1And Abimelechthe sonof Jerubbaalwentto Shechemto his mother'srelatives,and spoketo them and to the wholeclanof the householdof his mother'sfather,saying,2"Speak,now,in the hearingof allthe leadersof Shechem,'Whichis betterfor you, that seventymen,allthe sonsof Jerubbaal,ruleover you, orthat onemanruleover you?' Also, rememberthat I am your boneand your flesh."3And his mother'srelativesspokeallthesewordson his behalfin the hearingof allthe leadersof Shechem;and they were inclinedto followAbimelech,for they said,"He is our relative."4They gavehim seventy[pieces] of silverfrom the houseof Baal-berithwith whichAbimelechhiredworthlessand recklessfellows,and they followedhim.5Then he wentto his father'shouseat Ophrahand killedhis brothersthe sonsof Jerubbaal,seventymen,on onestone.But Jothamthe youngestsonof Jerubbaalwas left,for he hidhimself.6Allthe menof Shechemand allBeth-milloassembledtogether, and they wentand madeAbimelechking,by the oakof the pillarwhichwas in Shechem.
7Now when they toldJotham,he wentand stoodon the topof MountGerizim,and liftedhis voiceand calledout. Thus he saidto them, "Listento me, O menof Shechem,that Godmay listento you.8"Oncethe treeswentforthto anointa kingoverthem, and they saidto the olivetree,'Reignoverus!'9"But the olivetreesaidto them, 'Shall I leavemy fatnesswith whichGodand menare honored,and goto waveoverthe trees?'10"Then the treessaidto the figtree,'You come,reignoverus!'11"But the figtreesaidto them, 'Shall I leavemy sweetnessand my goodfruit,and goto waveoverthe trees?'12"Then the treessaidto the vine,'You come,reignoverus!'13"But the vinesaidto them, 'Shall I leavemy newwine,which cheersGodand men,and goto waveoverthe trees?'14"Finally allthe treessaidto the bramble,'You come,reignoverus!'15"The bramblesaidto the trees,'Ifin truthyou are anointingme as kingoveryou, comeand takerefugein my shade;but ifnot, may firecomeout from the brambleand consumethe cedarsof Lebanon.'
16"Nowtherefore, ifyou have dealtin truthand integrityin makingAbimelechking,and ifyou have dealtwellwith Jerubbaaland his house,and have dealtwith him as he deserved--17for my fatherfoughtfor you and riskedhis lifeand deliveredyou from the handof Midian;18but you have risenagainstmy father'shousetodayand have killedhis sons,seventymen,on onestone,and have madeAbimelech,the sonof his maidservant,kingoverthe menof Shechem,becausehe is your relative--19ifthen you have dealtin truthand integritywith Jerubbaaland his housethisday,rejoicein Abimelech,and let him alsorejoicein you.20"But ifnot, let firecomeout from Abimelechand consumethe menof Shechemand Beth-millo;and let firecomeout from the menof Shechemand from Beth-millo,and consumeAbimelech."21Then Jothamescapedand fled,and wentto Beerand remainedtherebecauseof Abimelechhis brother.
22Now AbimelechruledoverIsraelthreeyears.23Then Godsentan evilspiritbetweenAbimelechand the menof Shechem;and the menof Shechemdealttreacherouslywith Abimelech,24so that the violencedone to the seventysonsof Jerubbaalmight come,and their bloodmight be laidon Abimelechtheir brother,whokilledthem, and on the menof Shechem,whostrengthenedhis handsto killhis brothers.25The menof Shechemsetmen in ambushagainst him on the topsof the mountains,and they robbedallwhomight passby them along the road;and it was toldto Abimelech.
26Now Gaalthe sonof Ebedcamewith his relatives,and crossedoverinto Shechem;and the menof Shechemputtheir trustin him.27They wentout into the fieldand gathered[the grapes of] their vineyardsand trod[them], and helda festival;and they wentinto the houseof their god,and ateand drankand cursedAbimelech.28Then Gaalthe sonof Ebedsaid,"Whois Abimelech,and whois Shechem,that we should servehim? Is he not the sonof Jerubbaal,and [is] Zebul[not] his lieutenant?Servethe menof Hamorthe fatherof Shechem;but whyshould we servehim?29"Would,therefore, that thispeoplewere under my authority!Then I would removeAbimelech."And he saidto Abimelech,"Increaseyour armyand comeout."
