And Abimelech{H40} the son{H1121} of Jerubbaal{H3378} went{H3212} to Shechem{H7927} unto his mother's{H517} brethren,{H251} and spake{H1696} with them, and with all the family{H4940} of the house{H1004} of his mother's{H517} father,{H1} saying,{H559}

Speak,{H1696} I pray you, in the ears{H241} of all the men{H1167} of Shechem,{H7927} Whether is better{H2896} for you, that all the sons{H1121} of Jerubbaal,{H3378} who are threescore and ten{H7657} persons,{H376} rule{H4910} over you, or that one{H259} rule{H4910} over you? remember{H2142} also that I am your bone{H6106} and your flesh.{H1320}

And his mother's{H517} brethren{H251} spake{H1696} of him in the ears{H241} of all the men{H1167} of Shechem{H7927} all these words:{H1697} and their hearts{H3820} inclined{H5186} to follow{H310} Abimelech;{H40} for they said,{H559} He is our brother.{H251}

And they gave{H5414} him threescore and ten{H7657} [pieces] of silver{H3701} out of the house{H1004} of Baal-berith,{H1170} wherewith Abimelech{H40} hired{H7936} vain{H7386} and light{H6348} fellows,{H582} who followed{H3212} him.{H310}

And he went{H935} unto his father's{H1} house{H1004} at Ophrah,{H6084} and slew{H2026} his brethren{H251} the sons{H1121} of Jerubbaal,{H3378} being threescore and ten{H7657} persons,{H376} upon one{H259} stone:{H68} but Jotham{H3147} the youngest{H6996} son{H1121} of Jerubbaal{H3378} was left;{H3498} for he hid{H2244} himself.

And all the men{H1167} of Shechem{H7927} assembled themselves together,{H622} and all the house{H1004} of Millo,{H4407} and went{H3212} and made{H4427} Abimelech{H40} king,{H4428} by the oak{H436} of the pillar{H5324} that was in Shechem.{H7927}

And when they told{H5046} it to Jotham,{H3147} he went{H3212} and stood{H5975} on the top{H7218} of mount{H2022} Gerizim,{H1630} and lifted up{H5375} his voice,{H6963} and cried,{H7121} and said{H559} unto them, Hearken{H8085} unto me, ye men{H1167} of Shechem,{H7927} that God{H430} may hearken{H8085} unto you.

The trees{H6086} went forth{H1980} on a time to anoint{H4886} a king{H4428} over them; and they said{H559} unto the olive-tree,{H2132} Reign{H4427} thou over us.

But the olive-tree{H2132} said{H559} unto them, Should I leave{H2308} my fatness,{H1880} wherewith by me they honor{H3513} God{H430} and man,{H582} and go{H1980} to wave{H5128} to and fro over the trees?{H6086}

And the trees{H6086} said{H559} to the fig-tree,{H8384} Come{H3212} thou, and reign{H4427} over us.

But the fig-tree{H8384} said{H559} unto them, Should I leave{H2308} my sweetness,{H4987} and my good{H2896} fruit,{H8570} and go{H1980} to wave{H5128} to and fro over the trees?{H6086}

And the trees{H6086} said{H559} unto the vine,{H1612} Come{H3212} thou, and reign{H4427} over us.

And the vine{H1612} said{H559} unto them, Should I leave{H2308} my new wine,{H8492} which cheereth{H8055} God{H430} and man,{H582} and go{H1980} to wave{H5128} to and fro over the trees?{H6086}

Then said{H559} all the trees{H6086} unto the bramble,{H329} Come{H3212} thou, and reign{H4427} over us.

And the bramble{H329} said{H559} unto the trees,{H6086} If in truth{H571} ye anoint{H4886} me king{H4428} over you, then come{H935} and take refuge{H2620} in my shade;{H6738} and if not, let fire{H784} come out{H3318} of the bramble,{H329} and devour{H398} the cedars{H730} of Lebanon.{H3844}

Now therefore, if ye have dealt{H6213} truly{H571} and uprightly,{H8549} in that ye have made Abimelech{H40} king,{H4427} and if ye have dealt{H6213} well{H2896} with Jerubbaal{H3378} and his house,{H1004} and have done{H6213} unto him according to the deserving{H1576} of his hands{H3027}

(for my father{H1} fought{H3898} for you, and adventured{H7993} his life,{H5315} {H5048} and delivered{H5337} you out of the hand{H3027} of Midian:{H4080}

and ye are risen up{H6965} against my father's{H1} house{H1004} this day,{H3117} and have slain{H2026} his sons,{H1121} threescore and ten{H7657} persons,{H376} upon one{H259} stone,{H68} and have made Abimelech,{H40} the son{H1121} of his maid-servant,{H519} king{H4427} over the men{H1167} of Shechem,{H7927} because he is your brother);{H251}

if ye then have dealt{H6213} truly{H571} and uprightly{H8549} with Jerubbaal{H3378} and with his house{H1004} this day,{H3117} then rejoice{H8055} ye in Abimelech,{H40} and let him also rejoice{H8055} in you:

but if not, let fire{H784} come out{H3318} from Abimelech,{H40} and devour{H398} the men{H1167} of Shechem,{H7927} and the house{H1004} of Millo;{H4407} and let fire{H784} come out{H3318} from the men{H1167} of Shechem,{H7927} and from the house{H1004} of Millo,{H4407} and devour{H398} Abimelech.{H40}

