1 And Abimelech40 the son1121 of Jerubbaal3378 went3212 to Shechem7927 to his mother's517 brothers,251 and communed1696 with them, and with all3605 the family4940 of the house1004 of his mother's517 father,1 saying,559

2 Speak,1696 I pray4994 you, in the ears241 of all3605 the men1167 of Shechem,7927 Whether4100 is better2896 for you, either that all3605 the sons1121 of Jerubbaal,3378 which are three score7657 and ten persons,376 reign4910 over you, or that one259 reign4910 over you? remember2142 also that I am your bone6106 and your flesh.1320

3 And his mother's517 brothers251 spoke1696 of him in the ears241 of all3605 the men1167 of Shechem7927 all3605 these428 words:1697 and their hearts3820 inclined5186 to follow935 310 Abimelech;40 for they said,559 He is our brother.251

4 And they gave5414 him three score7657 and ten pieces of silver3701 out of the house1004 of Baalberith,1170 with which Abimelech40 hired7936 vain7386 and light6348 persons,582 which followed3212 310 him.

5 And he went935 to his father's1 house1004 at Ophrah,6084 and slew2026 his brothers251 the sons1121 of Jerubbaal,3378 being three score7657 and ten persons,376 on one259 stone:68 notwithstanding yet Jotham3147 the youngest3996 son1121 of Jerubbaal3378 was left;3498 for he hid2244 himself.

6 And all3605 the men1167 of Shechem7927 gathered622 together, and all3605 the house1004 of Millo,4407 and went,3212 and made Abimelech40 king,4428 by the plain436 of the pillar5324 that was in Shechem.7927

7 And when they told5046 it to Jotham,3147 he went3212 and stood5975 in the top7218 of mount2022 Gerizim,1630 and lifted5375 up his voice,6963 and cried,7121 and said559 to them, Listen8085 to me, you men1167 of Shechem,7927 that God430 may listen8085 to you.

8 The trees6086 went1980 forth on a time to anoint4886 a king4428 over5921 them; and they said559 to the olive2132 tree, Reign4427 you over5921 us.

9 But the olive2132 tree said559 to them, Should I leave2308 my fatness,1880 with which834 by me they honor3513 God430 and man,376 and go1980 to be promoted5128 over5921 the trees?6086

10 And the trees6086 said559 to the fig8384 tree,6086 Come3212 you, and reign4427 over5921 us.

11 But the fig8384 tree6086 said559 to them, Should I forsake2308 my sweetness,4987 and my good2896 fruit,8570 and go1980 to be promoted5128 over5921 the trees?6086

12 Then said559 the trees6086 to the vine,1612 Come3212 you, and reign4427 over5921 us.

13 And the vine1612 said559 to them, Should I leave2308 my wine,8492 which cheers8055 God430 and man,376 and go1980 to be promoted5128 over5921 the trees?6086

14 Then said559 all3605 the trees6086 to the bramble,329 Come3212 you, and reign4427 over5921 us.

15 And the bramble329 said559 to the trees,6086 If518 in truth571 you anoint4886 me king4428 over5921 you, then come935 and put your trust2620 in my shadow:6738 and if518 not, let fire784 come3318 out of the bramble,329 and devour398 the cedars730 of Lebanon.3844

16 Now6258 therefore, if518 you have done6213 truly571 and sincerely,8549 in that you have made Abimelech40 king,4427 and if518 you have dealt6213 well2895 with Jerubbaal3378 and his house,1004 and have done6213 to him according to the deserving1576 of his hands;3027

17 (For my father1 fought3898 for you, and adventured7993 his life5315 far,5048 and delivered5337 you out of the hand3027 of Midian:4080

18 And you are risen6965 up against5921 my father's1 house1004 this day,3117 and have slain2026 his sons,1121 three score7657 and ten persons,376 on one259 stone,68 and have made Abimelech,40 the son1121 of his maidservant,519 king4427 over5921 the men1167 of Shechem,7927 because3588 he is your brother;251)

19 If518 you then have dealt6213 truly571 and sincerely8549 with Jerubbaal3378 and with his house1004 this2088 day,3117 then rejoice8055 you in Abimelech,40 and let him also1571 rejoice8055 in you:

