Judges 9

Abimelech’s Conspiracy

1And 1AbimelechH40 the sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 wentH1980 to ShechemH7927 to his mother’sH517 2relativesH251, and spokeH1696 to them and to the wholeH3605 clanH4940 of the householdH1004 of his mother’sH517 fatherH1, sayingH559, 2“SpeakH1696, nowH4994, in the hearingH241 of allH3605 the leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927, ‘WhichH4100 is betterH2896 for you, that 3seventyH7657 menH376, allH3605 the sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, ruleH4910 over you, orH518 that oneH259 manH376 ruleH4910 over you?’ Also, rememberH2142 that I am 4your boneH6106 and your fleshH1320.” 3And his mother’sH517 5relativesH251 spokeH1696 allH3605 theseH428 wordsH1697 on his behalfH5921 in the hearingH241 of allH3605 the leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927; and 6they were inclinedH5186 to followH310 AbimelechH40, for they saidH559, “He is 7our 8relativeH251.” 4They gaveH5414 him seventyH7657 pieces of silverH3701 from the houseH1004 of 9Baal-berithH1170 with whichH1992 AbimelechH40 hiredH7936 worthlessH7386 and recklessH6348 fellowsH376, and they followedH1980H310 him. 5Then he wentH935 to his father’sH1 houseH1004 at OphrahH6084 and 10killedH2026 his brothersH251 the sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, 11seventyH7657 menH376, on oneH259 stoneH68. But JothamH3147 the youngestH6996 sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 was leftH3498, for he hidH2244 himself. 6AllH3605 the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 and allH3605 12Beth-milloH1037 assembledH622 together, and they wentH1980 and madeH4427 AbimelechH40 kingH4428, by the 13oakH436 of the pillarH5324 whichH834 was in ShechemH7927.

7Now when they toldH5046 JothamH3147, he wentH1980 and stoodH5975 on the topH7218 of 14MountH2022 GerizimH1630, and liftedH5375 his voiceH6963 and calledH7121 out. Thus he saidH559 to them, “ListenH8085 to me, O menH1167 of ShechemH7927, that GodH430 may listenH8085 to you. 8OnceH1980 the treesH6086 wentH1980 forthH1980 to anointH4886 a kingH4428 overH5921 them, and they saidH559 to the oliveH2132 treeH2132, ‘ReignH4427 overH5921 us!’ 9But the oliveH2132 treeH2132 saidH559 to them, ‘Shall I leaveH2308 my fatnessH1880 with 15whichH834 GodH430 and menH376 are honoredH3513, and goH1980 to waveH5128 overH5921 the treesH6086?’ 10Then the treesH6086 saidH559 to the figH8384 treeH8384, ‘You comeH1980, reignH4427 overH5921 us!’ 11But the figH8384 treeH8384 saidH559 to them, ‘Shall I leaveH2308 my sweetnessH4987 and my goodH2896 16fruitH8570, and goH1980 to waveH5128 overH5921 the treesH6086?’ 12Then the treesH6086 saidH559 to the vineH1612, ‘You comeH1980, reignH4427 overH5921 us!’ 13But the vineH1612 saidH559 to them, ‘Shall I leaveH2308 my newH8492 wineH8492, which cheersH8055 GodH430 and menH376, and goH1980 to waveH5128 overH5921 the treesH6086?’ 14Finally allH3605 the treesH6086 saidH559 to the brambleH329, ‘You comeH1980, reignH4427 overH5921 us!’ 15The brambleH329 saidH559 to the treesH6086, ‘IfH518 in 17truthH571 you are anointingH4886 me as kingH4428 overH5921 you, comeH935 and takeH2620 refugeH2620 in my shadeH6738; but ifH518 not, may fireH784 comeH3318 out from the brambleH329 and consumeH398 the cedarsH730 of LebanonH3844.’

16“NowH6258 therefore, ifH518 you have dealtH6213 in 18truthH571 and integrityH8549 in makingH4427 AbimelechH40 kingH4427, and ifH518 you have dealtH6213 wellH2899 with 19JerubbaalH3378 and his houseH1004, and 20have dealtH6213 with him 21as he deservedH1576H3027-- 17for my fatherH1 foughtH3898 for you and 22riskedH7993H5048 his lifeH5315 and deliveredH5337 you from the handH3027 of MidianH4080; 18but you have risenH6965 againstH5921 my father’sH1 houseH1004 todayH3117 and have killedH2026 23his sonsH1121, seventyH7657 menH376, on oneH259 stoneH68, and have madeH4427 AbimelechH40, 24the sonH1121 of his maidservantH519, kingH4427 overH5921 the menH1167 of ShechemH7927, becauseH3588 he is your 25relativeH251-- 19ifH518 then you have dealtH6213 in 26truthH571 and integrityH8549 with JerubbaalH3378 and his houseH1004 thisH2088 dayH3117, rejoiceH8055 in AbimelechH40, and let him alsoH1571 rejoiceH8055 in you. 20But ifH518 not, let fireH784 comeH3318 out from AbimelechH40 and consumeH398 the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 and 27Beth-milloH1037; and let fireH784 comeH3318 out from the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 and from 28Beth-milloH1037, and consumeH398 AbimelechH40.” 21Then JothamH3147 escapedH5127 and fledH1272, and wentH1980 to BeerH876 and remainedH3427 thereH8033 becauseH4480H6440 of AbimelechH40 his brotherH251.

