Judges, 9

1. Abimelech son of Jerubbaal confronted his mother's brothers at Shechem and, to them and to the whole clan of his maternal grandfather's family, he said,

1. Now Abim'elech the son of Jerubba'al went to Shechem to his mother's kinsmen and said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family,

2. 'Please put this question to the leading men of Shechem: Which is better for you: to be ruled by seventy people -- all Jerubbaal's sons -- or to be ruled by one? Remember too that I am your own flesh and bone.'

2. "Say in the ears of all the citizens of Shechem, `Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubba'al rule over you, or that one rule over you?' Remember also that I am your bone and your flesh."

3. His mother's brothers said all this on his behalf to all the leading men of Shechem, and their feelings swayed them to follow Abimelech, since they argued, 'He is our brother.'

3. And his mother's kinsmen spoke all these words on his behalf in the ears of all the men of Shechem; and their hearts inclined to follow Abim'elech, for they said, "He is our brother."

4. So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and with this Abimelech paid violent adventurers to follow him.

4. And they gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Ba'al-be'rith with which Abim'elech hired worthless and reckless fellows, who followed him.

5. He then went to his father's house at Ophrah and put his brothers, Jerubbaal's seventy sons, to death on one and the same stone. Jotham, however, Jerubbaal's youngest son, escaped by going into hiding.

5. And he went to his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brothers the sons of Jerubba'al, seventy men, upon one stone; but Jotham the youngest son of Jerubba'al was left, for he hid himself.

6. All the leading men of Shechem and all Beth-Millo then met and proclaimed Abimelech king at the oak of the cultic stone at Shechem.

6. And all the citizens of Shechem came together, and all Beth-millo, and they went and made Abim'elech king, by the oak of the pillar at Shechem.

7. News of this was brought to Jotham. He went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted at the top of his voice: Hear me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may also hear you!

7. When it was told to Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Ger'izim, and cried aloud and said to them, "Listen to me, you men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

8. One day the trees went out to anoint a king to rule them. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!'

8. The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them; and they said to the olive tree, `Reign over us.'

9. The olive tree replied, 'Must I forgo my oil which gives honour to gods and men, to stand and sway over the trees?'

9. But the olive tree said to them, `Shall I leave my fatness, by which gods and men are honored, and go to sway over the trees?'

10. Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!'

10. And the trees said to the fig tree, `Come you, and reign over us.'

11. The fig tree replied, 'Must I forgo my sweetness, forgo my excellent fruit, to go and sway over the trees?'

11. But the fig tree said to them, `Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to sway over the trees?'

12. Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come and be our king!'

12. And the trees said to the vine, `Come you, and reign over us.'

13. The vine replied, 'Must I forgo my wine which cheers gods and men, to go and sway over the trees?'

13. But the vine said to them, `Shall I leave my wine which cheers gods and men, and go to sway over the trees?'

14. Then the trees all said to the thorn bush, 'You come and be our king!'

14. Then all the trees said to the bramble, `Come you, and reign over us.'

15. And the thorn bush replied to the trees, 'If you are anointing me in good faith to be your king, come and shelter in my shade. But, if not, fire will come out of the thorn bush and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'

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 then, if you have acted in sincerity and good faith in making Abimelech king, if you have dealt honourably with Jerubbaal and his family, and have treated him as his actions deserved,

16. "Now therefore, if you acted in good faith and honor when you made Abim'elech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubba'al and his house, and have done to him as his deeds deserved --

17. my father having fought for you, risked his life and rescued you from the power of Midian,

17. for my father fought for you, and risked his life, and rescued you from the hand of Mid'ian;

18. and you today having risen up against my father's family, murdered his sons -- seventy of them on one and the same stone -- and appointed Abimelech, his slave-girl's son, to rule the leading men of Shechem, because he is your brother!-

18. and you have risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, seventy men on one stone, and have made Abim'elech, the son of his maidservant, king over the citizens of Shechem, because he is your kinsman --

19. if, I say, you have acted in sincerity and good faith towards Jerubbaal and his family, then may Abimelech be your joy and may you be his!

