Judges 9

Abimelech’s Conspiracy

1Now 1AbimelechH40 the sonH1121 of 2JerubbaalH3378 wentH1980 to ShechemH7927, to his mother’sH517 relativesH251, and spokeH1696 to them and to the entireH3605 familyH4940 of the householdH1004 of his mother’sH517 fatherH1, sayingH559, 2“SpeakH1696, nowH4994, in the hearingH241 of allH3605 the 3leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927, ‘WhichH4100 is betterH2896 for you: for 4seventyH7657 menH376, allH3605 the sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, to ruleH4910 over you, orH518 for oneH259 manH376 to ruleH4910 over you?’ Also, rememberH2142 that I am 5your boneH6106 and your fleshH1320.” 3So his mother’sH517 relativesH251 spokeH1696 allH3605 theseH428 wordsH1697 onH5921 his behalfH5921 in the hearingH241 of allH3605 the 6leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927; and 7they were inclinedH5186 to followH310 AbimelechH40, for they saidH559, “He is 8our relativeH251.” 4And they gaveH5414 him seventyH7657 pieces of silverH3701 from the houseH1004 of 9Baal-berithH1170, with whichH1992 AbimelechH40 hiredH7936 worthlessH7386 and recklessH6348 menH376, and they followedH1980H310 him. 5Then he wentH935 to his father’sH1 houseH1004 in OphrahH6084 and 10killedH2026 his brothersH251 the sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, 11seventyH7657 menH376, 12on oneH259 stoneH68. But JothamH3147 the youngestH6996 sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 was leftH3498, becauseH3588 he hidH2244 himself. 6AllH3605 the 13leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 and allH3605 14Beth-milloH1037 assembledH622 together, and they wentH1980 and madeH4427 AbimelechH40 kingH4428, by the 15oakH436 of the memorialH4676 stoneH4676 whichH834 was in ShechemH7927.

7Now when they toldH5046 JothamH3147, he wentH1980 and stoodH5975 on the topH7218 of 16MountH2022 GerizimH1630, and raisedH5375 his voiceH6963 and calledH7121 outH7121. And he saidH559 to them, “ListenH8085 to me, you 17leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927, that GodH430 may listenH8085 to you. 8OnceH1980 the treesH6086 wentH1980 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 giveH2308 upH2308 my fatnessH1880 with 18whichH834 GodH430 and mankindH376 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 giveH2308 upH2308 my sweetnessH4987 and my goodH2896 19fruitH8570, 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 giveH2308 upH2308 my newH8492 wineH8492, which cheersH8055 GodH430 and mankindH376, and goH1980 to waveH5128 overH5921 the treesH6086?’ 14Then allH3605 the treesH6086 saidH559 to the brambleH329, ‘You, comeH1980, reignH4427 overH5921 us!’ 15And the brambleH329 saidH559 to the treesH6086, ‘IfH518 you 20reallyH571 are anointingH4886 me as kingH4428 overH5921 you, comeH935 and takeH2620 refugeH2620 in my shadeH6738; but ifH518 not, may fireH784 comeH3318 outH3318 of the brambleH329 and consumeH398 the cedarsH730 of LebanonH3844.’

16“NowH6258 then, ifH518 you have actedH6213 with 21honestyH571 and integrityH8549 in makingH4427 AbimelechH40 kingH4427, and ifH518 you have dealtH6213 wellH2899 with 22JerubbaalH3378 and his houseH1004, and 23have dealtH6213 with him 24as he deservedH1576H3027-- 17for my fatherH1 foughtH3898 for you, and 25riskedH7993H5048 his lifeH5315 and savedH5337 you from the handH3027 of MidianH4080; 18but in fact you have risenH6965 againstH5921 my father’sH1 houseH1004 todayH3117 and have killedH2026 26his sonsH1121, seventyH7657 menH376, on oneH259 stoneH68, and have madeH4427 AbimelechH40, 27the sonH1121 of his femaleH519 slaveH519, kingH4427 overH5921 the 28leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927, becauseH3588 he is your relativeH251-- 19so ifH518 you have actedH6213 with 29honestyH571 and integrityH8549 toward JerubbaalH3378 and his houseH1004 thisH2088 dayH3117, beH8055 joyfulH8055 about AbimelechH40, and may he alsoH1571 beH8055 joyfulH8055 about you. 20But ifH518 not, may fireH784 comeH3318 outH3318 of AbimelechH40 and consumeH398 the 30leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 and 31Beth-milloH1037; and may fireH784 comeH3318 outH3318 of the 32leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 and from 33Beth-milloH1037, and consumeH398 AbimelechH40.” 21Then JothamH3147 escapedH5127 and fledH1272, and wentH1980 to BeerH876; and he stayedH3427 thereH8033 becauseH4480H6440 of his brotherH251 AbimelechH40.

