1
And AbimelechH40 the sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 wentH3212 to ShechemH7927 to his mother'sH517 brothers,H251 and communedH1696 with them, and with allH3605 the familyH4940 of the houseH1004 of his mother'sH517 father,H1 saying,H559
2
Speak,H1696 I prayH4994 you, in the earsH241 of allH3605 the menH1167 of Shechem,H7927 WhetherH4100 is betterH2896 for you, either that allH3605 the sonsH1121 of Jerubbaal,H3378 which are three scoreH7657 and ten persons,H376 reignH4910 over you, or that oneH259 reignH4910 over you? rememberH2142 also that I am your boneH6106 and your flesh.H1320
3
And his mother'sH517 brothersH251 spokeH1696 of him in the earsH241 of allH3605 the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 allH3605 theseH428 words:H1697 and their heartsH3820 inclinedH5186 to followH935 H310 Abimelech;H40 for they said,H559 He is our brother.H251
4
And they gaveH5414 him three scoreH7657 and ten pieces of silverH3701 out of the houseH1004 of Baalberith,H1170 with which AbimelechH40 hiredH7936 vainH7386 and lightH6348 persons,H582 which followedH3212 H310 him.
5
And he wentH935 to his father'sH1 houseH1004 at Ophrah,H6084 and slewH2026 his brothersH251 the sonsH1121 of Jerubbaal,H3378 being three scoreH7657 and ten persons,H376 on oneH259 stone:H68 notwithstanding yet JothamH3147 the youngestH3996 sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 was left;H3498 for he hidH2244 himself.
6
And allH3605 the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 gatheredH622 together, and allH3605 the houseH1004 of Millo,H4407 and went,H3212 and made AbimelechH40 king,H4428 by the plainH436 of the pillarH5324 that was in Shechem.H7927
7
And when they toldH5046 it to Jotham,H3147 he wentH3212 and stoodH5975 in the topH7218 of mountH2022 Gerizim,H1630 and liftedH5375 up his voice,H6963 and cried,H7121 and saidH559 to them, ListenH8085 to me, you menH1167 of Shechem,H7927 that GodH430 may listenH8085 to you.
8
The treesH6086 wentH1980 forth on a time to anointH4886 a kingH4428 overH5921 them; and they saidH559 to the oliveH2132 tree, ReignH4427 you overH5921 us.
9
But the oliveH2132 tree saidH559 to them, Should I leaveH2308 my fatness,H1880 with whichH834 by me they honorH3513 GodH430 and man,H376 and goH1980 to be promotedH5128 overH5921 the trees?H6086
10
And the treesH6086 saidH559 to the figH8384 tree,H6086 ComeH3212 you, and reignH4427 overH5921 us.
11
But the figH8384 treeH6086 saidH559 to them, Should I forsakeH2308 my sweetness,H4987 and my goodH2896 fruit,H8570 and goH1980 to be promotedH5128 overH5921 the trees?H6086
12
Then saidH559 the treesH6086 to the vine,H1612 ComeH3212 you, and reignH4427 overH5921 us.
13
And the vineH1612 saidH559 to them, Should I leaveH2308 my wine,H8492 which cheersH8055 GodH430 and man,H376 and goH1980 to be promotedH5128 overH5921 the trees?H6086
14
Then saidH559 allH3605 the treesH6086 to the bramble,H329 ComeH3212 you, and reignH4427 overH5921 us.