And Jotham{H3147} ran away,{H1272} and fled,{H5127} and went{H3212} to Beer,{H876} and dwelt{H3427} there, for fear{H6440} of Abimelech{H40} his brother.{H251}

And Abimelech{H40} was prince{H7786} over Israel{H3478} three{H7969} years.{H8141}

And God{H430} sent{H7971} an evil{H7451} spirit{H7307} between Abimelech{H40} and the men{H1167} of Shechem;{H7927} and the men{H1167} of Shechem{H7927} dealt treacherously{H898} with Abimelech:{H40}

that the violence{H2555} done to the threescore and ten{H7657} sons{H1121} of Jerubbaal{H3378} might come,{H935} and that their blood{H1818} might be laid{H7760} upon Abimelech{H40} their brother,{H251} who slew{H2026} them, and upon the men{H1167} of Shechem,{H7927} who strengthened{H2388} his hands to slay{H2026} his brethren.{H251}

And the men{H1167} of Shechem{H7927} set{H7760} liers-in-wait{H693} for him on the tops{H7218} of the mountains,{H2022} and they robbed{H1497} all that came{H5674} along that way{H1870} by them: and it was told{H5046} Abimelech.{H40}

And Gaal{H1603} the son{H1121} of Ebed{H5651} came{H935} with his brethren,{H251} and went over{H5674} to Shechem;{H7927} and the men{H1167} of Shechem{H7927} put their trust{H982} in him.

And they went out{H3318} into the field,{H7704} and gathered{H1219} their vineyards,{H3754} and trod{H1869} [the grapes], and held{H6213} festival,{H1974} and went{H935} into the house{H1004} of their god,{H430} and did eat{H398} and drink,{H8354} and cursed{H7043} Abimelech.{H40}

And Gaal{H1603} the son{H1121} of Ebed{H5651} said,{H559} Who is Abimelech,{H40} and who is Shechem,{H7927} that we should serve{H5647} him? is not he the son{H1121} of Jerubbaal?{H3378} and Zebul{H2083} his officer?{H6496} serve{H5647} ye the men{H582} of Hamor{H2544} the father{H1} of Shechem:{H7927} but why should we serve{H5647} him?

And would that this people{H5971} were under{H5414} my hand!{H3027} then would I remove{H5493} Abimelech.{H40} And he said{H559} to Abimelech,{H40} Increase{H7235} thine army,{H6635} and come out.{H3318}

And when Zebul{H2083} the ruler{H8269} of the city{H5892} heard{H8085} the words{H1697} of Gaal{H1603} the son{H1121} of Ebed,{H5651} his anger{H639} was kindled.{H2734}

And he sent{H7971} messengers{H4397} unto Abimelech{H40} craftily,{H8649} saying,{H559} Behold, Gaal{H1603} the son{H1121} of Ebed{H5651} and his brethren{H251} are come{H935} to Shechem;{H7927} and, behold, they constrain{H6696} the city{H5892} [to take part] against thee.

Now therefore, up{H6965} by night,{H3915} thou and the people{H5971} that are with thee, and lie in wait{H693} in the field:{H7704}

and it shall be, that in the morning,{H1242} as soon as the sun{H8121} is up,{H2224} thou shalt rise early,{H7925} and rush upon the city;{H5892} and, behold, when he and the people{H5971} that are with him come out{H3318} against thee, then mayest thou{H3027} do{H6213} to them [ as thou]{H3027} [shalt find occasion.]{H4672}

And Abimelech{H40} rose up,{H6965} and all the people{H5971} that were with him, by night,{H3915} and they laid wait{H693} against Shechem{H7927} in four{H702} companies.{H7218}

And Gaal{H1603} the son{H1121} of Ebed{H5651} went out,{H3318} and stood{H5975} in the entrance{H6607} of the gate{H8179} of the city:{H5892} and Abimelech{H40} rose up,{H6965} and the people{H5971} that were with him, from the ambushment.{H3993}

And when Gaal{H1603} saw{H7200} the people,{H5971} he said{H559} to Zebul,{H2083} Behold, there come{H3381} people{H5971} down{H3381} from the tops{H7218} of the mountains.{H2022} And Zebul{H2083} said{H559} unto him, Thou seest{H7200} the shadow{H6738} of the mountains{H2022} as if they were men.{H582}

And Gaal{H1603} spake{H1696} again{H3254} and said,{H559} See, there come{H3381} people{H5971} down{H3381} by the middle{H2872} of the land,{H776} and one company{H7218} cometh{H935} by the way of{H1870} the oak{H436} of{H1870} Meonenim.{H6049}

Then said{H559} Zebul{H2083} unto him, Where is now{H645} thy mouth,{H6310} that thou saidst,{H559} Who is Abimelech,{H40} that we should serve{H5647} him? is not this the people{H5971} that thou hast despised?{H3988} go out{H3318} now,{H4994} I pray, and fight{H3898} with them.

