1 Abimelech, son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem to visit his mother’s relatives. He spoke to them and to the entire family of his mother’s household, saying:

And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren, and communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying,

2 "Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, 'Which is better for you: that seventy men—all the sons of Jerubbaal—rule over you, or that one man rules over you?' Remember, I am your own flesh and blood."

Speak, I pray you, in the ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons, reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh.

3 When Abimelech’s mother’s relatives spoke all of his words to the leaders of Shechem, their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother."

And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother.

4 They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and with it Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men who followed him.

And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baalberith, wherewith Abimelech hired vain and light persons, which followed him.

5 He went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, escaped by hiding himself.

And he went unto his father's house at Ophrah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal, being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone: notwithstanding yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left; for he hid himself.

6 Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo gathered together. They went and made Abimelech king by the oak near the pillar in Shechem.

And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

7 When Jotham was told about this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He raised his voice, called out, and said to them, "Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you!

And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim, and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may hearken unto you.

8 The trees once went out to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'

The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them; and they said unto the olive tree, Reign thou over us.

9 But the olive tree replied, 'Should I stop producing my rich oil, by which gods and humans are honored, to go sway over the trees?'

But the olive tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness, wherewith by me they honour God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

10 Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and reign over us.'

And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.

11 But the fig tree replied, 'Should I stop producing my sweetness and my good fruit, to go sway over the trees?'

But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees?

12 Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come and reign over us.'

Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us.

13 But the vine answered them, 'Should I stop producing my wine that cheers both God and humans, in order to sway over the trees?'

And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?

14 Then all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come and reign over us.'

Then said all the trees unto the bramble, Come thou, and reign over us.

15 The bramble said to the trees, 'If you truly mean to anoint me as king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade. But if not, let fire come out of the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.'

And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow: and if not, let fire come out of the bramble, and devour the cedars of Lebanon.

16 Now, if you acted faithfully and sincerely in making Abimelech king, and if you have treated Jerubbaal and his family well, and if you have repaid him in accordance with what he did for you—

Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sincerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserving of his hands;

17 'because my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you from the hand of Midian—'

(For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

18 but today you have risen up against my father’s house and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your brother—

And ye are risen up against my father's house this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)

19 if you have acted faithfully and sincerely toward Jerubbaal and his family today, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.

If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:

20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo, and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-Millo and consume Abimelech.

But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, and the house of Millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech.

21 Then Jotham fled, running away to Beer, and he lived there because he feared his brother Abimelech.

And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.

22 Abimelech ruled over Israel for three years.

When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,

23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem acted treacherously against Abimelech.

Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:

24 This happened so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be avenged, and their blood laid on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the leaders of Shechem, who had supported him in killing his brothers.

That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing of his brethren.

25 The leaders of Shechem set up ambushes on the mountaintops, and they robbed everyone who passed by them on the road. This was reported to Abimelech.

And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them: and it was told Abimelech.

26 Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brothers came to Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their trust in him.

And Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27 They went out into the fields, harvested their vineyards, trampled the grapes, and held a festival. They entered the temple of their god, where they ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech.

And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry, and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech.

28 Then Gaal, the son of Ebed, said, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Isn’t he the son of Jerubbaal, and isn’t Zebul his officer? Serve the descendants of Hamor, the father of Shechem! Why should we serve him?

And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem: for why should we serve him?

29 If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech!" Then he said to Abimelech, "Gather your army and come out!"

And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

30 When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard what Gaal, the son of Ebed, said, he became very angry.

And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled.

31 He secretly sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, "Look, Gaal, son of Ebed, and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.

And he sent messengers unto Abimelech privily, saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and, behold, they fortify the city against thee.

32 Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields.

Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field:

33 In the morning, as the sun rises, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do whatever is needed to deal with them.

And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city: and, behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find occasion.

34 So Abimelech and all his troops got up by night and set an ambush near Shechem in four companies.

And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.

35 When Gaal, the son of Ebed, came out and stood at the entrance of the city gate, Abimelech and his men arose from their hiding places.

And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and Abimelech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait.

36 When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!" But Zebul replied, "You are seeing the shadows of the mountains as if they were men."

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men.

37 But Gaal spoke again, "Look, people are coming down from the central area of the land, and one company is coming from the direction of the soothsayers’ oak."

And Gaal spake again and said, See there come people down by the middle of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Meonenim.

38 Then Zebul said to him, "Where now is your boasting, you who said, 'Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?' Aren’t these the people you despised? Go out now and fight them!"

Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him? is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them.

39 So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech.

And Gaal went out before the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

40 But Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. Many fell wounded, all the way to the entrance of the gate.

And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate.

41 Abimelech stayed in Arumah, while Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.

And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah: and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem.

42 The following day, the people went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.

And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech.

43 So Abimelech took his army, divided them into three companies, and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked them.

And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and, behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose up against them, and smote them.

44 Abimelech and his company rushed forward and took their position at the entrance of the city gate, while the other two companies struck down those in the fields.

And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city: and the two other companies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them.

45 Abimelech fought against the city all that day, captured it, killed its inhabitants, tore it down, and sowed it with salt.

And Abimelech fought against the city all that day; and he took the city, and slew the people that was therein, and beat down the city, and sowed it with salt.

46 When all the citizens of the tower of Shechem heard about this, they went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith.

And when all the men of the tower of Shechem heard that, they entered into an hold of the house of the god Berith.

47 When Abimelech was told that all the people of the tower of Shechem had gathered there,

And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48 he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. There, Abimelech took an axe, cut off a branch from a tree, lifted it onto his shoulder, and said to his men, "What you have seen me do, hurry and do likewise."

And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zalmon, he and all the people that were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do, make haste, and do as I have done.

49 So each of his men cut down a branch and followed Abimelech. They piled the branches against the stronghold and set it on fire over those inside, so all the people in the tower of Shechem—about a thousand men and women—died.

And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women.

50 Then Abimelech went to Thebez. He camped there and captured it.

Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and encamped against Thebez, and took it.

51 Now there was a strong tower in the middle of the city, and all the men and women, along with the city's leaders, fled there. They shut themselves inside and climbed up to the roof of the tower.

But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and all they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower.

52 Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it. He approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire.

And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

53 But a woman dropped a piece of a millstone on Abimelech's head, crushing his skull.

And a certain woman cast a piece of a millstone upon Abimelech's head, and all to brake his skull.

54 Hastily, he called to his young armor-bearer and said, "Draw your sword and kill me, so they cannot say, 'A woman killed him.'" So his servant ran him through, and he died.

Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

55 When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they each returned to their homes.

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed every man unto his place.

56 Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers.

Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abimelech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren:

57 And God also brought back on the heads of the men of Shechem all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, came upon them.

And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.