Judges 9

1And AbimelechH40 the sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 wentH413 to ShechemH7927 unto his mother’sH517 brethrenH251, and spake with them, and with allH3605 the familyH4940 of the houseH1004 of his mother’sH517 fatherH1, sayingH559, 2SpeakH1696, I prayH4994 youH3588, in the earsH241 of allH3605 the menH376 of ShechemH7927, WhetherH518 is betterH2896 for youH3588 that allH3605 the sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, whichH4100 are threescore and ten personsH376, ruleH4910 over youH3588, or that one ruleH4910 over youH3588? rememberH2142 also that I am your boneH6106 and your fleshH1320. 3And his mother’sH517 brethrenH251 spake of him in the earsH241 of allH3605 the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 allH3605 theseH428 wordsH1697: and their heartsH3820 inclinedH5186 to followH310 AbimelechH40; for they saidH559, He is our brotherH251. 4And they gaveH5414 him threescore and ten pieces of silverH3701 outH376 of the houseH1004 of Baal-berithH1170, wherewith AbimelechH40 hiredH7936 vain and light fellowsH376, whichH1004 followedH310 him. 5And he wentH935 unto his father’sH1 houseH1004 at OphrahH6084, and slewH2026 his brethrenH251 the sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378, beingH1121 threescore and ten personsH376, uponH5921 one stoneH68: but JothamH3147 the youngestH6996 sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 was leftH3498; for he hidH2244 himselfH376. 6And allH3605 the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 assembledH622 themselvesH622 togetherH622, and allH3605 the houseH1004 of MilloH4407, and wentH1004 and madeH3605 AbimelechH40 kingH4428, by the oakH436 of the pillarH5324 that was in ShechemH7927. 7And when they toldH5046 it to JothamH3147, he wentH413 and stoodH5975 in the topH7218 of mountH2022 GerizimH1630, and liftedH5375 upH5375 his voiceH6963, and criedH7121, and saidH559 unto them, Hearken unto meH413, ye menH1167 of ShechemH7927, that GodH430 may hearken unto youH5046. 8The treesH6086 wentH1980 forthH1980 on a time to anointH4886 a kingH4428 over them; and they saidH559 unto the oliveH2132 treeH6086, ReignH4427 thou over usH5921. 9But the oliveH2132 treeH6086 saidH559 unto them, Should I leaveH1980 my fatnessH1880, wherewith by meH5921 they honour GodH430 and manH376, and goH1980 to waveH5128 to and froH5128 over the treesH6086? 10And the treesH6086 saidH559 to the figH8384 treeH6086, Come thou, and reignH4427 over usH5921. 11But the figH8384 treeH6086 saidH559 unto them, Should I leaveH1980 my sweetnessH4987, and my goodH2896 fruitH8570, and goH1980 to waveH5128 to and froH5128 over the treesH6086? 12And the treesH6086 saidH559 unto the vineH1612, Come thou, and reignH4427 over usH5921. 13And the vineH1612 saidH559 unto them, Should I leaveH1980 my wineH8492, whichH6086 cheereth GodH430 and manH376, and goH1980 to waveH5128 to and froH5128 over the treesH6086? 14Then saidH559 allH3605 the treesH6086 unto the brambleH329, Come thou, and reignH4427 over usH413. 15And the brambleH329 saidH559 unto the treesH6086, IfH518 in truthH571 ye anointH4886 meH413 kingH4428 over youH859, then comeH935 and putH935 your trust in my shadowH6738: and ifH518 notH369, let fireH784 comeH935 outH3318 of the brambleH329, and devourH398 the cedarsH730 of LebanonH3844. 16NowH6258 therefore, ifH518 ye have dealt trulyH571 and uprightlyH8549, in that ye have madeH6213 AbimelechH40 kingH4427, and ifH518 ye have dealt wellH2895 with JerubbaalH3378 and his houseH1004, and have doneH6213 unto him accordingH3027 to the deserving of his handsH3027; 17(for my fatherH1 foughtH3898 for youH834, and adventured his lifeH5315, and deliveredH5337 youH834 outH5921 of the handH3027 of MidianH4080: 18and ye are risenH6965 upH6965 againstH5921 my father’sH1 houseH1004 this dayH3117, and have slainH2026 his sonsH1121, threescore and ten personsH376, uponH5921 one stoneH68, and have made AbimelechH40, the sonH1121 of his maidservantH519, kingH4427 over the menH376 of ShechemH7927, becauseH3588 he is your brotherH251;) 19ifH518 ye then have dealt trulyH571 and uprightlyH8549 with JerubbaalH3378 and with his houseH1004 this dayH3117, then rejoiceH8055 ye in AbimelechH40, and letH8055 him also rejoiceH8055 in youH518: 20but ifH518 notH369, let fireH784 comeH3318 outH3318 from AbimelechH40, and devourH398 the menH1167 of ShechemH7927, and the houseH1004 of MilloH4407; and let fireH784 comeH3318 outH3318 from the menH1167 of ShechemH7927, and from the houseH1004 of MilloH4407, and devourH398 AbimelechH40. 