Judges 9:1-20

1Now AbimelechH40 sonH1121 of JerubbaalH33781 wentH1980 toH413 his mother’sH517 brothersH251 at ShechemH7927 and saidH1696 toH413 themH413 and to allH3605 the clanH4940 of his motherH517H1H1004, 2“PleaseH4994 askH1696H241 allH3605 the leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927H4100, ‘Is it betterH2896 for you that seventyH7657 menH376, allH3605 the sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, ruleH4910 over you, orH518 just oneH259 manH376?’ RememberH2142 thatH3588 IH589 am your own fleshH1320 and bloodH6106.”

3And when his mother’sH517 brothersH251 spokeH1696 allH3605 theseH428 wordsH1697 about himH5921 in the presenceH241 of allH3605 the leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927, their heartsH3820 were inclinedH5186 to followH310 AbimelechH40, forH3588 they saidH559, “HeH1931 is our brotherH251.” 4So they gaveH5414 him seventyH7657 shekels of silverH37012 from the templeH1004 of Baal-berithH1170, with which AbimelechH40 hiredH7936 some worthlessH7386 and recklessH6348 menH582 to followH1980 himH310. 5He wentH935 to his father’sH1 houseH1004 in OphrahH6084, and onH5921 oneH259 stoneH68 murderedH2026 his seventyH7657H376 brothersH251, the sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378. But JothamH3147, the youngestH6996 sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, survivedH3498, becauseH3588 he hid himselfH2244.

6Then allH3605 the leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 andH3605H1037 Beth-milloH1037 gatheredH622 besideH5973 the oakH4363 at the pillarH5324 in ShechemH7927 and proceededH1980 to makeH4427 AbimelechH40 their kingH4428.

7When this was reportedH5046 to JothamH3147, he climbedH1980H5975 to the topH7218 of MountH2022 GerizimH1630, raisedH5375 his voiceH6963, and cried outH7121H559:

16NowH6258 ifH518 you have actedH6213 faithfullyH571 and honestlyH8549 in making AbimelechH40 kingH4427, ifH518H2896 you have done wellH6213 byH5973 JerubbaalH3378H5973 and his familyH1004, and ifH518 you have doneH6213 to him as heH3027 deservesH1576— 17forH834 my fatherH1 foughtH3898 for youH5921 and riskedH7993 his lifeH5315 to deliverH5337 youH853 from the handH3027 of MidianH4080, 18but youH859 have risen upH6965 againstH5921 my father’sH1 houseH1004 this dayH3117 and killedH2026 his seventyH7657H376 sonsH1121 onH5921 a singleH259 stoneH68, and you have made AbimelechH40, the sonH1121 of his maidservantH519, kingH4427 overH5921 the leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 becauseH3588 heH1931 is your brotherH251— 19ifH518 you have actedH6213 faithfullyH571 and honestlyH8549 towardH5973 JerubbaalH3378H5973 and his houseH1004 thisH2088 dayH3117, then may you rejoiceH8055 in AbimelechH40, andH1571 heH1931 in you.

20But ifH518 notH369, may fireH784 comeH3318 from AbimelechH40 and consumeH398 the leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 andH853H1037 Beth-milloH1037, and may fireH784 comeH3318 from the leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 and Beth-milloH1037 and consumeH398 AbimelechH40.”