Shechem and Abimelech Fall

22Now AbimelechH40 ruledH8323 overH5921 IsraelH3478 threeH7969 yearsH8141. 2329Then GodH430 sentH7971 an evilH7451 spiritH7307 betweenH996 AbimelechH40 and the menH1167 of ShechemH7927; and the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 30dealtH898 treacherouslyH898 with AbimelechH40, 2431so that the violenceH2555 32done to the seventyH7657 sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 might comeH935, and 33their bloodH1818 might be laidH7760 on AbimelechH40 their brotherH251, whoH834 killedH2026 them, and on the menH1167 of ShechemH7927, whoH834 strengthenedH2388 his handsH3027 to killH2026 his brothersH251. 25The menH1167 of ShechemH7927 setH7760 34men in ambushH693 against him on the topsH7218 of the mountainsH2022, and they robbedH1497 allH3605 whoH834 might passH5674 by them along the roadH1870; and it was toldH5046 to AbimelechH40.

26Now GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 cameH935 with his 35relativesH251, and crossedH5674 overH5674 into ShechemH7927; and the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 putH982 their trustH982 in him. 27They wentH3318 out into the fieldH7704 and gatheredH1219 the grapes of their vineyardsH3754 and trodH1869 them, and heldH6213 a 36festivalH1974; and they wentH935 into the houseH1004 of 37their godH430, and ateH398 and drankH8354 and cursedH7043 AbimelechH40. 28Then GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 saidH559, “WhoH4310 is AbimelechH40, and whoH4310 is ShechemH7927, that we should serveH5647 him? Is he not the sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, and is ZebulH2083 not his 38lieutenantH6496? ServeH5647 the menH376 of 39HamorH2544 the fatherH1 of ShechemH7927; but whyH4069 should we serveH5647 him? 294041WouldH4310H5414, therefore, that thisH2088 peopleH5971 were under my authorityH3027! Then I would removeH5493 AbimelechH40.” And he saidH559 to AbimelechH40, “IncreaseH7235 your armyH6635 and comeH3318 out.”

30When ZebulH2083 the rulerH8269 of the cityH5892 heardH8085 the wordsH1697 of GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651, his angerH639 burnedH2734. 31He sentH7971 messengersH4397 to AbimelechH40 42deceitfullyH8649, sayingH559, “BeholdH2009, GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 and his 43relativesH251 have comeH935 to ShechemH7927; and beholdH2009, they are 44stirringH6696 up the cityH5892 againstH5921 you. 32NowH6258 therefore, ariseH6965 by nightH3915, you and the peopleH5971 whoH834 are with you, and lieH693 in waitH693 in the fieldH7704. 33In the morningH1242, as soon as the sunH8121 is up, you shall riseH7925 earlyH7925 and rushH6584 upon the cityH5892; and beholdH2009, when he and the peopleH5971 whoH834 are with him comeH3318 out againstH413 you, you shall 45doH6213 to them 46whateverH3512 you can.”

34So AbimelechH40 and allH3605 the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him aroseH6965 by nightH3915 and layH693 in waitH693 againstH5921 ShechemH7927 in fourH702 47companiesH7218. 35Now GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 wentH3318 out and stoodH5975 in the entranceH6607 of the cityH5892 gateH8179; and AbimelechH40 and the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him aroseH6965 from the ambushH3993. 36When GaalH1603 sawH7200 the peopleH5971, he saidH559 to ZebulH2083, “48LookH2009, peopleH5971 are comingH3381 downH3381 from the topsH7218 of the mountainsH2022.” But ZebulH2083 saidH559 to him, “You are seeingH7200 the shadowH6738 of the mountainsH2022 as if they were menH376.” 37GaalH1603 spokeH1696 againH5750H3254 and saidH559, “BeholdH2009, peopleH5971 are comingH3381 downH3381 from 49the 50highestH2872 partH2872 of the landH776, and oneH259 51companyH7218 comesH935 by the wayH1870 of 52the diviners’H6049 53oakH436.” 38Then ZebulH2083 saidH559 to him, “WhereH346 is your 54boastingH6310 nowH645 with whichH834 you saidH559, ‘WhoH4310 is AbimelechH40 that we should serveH5647 him?’ Is thisH2088 not the peopleH5971 whomH834 you despisedH3988? GoH3318 out nowH6258 and fightH3898 with them!” 39So GaalH1603 wentH3318 out beforeH6440 the leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 and foughtH3898 with AbimelechH40. 40AbimelechH40 chasedH7291 him, and he fledH5127 beforeH4480H6440 him; and manyH7227 fellH5307 woundedH2491 up to the entranceH6607 of the gateH8179. 41Then AbimelechH40 remainedH3427 at ArumahH725, but ZebulH2083 droveH1644 out GaalH1603 and his 55relativesH251 soH4480 that they could not remainH3427 in ShechemH7927.