19. if you then have acted in good faith and honor with Jerubba'al and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abim'elech, and let him also rejoice in you;

20. If not, may fire come out of Abimelech and devour the leading men of Shechem and Beth-Millo, and fire come out of the leading men of Shechem and Beth-Millo to devour Abimelech!'

20. but if not, let fire come out from Abim'elech, and devour the citizens of Shechem, and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the citizens of Shechem, and from Beth-millo, and devour Abim'elech."

21. Jotham then took to his heels; he fled and made his way to Beer; and there he stayed, to be out of his brother Abimelech's reach.

21. And Jotham ran away and fled, and went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abim'elech his brother.

22. Abimelech ruled Israel for three years.

22. Abim'elech ruled over Israel three years.

23. God then sent a spirit of discord between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem betrayed Abimelech.

23. And God sent an evil spirit between Abim'elech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abim'elech;

24. And this was so that the crime committed against Jerubbaal's seventy sons should be avenged, and their blood recoil on their brother Abimelech who had murdered them, and on those leaders of Shechem who had helped him to murder his brothers.

24. that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubba'al might come and their blood be laid upon Abim'elech their brother, who slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to slay his brothers.

25. The leaders of Shechem put men to ambush him on the mountain tops, and these robbed anyone travelling their way. Abimelech was told of this.

25. And the men of Shechem put men in ambush against him on the mountain tops, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told Abim'elech.

26. Gaal son of Obed, with his brothers, happened to pass through Shechem and win the confidence of the leaders of Shechem.

26. And Ga'al the son of Ebed moved into Shechem with his kinsmen; and the men of Shechem put confidence in him.

27. These went out into the countryside to harvest their vineyards; they trod the grapes and made merry and went into the temple of their god. They ate and drank there and cursed Abimelech.

27. And they went out into the field, and gathered the grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and held festival, and went into the house of their god, and ate and drank and reviled Abim'elech.

28. Gaal son of Obed said, 'Who is Abimelech, and what is Shechem, for us to be his slaves? Should not Jerubbaal's son and his lieutenant, Zebul, be serving the men of Hamor, father of Shechem? Why should we be his slaves?

28. And Ga'al the son of Ebed said, "Who is Abim'elech, and who are we of Shechem, that we should serve him? Did not the son of Jerubba'al and Zebul his officer serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem? Why then should we serve him?

29. Who will put this people under my command, so that I can expel Abimelech? I should say to him, "Reinforce your army and come out!" '

29. Would that this people were under my hand! then I would remove Abim'elech. I would say to Abim'elech, `Increase your army, and come out.'"

30. Zebul the governor of the town was told what Gaal son of Obed had said, and he was furious.

30. When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Ga'al the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

31. He sent messengers secretly to Abimelech to say, 'Look! Gaal son of Obed has come to Shechem with his brothers, and they are stirring up the town against you.

31. And he sent messengers to Abim'elech at Aru'mah, saying, "Behold, Ga'al the son of Ebed and his kinsmen have come to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.

32. So, move under cover of dark, you and the men you have with you, and take up concealed positions in the countryside;

32. Now therefore, go by night, you and the men that are with you, and lie in wait in the fields.

33. then in the morning at sunrise, break cover and rush on the town. When Gaal and his supporters come out to meet you, treat them as occasion offers.'

33. Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and rush upon the city; and when he and the men that are with him come out against you, you may do to them as occasion offers."

34. So Abimelech set off under cover of dark with all his own supporters and took up concealed positions over against Shechem, in four groups.

34. And Abim'elech and all the men that were with him rose up by night, and laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

35. As Gaal son of Obed was coming out and pausing at the entrance of the town gate, Abimelech and his supporters rose from their ambush.

35. And Ga'al the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city; and Abim'elech and the men that were with him rose from the ambush.

36. Gaal saw these men and said to Zebul, 'Look, there are men coming down from the tops of the mountains!' Zebul answered, 'You mistake the shadow of the mountains for men.'

36. And when Ga'al saw the men, he said to Zebul, "Look, men are coming down from the mountain tops!" And Zebul said to him, "You see the shadow of the mountains as if they were men."