30When Zebulthe rulerof the cityheardthe wordsof Gaalthe sonof Ebed,his angerburned.31He sentmessengersto Abimelechdeceitfully,saying,"Behold,Gaalthe sonof Ebedand his relativeshave cometo Shechem;and behold,they are stirringup the cityagainstyou.32"Nowtherefore, ariseby night,you and the peoplewhoare with you, and liein waitin the field.33"In the morning,as soon as the sunis up, you shall riseearlyand rushupon the city;and behold,when he and the peoplewhoare with him comeout againstyou, you shall doto them whateveryou can."
34So Abimelechand allthe peoplewho[were] with him aroseby nightand layin waitagainstShechemin fourcompanies.35Now Gaalthe sonof Ebedwentout and stoodin the entranceof the citygate;and Abimelechand the peoplewho[were] with him arosefrom the ambush.36When Gaalsawthe people,he saidto Zebul,"Look,peopleare comingdownfrom the topsof the mountains."But Zebulsaidto him, "You are seeingthe shadowof the mountainsas [if they were] men."37Gaalspokeagainand said,"Behold,peopleare comingdownfrom the highestpartof the land,and onecompanycomesby the wayof the diviners'oak."38Then Zebulsaidto him, "Whereis your boastingnowwith whichyou said,'Whois Abimelechthat we should servehim?' Is thisnot the peoplewhomyou despised?Goout nowand fightwith them!"39So Gaalwentout beforethe leadersof Shechemand foughtwith Abimelech.40Abimelechchasedhim, and he fledbeforehim; and manyfellwoundedup to the entranceof the gate.41Then Abimelechremainedat Arumah,but Zebuldroveout Gaaland his relativessothat they could not remainin Shechem.
42Now it cameabout the nextday,that the peoplewentout to the field,and it was toldto Abimelech.43So he tookhis peopleand dividedthem into threecompanies,and layin waitin the field;when he lookedand sawthe peoplecomingout from the city,he aroseagainstthem and slewthem.44Then Abimelechand the companywhowas with him dashedforward and stoodin the entranceof the citygate;the other twocompaniesthen dashedagainstallwho[were] in the fieldand slewthem.45Abimelechfoughtagainst the cityallthat day,and he capturedthe cityand killedthe peoplewho[were] in it; then he razedthe cityand sowedit with salt.
46When allthe leadersof the towerof Shechemheardof [it], they enteredthe innerchamberof the templeof El-berith.47It was toldAbimelechthat allthe leadersof the towerof Shechemwere gatheredtogether.48So Abimelechwentup to MountZalmon,he and allthe peoplewho[were] with him; and Abimelechtookan axein his handand cutdowna branchfrom the trees,and liftedit and laid[it] on his shoulder.Then he saidto the peoplewho[were] with him, "Whatyou have seenme do,hurry[and] dolikewise."49Allthe peoplealsocutdowneachonehis branchand followedAbimelech,and put[them] on the innerchamberand setthe innerchamberon fireoverthose [inside], so that allthe menof the towerof Shechemalsodied,about a thousandmenand women.
50Then Abimelechwentto Thebez,and he campedagainst Thebezand capturedit.51But there was a strongtowerin the centerof the city,and allthe menand womenwith allthe leadersof the cityfledthereand shutthemselves in; and they wentup on the roofof the tower.52So Abimelechcameto the towerand foughtagainst it, and approachedthe entranceof the towerto burnit with fire.53But a certainwomanthrewan uppermillstoneon Abimelech'shead,crushinghis skull.54Then he calledquicklyto the youngman,his armorbearer,and saidto him, "Drawyour swordand killme, sothat it will not be saidof me, 'A womanslewhim.'" So the youngmanpiercedhim through,and he died.55When the menof Israelsawthat Abimelechwas dead,eachdepartedto his home.56Thus Godrepaidthe wickednessof Abimelech,whichhe had doneto his fatherin killinghis seventybrothers.57Also Godreturnedallthe wickednessof the menof Shechemon their heads,and the curseof Jothamthe sonof Jerubbaalcameupon them.