42Now it cameH1961 about the nextH4283 dayH4283, that the peopleH5971 wentH3318 out to the fieldH7704, and it was toldH5046 to AbimelechH40. 43So he tookH3947 56his peopleH5971 and dividedH2673 them into threeH7969 57companiesH7218, and layH693 in waitH693 in the fieldH7704; when he lookedH7200 and 58sawH7200 the peopleH5971 comingH3318 out from the cityH5892, he aroseH6965 againstH5921 them and 59slewH5221 them. 44Then AbimelechH40 and the 60companyH7218 whoH834 was with him dashedH6584 forward and stoodH5975 in the entranceH6607 of the cityH5892 gateH8179; the other twoH8147 61companiesH7218 then dashedH6584 againstH5921 allH3605 whoH834 were in the fieldH7704 and 62slewH5221 them. 45AbimelechH40 foughtH3898 against the cityH5892 allH3605 that dayH3117, and he capturedH3920 the cityH5892 and killedH2026 the peopleH5971 whoH834 were in it; then he 63razedH5422 the cityH5892 and sowedH2232 it with saltH4417.

46When allH3605 the leadersH1167 of the towerH4026 of ShechemH7927 heardH8085 of it, they enteredH935 the innerH6877 chamberH6877 of the 64templeH1004 of 65El-berithH410H1285. 47It was toldH5046 AbimelechH40 that allH3605 the leadersH1167 of the towerH4026 of ShechemH7927 were gatheredH6908 together. 48So AbimelechH40 wentH5927 up to MountH2022 66ZalmonH6756, he and allH3605 the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him; and AbimelechH40 tookH3947 67an axeH7134 in his handH3027 and cutH3772 downH3772 a branchH7754 from the treesH6086, and liftedH5375 it and laidH7760 it on his shoulderH7926. Then he saidH559 to the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him, “WhatH4100 you have seenH7200 me doH6213, hurryH4116 and doH6213 68likewiseH3644.” 49AllH3605 the peopleH5971 alsoH1571 cutH3772 downH3772 eachH376 oneH376 his branchH7754 and followedH1980H310 AbimelechH40, and putH7760 them on the innerH6877 chamberH6877 and setH3341 the innerH6877 chamberH6877 on fireH784 overH5921 those inside, so that allH3605 the menH376 of the towerH4026 of ShechemH7927 alsoH1571 diedH4191, about a thousandH505 menH376 and womenH802.

50Then AbimelechH40 wentH1980 to ThebezH8405, and he campedH2583 against ThebezH8405 and capturedH3920 it. 51But there was a strongH5797 towerH4026 in the centerH8432 of the cityH5892, and allH3605 the menH376 and womenH802 with allH3605 the leadersH1167 of the cityH5892 fledH5127 thereH8033 and shutH5462 themselves in; and they wentH5927 up on the roofH1406 of the towerH4026. 52So AbimelechH40 cameH935 to the towerH4026 and foughtH3898 against it, and approachedH5066 the entranceH6607 of the towerH4026 to burnH8313 it with fireH784. 53But 69a certainH259 womanH802 threwH7993 an upperH7393 millstoneH7393 on Abimelech’sH40 headH7218, crushingH7533 his skullH1538. 54Then 70he calledH7121 quicklyH4120 to the youngH5288 manH5288, his armorH3627 bearerH5375, and saidH559 to him, “DrawH8025 your swordH2719 and killH4191 me, soH6435 that it will not be saidH559 of me, ‘A womanH802 slewH2026 him.’” So 71the youngH5288 manH5288 piercedH1856 him throughH1856, and he diedH4191. 55When the menH376 of IsraelH3478 sawH7200 that AbimelechH40 was deadH4191, eachH376 departedH1980 to his 72homeH4725. 56Thus 73GodH430 repaidH7725 the wickednessH7463 of AbimelechH40, whichH834 he had doneH6213 to his fatherH1 in killingH2026 his seventyH7657 brothersH251. 57Also GodH430 returnedH7725 allH3605 the wickednessH7463 of the menH376 of ShechemH7927 on their headsH7218, and the curseH7045 of JothamH3147 the sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 cameH935 74upon them.