21And JothamH3147 ranH5127 awayH1272, and fledH5127, and wentH6440 to BeerH876, and dweltH3427 there, for fear of AbimelechH40 his brotherH251. 22And AbimelechH40 was prince over IsraelH3478 threeH7969 yearsH8141. 23And GodH430 sentH7971 an evilH7451 spiritH7307 betweenH996 AbimelechH40 and the menH1167 of ShechemH7927; and the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 dealtH898 treacherouslyH898 with AbimelechH40: 24that the violenceH2555 doneH3027 to the threescore and ten sonsH1121 of JerubbaalH3378 might comeH935, and that their bloodH1818 might be laidH7760 uponH5921 AbimelechH40 their brotherH251, whichH834 slewH2026 them, and uponH5921 the menH1121 of ShechemH7927, whichH834 strengthenedH2388 his handsH3027 to slayH2026 his brethrenH251. 25And the menH1167 of ShechemH7927 setH7760 liers in waitH693 for him on the topsH7218 of the mountainsH2022, and they robbedH1497 allH3605 that came alongH5921 that wayH1870 by them: and it was toldH5046 AbimelechH40. 26And GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 cameH935 with his brethrenH251, and wentH935 over to ShechemH7927: and the menH1121 of ShechemH7927 putH935 their trustH982 in him. 27And they wentH3318 outH3318 intoH935 the fieldH7704, and gatheredH1219 their vineyardsH3754, and trode the grapes, and heldH6213 festivalH1974, and wentH3318 intoH935 the houseH1004 of their godH430, and didH6213 eatH398 and drinkH8354, and cursedH7043 AbimelechH40. 28And GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 saidH559, Who is AbimelechH40, and who is ShechemH7927, that weH587 should serveH5647 him? is notH3808 he the sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378? and ZebulH2083 his officerH6496? serveH5647 ye the menH376 of HamorH2544 the fatherH1 of ShechemH7927: but whyH4069 should weH587 serveH5647 him? 29And would to GodH559 this peopleH5971 were underH3027 my handH3027! then would I removeH5493 AbimelechH40. And he saidH559 to AbimelechH40, IncreaseH7235 thine armyH6635, and comeH3318 outH3318. 30And when ZebulH2083 the rulerH8269 of the cityH5892 heardH8085 the wordsH1697 of GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651, his angerH639 was kindledH2734. 31And he sentH7971 messengersH4397 unto AbimelechH40 craftily, sayingH559, BeholdH2009, GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 and his brethrenH251 are comeH935 to ShechemH7927; and, beholdH2009, they constrain the cityH5892 to takeH935 partH5921 againstH5921 thee. 32NowH6258 therefore, upH6965 by nightH3915, thou and the peopleH5971 that is with thee, and lieH693 in waitH693 in the fieldH7704: 33and it shall be, that in the morningH1242, as soonH7925 as the sunH8121 is upH7925, thou shalt riseH7925 earlyH7925, and setH3318 uponH5921 the cityH5892: and, beholdH2009, when he and the peopleH5971 that is with him comeH1961 outH3318 againstH5921 thee, then mayest thou doH6213 to them as thou shalt findH4672 occasionH3027. 34And AbimelechH40 roseH6965 upH6965, and allH3605 the peopleH5971 that were with him, by nightH3915, and they laid waitH693 againstH5921 ShechemH7927 in fourH702 companiesH7218. 35And GaalH1603 the sonH1121 of EbedH5651 wentH3318 outH3318, and stoodH5975 in the enteringH4480 of the gateH8179 of the cityH5892: and AbimelechH40 roseH6965 upH6965, and the peopleH5971 that were with him, from the ambushment. 36And when GaalH1603 sawH7200 the peopleH5971, he saidH559 to ZebulH2083, BeholdH2009, there comeH3381 peopleH5971 downH3381 from the topsH7218 of the mountainsH2022. And ZebulH2083 saidH559 unto him, Thou seest the shadowH6738 of the mountainsH2022 as ifH2009 they were menH376. 37And GaalH1603 spake againH5750 and saidH559, SeeH2009, there comeH935 peopleH5971 downH3381 by the middle of the landH776, and one companyH7218 cometh by the wayH1870 of the oakH436 of Meonenim. 