Shechem and Abimelech Fall

22Now AbimelechH40 ruledH8323 overH5921 IsraelH3478 for threeH7969 yearsH8141. 2334Then GodH430 sentH7971 an evilH7451 spiritH7307 betweenH996 AbimelechH40 and the 35leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927; and the 36leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 37dealtH898 treacherouslyH898 with AbimelechH40, 2438so that the violenceH2555 39done to the seventyH7657 sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 would comeH935, and the responsibility for 40their bloodH1818 would be placedH7760 on their brotherH251 AbimelechH40, whoH834 killedH2026 them, and on the 41leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927, whoH834 42encouragedH2388H3027 him to killH2026 his brothersH251. 25The 43leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 setH7760 upH7760 menH693 inH693 ambushH693 against him on the topsH7218 of the mountainsH2022, and they robbedH1497 everyoneH3605 whoH834 would passH5674 by them on the roadH1870; and it was reportedH5046 to AbimelechH40.

26Now GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 cameH935 with his relativesH251, and crossedH5674 overH5674 into ShechemH7927; and the 44leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 trustedH982 him. 27So they wentH3318 outH3318 to the fieldH7704 and gatheredH1219 theH1219 grapesH1219 of their vineyardsH3754 and trampledH1869 them, and heldH6213 a festivalH1974; and they wentH935 into the houseH1004 of 45their 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 governorH6496? ServeH5647 the menH376 of 46HamorH2544 the fatherH1 of ShechemH7927; but whyH4069 should we serveH5647 him? 294748IfH4310H5414 onlyH4310H5414 thisH2088 peopleH5971 were under my authorityH3027! Then I would doH5493 awayH5493 withH5493 AbimelechH40.” And he saidH559 to AbimelechH40, “EnlargeH7235 your armyH6635 and comeH3318 outH3318!”

30When ZebulH2083 the leaderH8269 of the cityH5892 heardH8085 the wordsH1697 of GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651, his angerH639 burnedH2734. 31So using deceptionH8649, he successfully sentH7971 messengersH4397 to AbimelechH40, sayingH559, “BeholdH2009, GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 and his relativesH251 have comeH935 to ShechemH7927; and beholdH2009, they are 49stirringH6696 upH6696 the cityH5892 againstH5921 you. 32So nowH6258, ariseH6965 by nightH3915, you and the peopleH5971 whoH834 are with you, and lieH693 inH693 waitH693 in the fieldH7704. 33Then in the morningH1242, as soon as the sunH8121 is up, you shall riseH7925 earlyH7925 and attackH6584 the cityH5892; and beholdH2009, when he and the peopleH5971 whoH834 are with him comeH3318 outH3318 againstH413 you, you shall 50doH6213 to them 51whateverH3512 you can.”

34So AbimelechH40 and allH3605 the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him gotH6965 upH6965 at nightH3915, and layH693 inH693 waitH693 againstH5921 ShechemH7927, in fourH702 52unitsH7218. 35Now GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 wentH3318 outH3318 and stoodH5975 at 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, “53LookH2009, 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 peopleH376.” 37And GaalH1603 spokeH1696 yetH5750 againH3254 and saidH559, “LookH2009, peopleH5971 are comingH3381 downH3381 from 54the 55highestH2872 partH2872 of the landH776, and oneH259 56unitH7218 is comingH935 by wayH1870 of 57the diviners’H6049 58oakH436.” 38Then ZebulH2083 saidH559 to him, “WhereH346 thenH645 is your 59boastingH6310 with whichH834 you saidH559, ‘WhoH4310 is AbimelechH40 that we should serveH5647 him?’ Is thisH2088 not the peopleH5971 whomH834 you rejectedH3988? GoH3318 outH3318 nowH6258 and fightH3898 them!” 39So GaalH1603 wentH3318 outH3318 60in the sightH6440 of the 61leadersH1167 of ShechemH7927 and foughtH3898 AbimelechH40. 40But AbimelechH40 chasedH7291 him, and he fledH5127 from him; and manyH7227 fellH5307 woundedH2491 up to the entranceH6607 of the gateH8179. 41Then AbimelechH40 stayedH3427 in ArumahH725, but ZebulH2083 droveH1644 outH1644 GaalH1603 and his relativesH251 soH4480 thatH4480 they could notH4480 stayH3427 in ShechemH7927.