20 But if518 not, let fire784 come3318 out from Abimelech,40 and devour398 the men1167 of Shechem,7927 and the house1004 of Millo;4407 and let fire784 come3318 out from the men1167 of Shechem,7927 and from the house1004 of Millo,4407 and devour398 Abimelech.40

21 And Jotham3147 ran5127 away, and fled,1272 and went3212 to Beer,876 and dwelled3427 there,8033 for fear6440 of Abimelech40 his brother.251

22 When Abimelech40 had reigned7786 three7969 years8141 over5921 Israel,3478

23 Then God430 sent7971 an evil7451 spirit7307 between996 Abimelech40 and the men1167 of Shechem;7927 and the men1167 of Shechem7927 dealt treacherously898 with Abimelech:40

24 That the cruelty2555 done to the three score7657 and ten sons1121 of Jerubbaal3378 might come,935 and their blood1818 be laid7760 on Abimelech40 their brother,251 which834 slew2026 them; and on the men1167 of Shechem,7927 which834 aided2388 3027 him in the killing2026 of his brothers.251

25 And the men1167 of Shechem7927 set7760 liers in wait693 for him in the top7218 of the mountains,2022 and they robbed1497 all3605 that came5674 along that way1870 by them: and it was told5046 Abimelech.40

26 And Gaal1603 the son1121 of Ebed5651 came935 with his brothers,251 and went5674 over5674 to Shechem:7927 and the men1167 of Shechem7927 put their confidence982 in him.

27 And they went3318 out into the fields,7704 and gathered1219 their vineyards,3754 and stepped1869 the grapes, and made6213 merry,1974 and went935 into the house1004 of their god,430 and did eat398 and drink,8354 and cursed7043 Abimelech.40

28 And Gaal1603 the son1121 of Ebed5651 said,559 Who4310 is Abimelech,40 and who4310 is Shechem,7927 that we should serve5647 him? is not he the son1121 of Jerubbaal?3378 and Zebul2083 his officer?6496 serve5647 the men582 of Hamor2544 the father1 of Shechem:7927 for why4100 should we serve5647 him?

29 And would4310 5414 to God this2088 people5971 were under my hand!3027 then would I remove5493 Abimelech.40 And he said559 to Abimelech,40 Increase7235 your army,6635 and come3318 out.

30 And when Zebul2083 the ruler8269 of the city5892 heard8085 the words1697 of Gaal1603 the son1121 of Ebed,5651 his anger639 was kindled.2734

31 And he sent7971 messengers4397 to Abimelech40 privately,8649 saying,559 Behold,2009 Gaal1603 the son1121 of Ebed5651 and his brothers251 be come935 to Shechem;7927 and, behold,2009 they fortify6696 the city5892 against5921 you.

32 Now6258 therefore up by night,3915 you and the people5971 that is with you, and lie in wait693 in the field:7704

33 And it shall be, that in the morning,1242 as soon as the sun8121 is up, you shall rise7925 early,7925 and set6584 on the city:5892 and, behold,2009 when he and the people5971 that is with him come3318 out against413 you, then may you do6213 to them as you shall find4672 occasion.4672

34 And Abimelech40 rose6965 up, and all3605 the people5971 that were with him, by night,3915 and they laid wait693 against5921 Shechem7927 in four702 companies.7218

35 And Gaal1603 the son1121 of Ebed5651 went3318 out, and stood5975 in the entering6607 of the gate8179 of the city:5892 and Abimelech40 rose6965 up, and the people5971 that were with him, from lying in wait.3993

36 And when Gaal1603 saw7200 the people,5971 he said559 to Zebul,2083 Behold,2009 there come3381 people5971 down3381 from the top7218 of the mountains.2022 And Zebul2083 said559 to him, You see7200 the shadow6738 of the mountains2022 as if they were men.582

37 And Gaal1603 spoke1696 again,3254 5750 and said,559 See2009 there come3381 people5971 down3381 by the middle2872 of the land,776 and another259 company7218 come935 along by the plain436 of Meonenim.6049

38 Then said559 Zebul2083 to him, Where346 is now645 your mouth,6310 with which834 you said,559 Who4310 is Abimelech,40 that we should serve5647 him? is not this2088 the people5971 that you have despised?3988 go3318 out, I pray4994 now,6258 and fight3898 with them.