15
And the brambleH329 saidH559 to the trees,H6086 IfH518 in truthH571 you anointH4886 me kingH4428 overH5921 you, then comeH935 and put your trustH2620 in my shadow:H6738 and ifH518 not, let fireH784 comeH3318 out of the bramble,H329 and devourH398 the cedarsH730 of Lebanon.H3844
16
NowH6258 therefore, ifH518 you have doneH6213 trulyH571 and sincerely,H8549 in that you have made AbimelechH40 king,H4427 and ifH518 you have dealtH6213 wellH2895 with JerubbaalH3378 and his house,H1004 and have doneH6213 to him according to the deservingH1576 of his hands;H3027
17
(For my fatherH1 foughtH3898 for you, and adventuredH7993 his lifeH5315 far,H5048 and deliveredH5337 you out of the handH3027 of Midian:H4080
18
And you are risenH6965 up againstH5921 my father'sH1 houseH1004 this day,H3117 and have slainH2026 his sons,H1121 three scoreH7657 and ten persons,H376 on oneH259 stone,H68 and have made Abimelech,H40 the sonH1121 of his maidservant,H519 kingH4427 overH5921 the menH1167 of Shechem,H7927 becauseH3588 he is your brother;H251)
19
IfH518 you then have dealtH6213 trulyH571 and sincerelyH8549 with JerubbaalH3378 and with his houseH1004 thisH2088 day,H3117 then rejoiceH8055 you in Abimelech,H40 and let him alsoH1571 rejoiceH8055 in you:
20
But ifH518 not, let fireH784 comeH3318 out from Abimelech,H40 and devourH398 the menH1167 of Shechem,H7927 and the houseH1004 of Millo;H4407 and let fireH784 comeH3318 out from the menH1167 of Shechem,H7927 and from the houseH1004 of Millo,H4407 and devourH398 Abimelech.H40
21
And JothamH3147 ranH5127 away, and fled,H1272 and wentH3212 to Beer,H876 and dwelledH3427 there,H8033 for fearH6440 of AbimelechH40 his brother.H251
22
When AbimelechH40 had reignedH7786 threeH7969 yearsH8141 overH5921 Israel,H3478
23
Then GodH430 sentH7971 an evilH7451 spiritH7307 betweenH996 AbimelechH40 and the menH1167 of Shechem;H7927 and the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 dealt treacherouslyH898 with Abimelech:H40
24
That the crueltyH2555 done to the three scoreH7657 and ten sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 might come,H935 and their bloodH1818 be laidH7760 on AbimelechH40 their brother,H251 whichH834 slewH2026 them; and on the menH1167 of Shechem,H7927 whichH834 aidedH2388 H3027 him in the killingH2026 of his brothers.H251
25
And the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 setH7760 liers in waitH693 for him in the topH7218 of the mountains,H2022 and they robbedH1497 allH3605 that cameH5674 along that wayH1870 by them: and it was toldH5046 Abimelech.H40
26
And GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 cameH935 with his brothers,H251 and wentH5674 overH5674 to Shechem:H7927 and the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 put their confidenceH982 in him.
27
And they wentH3318 out into the fields,H7704 and gatheredH1219 their vineyards,H3754 and steppedH1869 the grapes, and madeH6213 merry,H1974 and wentH935 into the houseH1004 of their god,H430 and did eatH398 and drink,H8354 and cursedH7043 Abimelech.H40
28
And GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 said,H559 WhoH4310 is Abimelech,H40 and whoH4310 is Shechem,H7927 that we should serveH5647 him? is not he the sonH1121 of Jerubbaal?H3378 and ZebulH2083 his officer?H6496 serveH5647 the menH582 of HamorH2544 the fatherH1 of Shechem:H7927 for whyH4100 should we serveH5647 him?
29
And wouldH4310 H5414 to God thisH2088 peopleH5971 were under my hand!H3027 then would I removeH5493 Abimelech.H40 And he saidH559 to Abimelech,H40 IncreaseH7235 your army,H6635 and comeH3318 out.
30
And when ZebulH2083 the rulerH8269 of the cityH5892 heardH8085 the wordsH1697 of GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of Ebed,H5651 his angerH639 was kindled.H2734
31
And he sentH7971 messengersH4397 to AbimelechH40 privately,H8649 saying,H559 Behold,H2009 GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 and his brothersH251 be comeH935 to Shechem;H7927 and, behold,H2009 they fortifyH6696 the cityH5892 againstH5921 you.
32
NowH6258 therefore up by night,H3915 you and the peopleH5971 that is with you, and lie in waitH693 in the field:H7704
33
And it shall be, that in the morning,H1242 as soon as the sunH8121 is up, you shall riseH7925 early,H7925 and setH6584 on the city:H5892 and, behold,H2009 when he and the peopleH5971 that is with him comeH3318 out againstH413 you, then may you doH6213 to them as you shall findH4672 occasion.H4672
34
And AbimelechH40 roseH6965 up, and allH3605 the peopleH5971 that were with him, by night,H3915 and they laid waitH693 againstH5921 ShechemH7927 in fourH702 companies.H7218
35
And GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 wentH3318 out, and stoodH5975 in the enteringH6607 of the gateH8179 of the city:H5892 and AbimelechH40 roseH6965 up, and the peopleH5971 that were with him, from lying in wait.H3993
36
And when GaalH1603 sawH7200 the people,H5971 he saidH559 to Zebul,H2083 Behold,H2009 there comeH3381 peopleH5971 downH3381 from the topH7218 of the mountains.H2022 And ZebulH2083 saidH559 to him, You seeH7200 the shadowH6738 of the mountainsH2022 as if they were men.H582
37
And GaalH1603 spokeH1696 again,H3254 H5750 and said,H559 SeeH2009 there comeH3381 peopleH5971 downH3381 by the middleH2872 of the land,H776 and anotherH259 companyH7218 comeH935 along by the plainH436 of Meonenim.H6049
38
Then saidH559 ZebulH2083 to him, WhereH346 is nowH645 your mouth,H6310 with whichH834 you said,H559 WhoH4310 is Abimelech,H40 that we should serveH5647 him? is not thisH2088 the peopleH5971 that you have despised?H3988 goH3318 out, I prayH4994 now,H6258 and fightH3898 with them.
