18
And ye are risen up against my father'shouse this day, and have slain his sons, threescore and tenpersons, upon onestone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant,king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother;)
19
If ye then have dealttruly 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 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 devourAbimelech.
21
And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer, and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother.
22
When Abimelech had reignedthreeyears over Israel,
23
Then Godsent an evilspirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech:
24
That the cruelty done to the threescore and tensons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid upon Abimelech their brother, which slew them; and upon the men of Shechem, which aided[a]* him in the killing of his brethren.
25
And the men of Shechemset 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 toldAbimelech.
26
And Gaal the son of Ebedcame with his brethren, and went over to Shechem: and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27
And they went out into the fields, and gathered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and mademerry,[b] and went into the house of their god, and did eat and drink, and cursedAbimelech.
28
And Gaal the son of Ebedsaid, 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?