39 And Gaal1603 went3318 out before6440 the men1167 of Shechem,7927 and fought3898 with Abimelech.40

40 And Abimelech40 chased7291 him, and he fled5127 before6440 him, and many7227 were overthrown5307 and wounded,2491 even to the entering6607 of the gate.8179

41 And Abimelech40 dwelled3427 at Arumah:725 and Zebul2083 thrust1644 out Gaal1603 and his brothers,251 that they should not dwell3427 in Shechem.7927

42 And it came1961 to pass on the morrow,4283 that the people5971 went3318 out into the field;7704 and they told5046 Abimelech.40

43 And he took3947 the people,5971 and divided2673 them into three7969 companies,7218 and laid wait693 in the field,7704 and looked,7200 and, behold,2009 the people5971 were come3318 forth3318 out of the city;5892 and he rose6965 up against5921 them, and smote5221 them.

44 And Abimelech,40 and the company7218 that was with him, rushed6584 forward,6584 and stood5975 in the entering6607 of the gate8179 of the city:5892 and the two8147 other companies7218 ran6584 on all3605 the people5971 that were in the fields,7704 and slew5221 them.

45 And Abimelech40 fought3898 against the city5892 all3605 that day;3117 and he took3920 the city,5892 and slew2026 the people5971 that was therein, and beat5422 down5422 the city,5892 and sowed2232 it with salt.4417

46 And when all3605 the men1167 of the tower4026 of Shechem7927 heard8085 that, they entered935 into413 an hold6877 of the house1004 of the god410 Berith.1286

47 And it was told5046 Abimelech,40 that all3605 the men1167 of the tower4026 of Shechem7927 were gathered6908 together.

48 And Abimelech40 got5927 him up to mount2022 Zalmon,6756 he and all3605 the people5971 that were with him; and Abimelech40 took3947 an ax7134 in his hand,3027 and cut3772 down a bough7754 from the trees,6086 and took5375 it, and laid7760 it on5921 his shoulder,7926 and said559 to the people5971 that were with him, What4100 you have seen7200 me do,6213 make haste,4116 and do6213 as I have done.

49 And all3605 the people5971 likewise1571 cut3772 down every man376 his bough,7754 and followed3212 310 Abimelech,40 and put7760 them to the hold,6877 and set the hold6877 on fire784 on them; so that all3605 the men582 of the tower4026 of Shechem7927 died4191 also,1571 about a thousand505 men376 and women.802

50 Then went3212 Abimelech40 to Thebez,8405 and encamped2583 against413 Thebez,8405 and took3920 it.

51 But there was a strong5797 tower4026 within8432 the city,5892 and thither8033 fled5127 all3605 the men582 and women,802 and all3605 they of the city,5892 and shut5462 it to them, and got5927 them up to the top1406 of the tower.4026

52 And Abimelech40 came935 to the tower,4026 and fought3898 against it, and went5066 hard5066 to the door6607 of the tower4026 to burn8313 it with fire.784

53 And a certain259 woman802 cast7993 a piece6400 of a millstone7393 on Abimelech's40 head,7218 and all to broke7533 his skull.1538

54 Then he called7121 hastily4120 to the young5288 man his armor bearer,5375 3627 and said559 to him, Draw8025 your sword,2719 and slay4191 me, that men say559 not of me, A woman802 slew2026 him. And his young5288 man thrust1856 him through, and he died.4191

55 And when the men376 of Israel3478 saw7200 that Abimelech40 was dead,4191 they departed3212 every man376 to his place.4725

56 Thus God430 rendered7725 the wickedness7451 of Abimelech,40 which834 he did6213 to his father,1 in slaying2026 his seventy7657 brothers:251

57 And all3605 the evil7451 of the men582 of Shechem7927 did God430 render7725 on their heads:7218 and on them came935 the curse7045 of Jotham3147 the son1121 of Jerubbaal.3378