39
And GaalH1603 wentH3318 out beforeH6440 the menH1167 of Shechem,H7927 and foughtH3898 with Abimelech.H40
40
And AbimelechH40 chasedH7291 him, and he fledH5127 beforeH6440 him, and manyH7227 were overthrownH5307 and wounded,H2491 even to the enteringH6607 of the gate.H8179
41
And AbimelechH40 dwelledH3427 at Arumah:H725 and ZebulH2083 thrustH1644 out GaalH1603 and his brothers,H251 that they should not dwellH3427 in Shechem.H7927
42
And it cameH1961 to pass on the morrow,H4283 that the peopleH5971 wentH3318 out into the field;H7704 and they toldH5046 Abimelech.H40
43
And he tookH3947 the people,H5971 and dividedH2673 them into threeH7969 companies,H7218 and laid waitH693 in the field,H7704 and looked,H7200 and, behold,H2009 the peopleH5971 were comeH3318 forthH3318 out of the city;H5892 and he roseH6965 up againstH5921 them, and smoteH5221 them.
44
And Abimelech,H40 and the companyH7218 that was with him, rushedH6584 forward,H6584 and stoodH5975 in the enteringH6607 of the gateH8179 of the city:H5892 and the twoH8147 other companiesH7218 ranH6584 on allH3605 the peopleH5971 that were in the fields,H7704 and slewH5221 them.
45
And AbimelechH40 foughtH3898 against the cityH5892 allH3605 that day;H3117 and he tookH3920 the city,H5892 and slewH2026 the peopleH5971 that was therein, and beatH5422 downH5422 the city,H5892 and sowedH2232 it with salt.H4417
46
And when allH3605 the menH1167 of the towerH4026 of ShechemH7927 heardH8085 that, they enteredH935 intoH413 an holdH6877 of the houseH1004 of the godH410 Berith.H1286
47
And it was toldH5046 Abimelech,H40 that allH3605 the menH1167 of the towerH4026 of ShechemH7927 were gatheredH6908 together.
48
And AbimelechH40 gotH5927 him up to mountH2022 Zalmon,H6756 he and allH3605 the peopleH5971 that were with him; and AbimelechH40 tookH3947 an axH7134 in his hand,H3027 and cutH3772 down a boughH7754 from the trees,H6086 and tookH5375 it, and laidH7760 it onH5921 his shoulder,H7926 and saidH559 to the peopleH5971 that were with him, WhatH4100 you have seenH7200 me do,H6213 make haste,H4116 and doH6213 as I have done.
49
And allH3605 the peopleH5971 likewiseH1571 cutH3772 down every manH376 his bough,H7754 and followedH3212 H310 Abimelech,H40 and putH7760 them to the hold,H6877 and set the holdH6877 on fireH784 on them; so that allH3605 the menH582 of the towerH4026 of ShechemH7927 diedH4191 also,H1571 about a thousandH505 menH376 and women.H802
50
Then wentH3212 AbimelechH40 to Thebez,H8405 and encampedH2583 againstH413 Thebez,H8405 and tookH3920 it.
51
But there was a strongH5797 towerH4026 withinH8432 the city,H5892 and thitherH8033 fledH5127 allH3605 the menH582 and women,H802 and allH3605 they of the city,H5892 and shutH5462 it to them, and gotH5927 them up to the topH1406 of the tower.H4026
52
And AbimelechH40 cameH935 to the tower,H4026 and foughtH3898 against it, and wentH5066 hardH5066 to the doorH6607 of the towerH4026 to burnH8313 it with fire.H784
53
And a certainH259 womanH802 castH7993 a pieceH6400 of a millstoneH7393 on Abimelech'sH40 head,H7218 and all to brokeH7533 his skull.H1538
54
Then he calledH7121 hastilyH4120 to the youngH5288 man his armor bearer,H5375 H3627 and saidH559 to him, DrawH8025 your sword,H2719 and slayH4191 me, that men sayH559 not of me, A womanH802 slewH2026 him. And his youngH5288 man thrustH1856 him through, and he died.H4191
55
And when the menH376 of IsraelH3478 sawH7200 that AbimelechH40 was dead,H4191 they departedH3212 every manH376 to his place.H4725
56
Thus GodH430 renderedH7725 the wickednessH7451 of Abimelech,H40 whichH834 he didH6213 to his father,H1 in slayingH2026 his seventyH7657 brothers:H251
57
And allH3605 the evilH7451 of the menH582 of ShechemH7927 did GodH430 renderH7725 on their heads:H7218 and on them cameH935 the curseH7045 of JothamH3147 the sonH1121 of Jerubbaal.H3378
