Judges 9

Abimelech Becomes King

1 Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother's brothers at Shechem and spoke to them and to all his maternal grandfather's clan, saying,

2 "Please speak in the presence of all the lords of Shechem, 'Is it better for you that 70 men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you or that one man rule over you?' Remember that I am your own flesh and blood."
3 His mother's relatives spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the lords of Shechem, and they were favorable to Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother." 4 So they gave him 70 pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men with this money, and they followed him. 5 He went to his father's house in Ophrah and killed his 70 brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on top of a large stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.

6 Then all the lords of Shechem and of Beth-millo gathered together and proceeded to make Abimelech king at the oak of the pillar in Shechem.

Jotham's Parable

7 When they told Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and called to them:

Listen to me, lords of Shechem,
and may God listen to you:

8 The trees set out
to anoint a king over themselves.
They said to the olive tree, "Reign over us."

9 But the olive tree said to them,
"Should I stop giving my oil
that honors both God and man,
and rule over the trees?"

10 Then the trees said to the fig tree,
"Come and reign over us."

11 But the fig tree said to them,
"Should I stop giving
my sweetness and my good fruit,
and rule over trees?"

12 Later, the trees said to the grapevine,
"Come and reign over us."

13 But the grapevine said to them,
"Should I stop giving my wine
that cheers both God and man,
and rule over trees?"

14 Finally, all the trees said to the bramble,
"Come and reign over us."

15 The bramble said to the trees,
"If you really are anointing me
as king over you,
come and find refuge in my shade.
But if not,
may fire come out from the bramble
and consume the cedars of Lebanon."
16 "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 rewarded him appropriately for what he did- 17 for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you from the hand of Midian, 18 and now you have attacked my father's house today, killed his 70 sons on top of a large stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave, king over the lords of Shechem 'because he is your brother'- 19 if then you have acted faithfully and honestly with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech and may he also rejoice in you. 20 But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the lords of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the lords of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech."

21 Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and lived there because of his brother Abimelech.

Abimelech's Punishment

22 When Abimelech had ruled over Israel three years, 23 God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the lords of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully, 24 so that the crime against the 70 sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood would be avenged on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the lords of Shechem, who had helped him kill his brothers.

25 The lords of Shechem rebelled against him by putting people on the tops of the mountains to ambush and rob everyone who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.
26 Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the lords of Shechem trusted him. 27 So they went out to the countryside and harvested grapes from their vineyards. They trampled the grapes and held a celebration. Then they went to the house of their god, and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech. 28 Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem that we should serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerubbaal, and isn't Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?

29 If only these people were in my power, I would remove Abimelech." So he said to Abimelech, "Gather your army and come out."
30 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was angry. 31 So he sent messengers secretly to Abimelech, saying, "Look, Gaal son of Ebed, with his brothers, have come to Shechem and are turning the city against you. 32 Now tonight, you and the people with you are to come wait in ambush in the countryside. 33 Then get up early, and at sunrise charge the city. When he and the people who are with him come out against you, do to him whatever you can."

34 So Abimelech and all the people with him got up at night and waited in ambush for Shechem in four units.
35 Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. Then Abimelech and the people who were with him got up from their ambush.

36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the mountaintops!" But Zebul said to him, "The shadows of the mountains look like men to you."
37 Then Gaal spoke again, "Look, people are coming down from the central part of the land, and one unit is coming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak."

38 Zebul replied, "Where is your mouthing off now? You said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Aren't these the people you despised? Now go and fight them!"
39 So Gaal went out leading the lords of Shechem and fought against Abimelech, 40 but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. Many wounded died as far as the entrance of the gate.

41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers from Shechem.
42 The next day when the people went into the countryside, this was reported to Abimelech. 43 He took the people, divided them into three companies, and waited in ambush in the countryside. He looked, and the people were coming out of the city, so he arose against them and struck them down. 44 Then Abimelech and the units that were with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two units rushed against all who were in the countryside and struck them down.

45 So Abimelech fought against the city that entire day, captured it, and killed the people who were in it. Then he tore down the city and sowed it with salt.
46 When all the lords of the Tower of Shechem heard, they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith. 47 Then it was reported to Abimelech that all the lords of the Tower of Shechem had gathered together. 48 So Abimelech and all the people who were with him went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his ax in his hand and cut a branch from the trees. He picked up the branch, put it on his shoulder, and said to the people who were with him, "Hurry and do what you have seen me do."

49 Each person also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire around the people, and all the people in the Tower of Shechem died-about 1,000 men and women.
50 Abimelech went to Thebez, camped against it, and captured it. 51 There was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and lords of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower. 52 When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire. 53 But a woman threw the upper portion of a millstone on Abimelech's head and fractured his skull. 54 He quickly called his armor-bearer and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, or they'll say about me, 'A woman killed him.'" So his armor-bearer thrust him through, and he died.

55 When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
56 In this way, God turned back on Abimelech the evil that he had done against his father, by killing his 70 brothers.

57 And God also returned all the evil of the men of Shechem on their heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came on them.

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.