you made Abimelech king, if you have done right to Jerub-Baal and his family,t if you have properly repaid himt –17 my father fought for you; he risked his lifes and delivered you from Midian’s power.t18 But you have attackedt my father’s familyt today. You murdered his seventy legitimatet sons on one stone and made Abimelech, the son of his female slave, king over the leaders of Shechem, just because he is your close relative.t19 So if you have shown loyalty and integrity to Jerub-Baal and his familyt today, then may Abimelech bring you happiness and may you bring him happiness!t20 But if not, may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech!”

21 Then Jotham ran awayt to Beer and lived there to escape fromt Abimelech his half-brother.t

God Fulfills Jotham’s Curse

22 Abimelech commandedts Israel for three years.23 God sent a spirit to stir up hostilityt between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyalt to Abimelech.24 He did this so the violent deaths of Jerub-Baal’s seventy sons might be avenged and Abimelech, their half-brothert who murdered them, might have to pay for their spilled blood, along with the leaders of Shechem who helped him murder them.t

25 The leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech by puttingts bandits int the hills, who robbed everyone who traveled by on the road. But Abimelech found out about it.t
26 Gaal son of Ebeds came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him.t27 They went out to the field, harvested their grapes,t squeezed out the juice,t and celebrated. They came to the templet of their god and ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech.28 Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul the deputy he appointed?t Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem! But why should we serve Abimelech?t

29 If only these ment were under my command,ts I would get rid of Abimelech!” He challenged Abimelech,t “Mustert your army and come out for battle!”t
30 When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious.t31 He sent messengers to Abimelech, who was in Arumah,t reporting, “Beware!t Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are comingt to Shechem and inciting the city to rebel against you.t32 Now, come upt at night with your ment and set an ambush in the field outside the city.t

33 In the morning at sunrise quickly attack the city. When he and his men come out to fight you, do what you can to him.”t
34 So Abimelech and all his men came upt at night and set an ambush outside Shechem – they divided intot four units.35 When Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city’s gate, Abimelech and his men got up from their hiding places.36 Gaal saw the ment and said to Zebul, “Look, men are coming down from the tops of the hills.” But Zebul said to him, “You are seeing the shadows on the hills – it just looks like men.”t37 Gaal again said, “Look, men are coming down from the very centert of the land. A unitt is coming by way of the Oak Tree of the Diviners.”t38 Zebul said to him, “Where now are your bragging words,t ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the ment you insulted?t Go out now and fight them!”39 So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem outt and fought Abimelech.40 Abimelech chased him, and Gaalt ran from him. Many Shechemitest fell wounded at the entrance of the gate.

41 Abimelech went backs to Arumah; Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.t
42 The next day the Shechemitest came out to the field. When Abimelech heard about it,t43 he took his ment and divided them into three units and set an ambush in the field. When he saw the people coming out of the city,t he attacked and struck them down.t44 Abimelech and his unitst attacked and blockedt the entrance to the city’s gate. Two units then attacked all the people in the field and struck them down.

45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed all the people in it. Then he leveledt the city and spread salt over it.ts
46 When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechems heard the news, they went to the strongholdt of the temple of El-Berith.s47 Abimelech heardt that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place.t48 He and all his ment went up on Mount Zalmon. Het took an axt in his hand and cut off a tree branch. He put itt on his shoulder and said to his men, “Quickly, do what you have just seen me do!”t

49 So each of his men also cut off a branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branchest against the stronghold and set fire to it.t All the peoplet of the Tower of Shechem died – about a thousand men and women.
50 Abimelech moved ont to Thebez; he besieged and captured it.t51 There was a fortifiedt towert in the center of the city, so all the men and women, as well as the city’s leaders, ran into it and locked the entrance. Then they went up to the roof of the tower.52 Abimelech came and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire,53 a woman threw an upper millstones down on hist head and shattered his skull.54 He quickly called to the young man who carried his weapons,t “Draw your sword and kill me, so they will not say,t ‘A woman killed him.’” So the young man stabbed him and he died.

55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home.t
56 God repaid Abimelech for the evil he did to his father by murdering his seventy half-brothers.t

57 God also repaid the men of Shechem for their evil deeds. The curse spoken by Jotham son of Jerub-Baal fellt on them.