Judges 9:1-20

1And AbimelechH40 sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 went to ShechemH7927 to his mother's brethren, and spokeH1696 to them, and to all the familyH4940 of the houseH1004 of his mother's fatherH1, sayingH559,

2SpeakH1696, I pray you, in the earsH241 of all the citizensH1167 of ShechemH7927, Which is betterH2896 for you, that seventyH7657 personsH376, all sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, ruleH4910 over you, or that oneH259 manH376 ruleH4910 over you? And rememberH2142 that I am your boneH6106 and your fleshH1320.

3And his mother's brethren spokeH1696 of him in the earsH241 of all the citizensH1167 of ShechemH7927 all these wordsH1697. And their heartH3820 inclinedH5186 after AbimelechH40; for they saidH559, He is our brotherH251.

4And they gaveH5414 him seventyH7657 pieces of silverH3701 out of the houseH1004 of Baal-BerithH1170, and AbimelechH40 hiredH7936 with them vain and wanton menH376, and they followed him.

5And he cameH935 to his father's houseH1004, to OphrahH6084, and slewH2026 his brethren the sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, seventyH7657 personsH376 upon oneH259 stoneH68; but there remainedH3498 JothamH3147 the youngestH6996 sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378; for he had hidH2244 himself.

6And all the citizensH1167 of ShechemH7927 gatheredH622 together, and all the houseH1004 of MilloH4407, and went and made AbimelechH40 kingH4428, by the memorial-oak that is in ShechemH7927.

7And they toldH5046 it to JothamH3147, and he went and stoodH5975 on the topH7218 of mount GerizimH1630, and liftedH5375 up his voiceH6963, and cried, and saidH559 to them, Hearken to me, ye citizensH1167 of ShechemH7927, that 1GodH430 may hearken to you.

8The treesH6086 once wentH1980 forth to anointH4886 a kingH4428 over them; and they saidH559 to the olive-tree, ReignH4427 over us.

9And the olive-tree saidH559 to them, Should I leave my fatnessH1880, wherewith by me they honour 2GodH430 and manH376, and goH1980 to wave over the treesH6086?

10And the treesH6086 saidH559 to the fig-tree, Come thou, reignH4427 over us.

11But the fig-tree saidH559 to them, Should I leave my sweetness, and my goodH2896 fruitH8570, and goH1980 to wave over the treesH6086?

12Then saidH559 the treesH6086 to the vineH1612, Come thou, reignH4427 over us.

13And the vineH1612 saidH559 to them, Should I leave my newH8492 wineH8492, which cheers 3GodH430 and manH376, and goH1980 to wave over the treesH6086?

14Then saidH559 all the treesH6086 to the thorn-bush, Come thou, reignH4427 over us.

15And the thorn-bush saidH559 to the treesH6086, If in truthH571 ye anointH4886 me kingH4428 over you, comeH935, put confidence in my shadowH6738; but if not, fireH784 shall comeH935 out of the thorn-bush and devourH398 the cedarsH730 of LebanonH3844.

16NowH6258 thereforeH6258, if ye have dealt truly and sincerely in that ye have madeH6213 AbimelechH40 kingH4427, and if ye have dealt wellH2895 with JerubbaalH3378 and his houseH1004, and if ye have done to him according to the deserving of his handsH3027;

17— for my fatherH1 foughtH3898 for you, and endangered his lifeH5315, and deliveredH5337 you out of the handH3027 of MidianH4080;

18but ye are risenH6965 up against my father's houseH1004 this dayH3117, and have slainH2026 his sonsH1121, seventyH7657 menH376, upon oneH259 stoneH68, and have made AbimelechH40, the sonH1121 of his handmaid, kingH4427 over the citizensH1167 of ShechemH7927, because he is your brotherH251;

19— if ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with JerubbaalH3378 and with his houseH1004 this dayH3117, rejoiceH8055 ye in AbimelechH40, and let him alsoH1571 rejoiceH8055 in you;

20but if not, let fireH784 comeH3318 out from AbimelechH40, and devourH398 the citizensH1167 of ShechemH7927 and the houseH1004 of MilloH4407; and let fireH784 comeH3318 out from the citizensH1167 of ShechemH7927 and from the houseH1004 of MilloH4407, and devourH398 AbimelechH40.