And Gaal{H1603} went out{H3318} before{H6440} the men{H1167} of Shechem,{H7927} and fought{H3898} with Abimelech.{H40}

And Abimelech{H40} chased{H7291} him, and he fled{H5127} before{H6440} him, and there fell{H5307} many{H7227} wounded,{H2491} even unto the entrance{H6607} of the gate.{H8179}

And Abimelech{H40} dwelt{H3427} at Arumah:{H725} and Zebul{H2083} drove out{H1644} Gaal{H1603} and his brethren,{H251} that they should not dwell{H3427} in Shechem.{H7927}

And it came to pass on the morrow,{H4283} that the people{H5971} went out{H3318} into the field;{H7704} and they told{H5046} Abimelech.{H40}

And he took{H3947} the people,{H5971} and divided{H2673} them into three{H7969} companies,{H7218} and laid wait{H693} in the field;{H7704} and he looked,{H7200} and, behold, the people{H5971} came forth{H3318} out of the city;{H5892} And he rose up{H6965} against them, and smote{H5221} them.

And Abimelech,{H40} and the companies{H7218} that were with him, rushed forward,{H6584} and stood{H5975} in the entrance{H6607} of the gate{H8179} of the city:{H5892} and the two{H8147} companies{H7218} rushed upon{H6584} all that were in the field,{H7704} and smote{H5221} them.

And Abimelech{H40} fought{H3898} against the city{H5892} all that day;{H3117} and he took{H3920} the city,{H5892} and slew{H2026} the people{H5971} that were therein: and he beat down{H5422} the city,{H5892} and sowed{H2232} it with salt.{H4417}

And when all the men{H1167} of the tower{H4026} of Shechem{H7927} heard{H8085} thereof, they entered{H935} into the stronghold{H6877} of the house{H1004} of {H410} El-berith.{H1286}

And it was told{H5046} Abimelech{H40} that all the men{H1167} of the tower{H4026} of Shechem{H7927} were gathered together.{H6908}

And Abimelech{H40} gat him up{H5927} to mount{H2022} Zalmon,{H6756} he and all the people{H5971} that were with him; and Abimelech{H40} took{H3947} an axe{H7134} in his hand,{H3027} and cut down{H3772} a bough{H7754} from the trees,{H6086} and took{H5375} it up, and laid{H7760} it on his shoulder:{H7926} and he said{H559} unto the people{H5971} that were with him, What ye have seen{H7200} me do,{H6213} make haste,{H4116} and do{H6213} as I{H3644} have done.

And all the people{H5971} likewise cut down{H3772} every man{H376} his bough,{H7754} and followed{H3212} Abimelech,{H40} and put{H7760} them to the stronghold,{H6877} and set{H3341} the stronghold{H6877} on fire{H784} upon them; so that all the men{H582} of the tower{H4026} of Shechem{H7927} died{H4191} also, about a thousand{H505} men{H376} and women.{H802}

Then went{H3212} Abimelech{H40} to Thebez,{H8405} and encamped{H2583} against Thebez,{H8405} and took{H3920} it.

But there was a strong{H5797} tower{H4026} within{H8432} the city,{H5892} and thither fled{H5127} all the men{H582} and women,{H802} and all they{H1167} of the city,{H5892} and shut{H5462} themselves in, and gat them up{H5927} to the roof{H1406} of the tower.{H4026}

And Abimelech{H40} came{H935} unto the tower,{H4026} and fought{H3898} against it, and drew near{H5066} unto the door{H6607} of the tower{H4026} to burn{H8313} it with fire.{H784}

And a certain{H259} woman{H802} cast{H7993} an upper{H6400} millstone{H7393} upon Abimelech's{H40} head,{H7218} and brake{H7533} his skull.{H1538}

Then he called{H7121} hastily{H4120} unto the young man{H5288} his armorbearer,{H5375} and said{H559} unto him, Draw{H8025} thy sword,{H2719} and kill{H4191} me, that men say{H559} not of me, A woman{H802} slew{H2026} him. And his young man{H5288} thrust him through,{H1856} and he died.{H4191}

And when the men{H376} of Israel{H3478} saw{H7200} that Abimelech{H40} was dead,{H4191} they departed{H3212} every man{H376} unto his place.{H4725}

Thus God{H430} requited{H7725} the wickedness{H7451} of Abimelech,{H40} which he did{H6213} unto his father,{H1} in slaying{H2026} his seventy{H7657} brethren;{H251}

and all the wickedness{H7451} of the men{H582} of Shechem{H7927} did God{H430} requite{H7725} upon their heads:{H7218} and upon them came{H935} the curse{H7045} of Jotham{H3147} the son{H1121} of Jerubbaal.{H3378}