38Then saidH559 ZebulH2083 unto him, WhereH834 is nowH6258 thy mouthH6310, that thou saidst, Who is AbimelechH40, that weH3588 should serveH5647 him? is notH3808 this the peopleH5971 that thou hast despised? goH3318 outH3318 nowH6258, I prayH4994, and fightH3898 with them. 39And GaalH1603 wentH3318 outH3318 beforeH6440 the menH1167 of ShechemH7927, and foughtH3898 with AbimelechH40. 40And AbimelechH40 chasedH7291 him, and he fledH5127 beforeH6440 him, and there fellH5307 manyH7227 woundedH2491, evenH5704 unto the entering of the gateH8179. 41And AbimelechH40 dweltH3427 at ArumahH725: and ZebulH2083 drave outH1644 GaalH1603 and his brethrenH251, that they should not dwellH3427 in ShechemH7927. 42And it cameH1961 to passH1961 on the morrow, that the peopleH5971 wentH3318 outH3318 intoH1961 the fieldH7704; and they toldH5046 AbimelechH40. 43And he tookH3947 the peopleH5971, and dividedH2673 them intoH5921 threeH7969 companiesH7218, and laidH3318 waitH693 in the fieldH7704; and he lookedH7200, and, beholdH2009, the peopleH5971 cameH3318 forthH3318 outH3318 of the cityH5892; and he roseH6965 upH6965 againstH5921 them, and smoteH5221 them. 44And AbimelechH40, and the companiesH7218 that were with him, rushedH6584 forward, and stoodH5975 in the entering of the gateH8179 of the cityH5892: and the twoH8147 companiesH7218 rushedH6584 uponH5921 allH3605 that were in the fieldH7704, and smoteH5221 them. 45And AbimelechH40 foughtH3898 againstH3898 the cityH5892 allH3605 that dayH3117; and he tookH3920 the cityH5892, and slewH2026 the peopleH5971 that was therein: and he beat downH5422 the cityH5892, and sowedH2232 it with saltH4417. 46And when allH3605 the menH1167 of the towerH4026 of ShechemH7927 heardH8085 thereof, they enteredH935 intoH413 the holdH1004 of the houseH1004 of El-berith. 47And it was toldH5046 AbimelechH40 that allH3605 the menH1167 of the towerH4026 of ShechemH7927 were gatheredH6908 togetherH6908. 48And AbimelechH40 gat him upH5927 to mountH2022 ZalmonH6756, he and allH3605 the peopleH5971 that were with him; and AbimelechH40 tookH3947 an axeH7134 in his handH3027, and cutH3772 downH3772 a bough from the treesH6086, and tookH3947 it upH5927, and laidH7760 it on his shoulderH7926: and he saidH559 unto the peopleH5971 that were with him, WhatH4100 ye have seenH7200 meH413 doH6213, makeH7760 hasteH4116, and doH6213 as I have doneH6213. 49And allH3605 the peopleH5971 likewise cutH3772 downH3772 everyH3605 manH376 his bough, and followedH310 AbimelechH40, and putH4191 them to the hold, and setH7760 the hold on fireH784 uponH5921 them; soH1571 that allH3605 the menH376 of the towerH4026 of ShechemH7927 diedH4191 also, aboutH5921 a thousandH505 menH376 and womenH802. 50Then wentH413 AbimelechH40 to ThebezH8405, and encampedH2583 againstH413 ThebezH8405, and tookH3920 it. 51But there was a strongH5797 towerH4026 withinH8432 the cityH5892, and thither fledH5127 allH3605 the menH376 and womenH802, and allH3605 they of the cityH5892, and shutH5462 themselvesH5921 in, and gat them upH5927 to the roofH1406 of the towerH4026. 52And AbimelechH40 cameH935 unto the towerH4026, and foughtH3898 againstH3898 it, and wentH935 hard unto the doorH6607 of the towerH4026 to burnH8313 it with fireH784. 53And a certainH259 womanH802 castH7993 an upperH7393 millstoneH7393 uponH5921 Abimelech’sH40 headH7218, and brake his skullH1538. 54Then he calledH7121 hastily unto the youngH5288 manH5288 his armourbearer, and saidH559 unto him, DrawH8025 thy swordH2719, and killH2026 meH413, that menH5288 sayH559 notH6435 of meH413, A womanH802 slewH2026 him. And his youngH5288 manH5288 thrustH1856 him throughH1856, and he diedH4191. 55And when the menH376 of IsraelH3478 sawH7200 that AbimelechH40 was deadH4191, they departed everyH376 manH376 unto his placeH4725. 56Thus GodH430 requited the wickednessH7451 of AbimelechH40, whichH834 he didH6213 unto his fatherH1, in slaying his seventyH7657 brethrenH251: 57and allH3605 the wickednessH7451 of the menH376 of ShechemH7927 didH376 GodH430 requite uponH935 their headsH7218: and uponH935 them cameH935 the curseH7045 of JothamH3147 the sonH1121 of JerubbaalH3378.