37. But Gaal insisted, 'Look, there are men coming down from the Navel of the Earth and another group is coming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak.'

37. Ga'al spoke again and said, "Look, men are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak."

38. Zebul then said, 'Where are your mouthings now about "Who is Abimelech, for us to be his slaves?" Are not these the men you made light of? Sally out, then, and fight him.'

38. Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your mouth now, you who said, `Who is Abim'elech, that we should serve him?' Are not these the men whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them."

39. Gaal sallied out at the head of the leaders of Shechem and engaged Abimelech.

39. And Ga'al went out at the head of the men of Shechem, and fought with Abim'elech.

40. Abimelech drove Gaal off, who turned tail, many of his men falling dead before they could reach the gate.

40. And Abim'elech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded, up to the entrance of the gate.

41. Abimelech then stayed at Aruma, and Zebul expelled Gaal and his brothers and prevented them from living in Shechem.

41. And Abim'elech dwelt at Aru'mah; and Zebul drove out Ga'al and his kinsmen, so that they could not live on at Shechem.

42. Next day, when the people went out into the countryside, Abimelech was told of this.

42. On the following day the men went out into the fields. And Abim'elech was told.

43. He took his men, divided them into three groups and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people leaving the town, he bore down on them and slaughtered them.

43. He took his men and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the fields; and he looked and saw the men coming out of the city, and he rose against them and slew them.

44. While Abimelech and his group rushed forward and took position at the entrance to the town gate, the two other groups fell on everyone in the fields and slaughtered them.

44. Abim'elech 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 fields and slew them.

45. All that day Abimelech attacked the town. He stormed it and slaughtered the people inside, razed the town and sowed it with salt.

45. And Abim'elech fought against the city all that day; he took the city, and killed the people that were in it; and he razed the city and sowed it with salt.

46. On hearing this, all the leading men inside Migdal-Shechem took refuge in the crypt of the temple of El-Berith.

46. When all the people of the Tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-be'rith.

47. As soon as Abimelech heard that the leading men inside Migdal-Shechem had all gathered there,

47. Abim'elech was told that all the people of the Tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48. he went up Mount Zalmon with all his men. Then taking an axe in his hands, he cut off the branch of a tree, picked it up and put it on his shoulder, and said to the men with him, 'Hurry and do what you have seen me do.'

48. And Abim'elech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the men that were with him; and Abim'elech 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 that were with him, "What you have seen me do, make haste to do, as I have done."

49. Each of his men similarly cut off a branch; then, following Abimelech, they piled the branches over the crypt and set it on fire over those who were inside; so that all the people in Migdal-Shechem died too, about a thousand men and women.

49. So every one of the people cut down his bundle and following Abim'elech 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 a thousand men and women.

50. Abimelech then marched on Thebez, besieged it and captured it.

50. Then Abim'elech went to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

51. In the middle of the town there was a fortified tower in which all the men and women and all the leading men of the town took refuge. They locked the door behind them and climbed up to the roof of the tower.

51. But there was a strong tower within the city, and all the people of the city fled to it, all the men and women, and shut themselves in; and they went to the roof of the tower.

52. Abimelech reached the tower and attacked it. As he was approaching the door of the tower to set it on fire,

52. And Abim'elech came to the tower, and fought against it, and drew near to the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

53. a woman threw down a millstone on his head and cracked his skull.

53. And a certain woman threw an upper millstone upon Abim'elech's head, and crushed his skull.

54. He instantly called his young armour-bearer and said, 'Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me that "A woman killed him".' His armour-bearer ran him through, and he died.

54. Then he called hastily to the young man his armor-bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, `A woman killed him.'" And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

55. When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they dispersed to their homes.

55. And when the men of Israel saw that Abim'elech was dead, they departed every man to his home.

56. Thus God made to recoil on Abimelech the evil he had done his father by murdering his seventy brothers,

56. Thus God requited the crime of Abim'elech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers;

57. and all the evil that the men of Shechem had done God made recoil on their heads too. And so the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came true for them.

57. and God also made all the wickedness of the men of Shechem fall back upon their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubba'al.