42Now it cameH1961 aboutH1961 the nextH4283 dayH4283, that the peopleH5971 wentH3318 outH3318 to the fieldH7704, and it was reportedH5046 to AbimelechH40. 43So he tookH3947 62his peopleH5971 and dividedH2673 them into threeH7969 63unitsH7218, and layH693 inH693 waitH693 in the fieldH7704; when he lookedH7200 and 64sawH7200 the peopleH5971 comingH3318 outH3318 from the cityH5892, he 65attackedH6965H5921 them and killedH5221 them. 44Then AbimelechH40 and the 66companyH7218 whoH834 was with him rushedH6584 forwardH6584 and stoodH5975 at the entranceH6607 of the cityH5892 gateH8179; the other twoH8147 67companiesH7218 then attackedH6584H5921 allH3605 whoH834 were in the fieldH7704 and killedH5221 them. 45AbimelechH40 foughtH3898 against the cityH5892 that wholeH3605 dayH3117, and he capturedH3920 the cityH5892 and killedH2026 the peopleH5971 whoH834 were in it; then he 68toreH5422 downH5422 the cityH5892 and sowedH2232 it with saltH4417.

46When allH3605 the 69leadersH1167 of the towerH4026 of ShechemH7927 heardH8085 about it, they enteredH935 the innerH6877 chamberH6877 of the 70templeH1004 of 71El-berithH410H1285. 47And it was reportedH5046 to AbimelechH40 that allH3605 the 72leadersH1167 of the towerH4026 of ShechemH7927 were gatheredH6908 together. 48So AbimelechH40 wentH5927 upH5927 to MountH2022 73ZalmonH6756, he and allH3605 the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him; and AbimelechH40 tookH3947 74an axeH7134 in his handH3027 and cutH3772 downH3772 a branchH7754 from the treesH6086, and liftedH5375 it and putH7760 it on his shoulderH7926. Then he saidH559 to the peopleH5971 whoH834 were with him, “WhatH4100 you sawH7200 me doH6213, hurryH4116 and doH6213 75likewiseH3644.” 49So allH3605 the peopleH5971 alsoH1571 cutH3772 downH3772, eachH376 oneH376, his branchH7754 and followedH1980H310 AbimelechH40, and putH7760 them on topH5921 of the innerH6877 chamberH6877 and setH3341 the innerH6877 chamberH6877 on fireH784 overH5921 those inside, so that allH3605 the peopleH376 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 76leadersH1167 of the cityH5892 fledH5127 thereH8033 and shutH5462 themselves inH5462; and they wentH5927 upH5927 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 downH8313 with fireH784. 53But 77a womanH802 threwH7993 an upperH7393 millstoneH7393 on Abimelech’sH40 headH7218, crushingH7533 his skullH1538. 54Then 78he calledH7121 quicklyH4120 to the youngH5288 manH5288, his armorH3627 bearerH5375, and saidH559 to him, “DrawH8025 your swordH2719 and killH4191 me, soH6435 thatH6435 it will notH6435 be saidH559 of me, ‘A womanH802 killedH2026 him.’” So 79the youngH5288 manH5288 piercedH1856 him throughH1856, and he diedH4191. 55Now when the menH376 of IsraelH3478 sawH7200 that AbimelechH40 was deadH4191, eachH376 leftH1980 for his 80homeH4725. 56So 81GodH430 repaidH7725 the wickednessH7463 of AbimelechH40, whichH834 he had doneH6213 to his fatherH1 in killingH2026 his seventyH7657 brothersH251. 57GodH430 also returnedH7725 allH3605 the wickednessH7463 of the menH376 of ShechemH7927 on their headsH7218, and the curseH7045 of JothamH3147 the sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 cameH935 82upon them.