1
And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaalwent to Shechem to his mother'srelatives, and spoke to them and to the wholeclan of the household of his mother'sfather, saying,
2
"Speak, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that seventymen, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that onemanrule over you?' Also, remember that I am your bone and your flesh."
3
And his mother'srelativesspokeallthesewords on his behalf in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem; and they were inclined to followAbimelech, for they said, "He is our relative."
5
Then he went to his father'shouse at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventymen, on onestone. But Jotham the youngestson of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.
7
Now when they toldJotham, he went and stood on the top of MountGerizim, and lifted his voice and called out. Thus he said to them, "Listen to me, O men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.
15
"The bramblesaid to the trees, 'If in truth you are anointing me as kingover you, come and takerefuge in my shade; but if not, may firecome out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.'
16
"Now therefore, if you have dealt in truth and integrity in makingAbimelechking, and if you have dealtwell with Jerubbaal and his house, and have dealt with him as he deserved* -
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but you have risenagainst my father'shousetoday and have killed his sons, seventymen, on onestone, and have madeAbimelech, the son of his maidservant, kingover the men of Shechem, because he is your relative -
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"But if not, let firecome out from Abimelech and consume the men of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let firecome out from the men of Shechem and from Beth-millo, and consumeAbimelech."
24
so that the violence done to the seventysons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, whokilled them, and on the men of Shechem, whostrengthened his hands to kill his brothers.
25
The men of Shechemset men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbedallwho might pass by them along the road; and it was told to Abimelech.
27
They went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trod them, and held a festival; and they went into the house of their god, and ate and drank and cursedAbimelech.
28
Then Gaal the son of Ebedsaid, "Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is Zebul not his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?
29
"Would*, therefore, that thispeople were under my authority! Then I would removeAbimelech." And he said to Abimelech, "Increase your army and come out."
31
He sentmessengers to Abimelechdeceitfully, saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are stirring up the cityagainst you.
33
"In the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall riseearly and rush upon the city; and behold, when he and the peoplewho are with him come out against you, you shall do to them whatever you can."
36
When Gaalsaw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are comingdown from the tops of the mountains." But Zebulsaid to him, "You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men."
38
Then Zebulsaid to him, "Where is your boastingnow with which you said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Is this not the peoplewhom you despised? Go out now and fight with them!"
43
So he took his people and divided them into threecompanies, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and saw the peoplecoming out from the city, he aroseagainst them and slew them.
44
Then Abimelech and the companywho was with him dashed forward and stood in the entrance of the citygate; the other twocompanies then dashedagainstallwho were in the field and slew them.
45
Abimelechfought against the cityall that day, and he captured the city and killed the peoplewho were in it; then he razed the city and sowed it with salt.
48
So Abimelechwent up to MountZalmon, he and all the peoplewho were with him; and Abimelechtook an axe in his hand and cutdown a branch from the trees, and lifted it and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the peoplewho were with him, "What you have seen me do, hurry and dolikewise."
49
All the peoplealsocutdowneachone his branch and followed*Abimelech, and put them on the innerchamber and set the innerchamber on fireover those inside, so that all the men of the tower of Shechemalsodied, about a thousandmen and women.
51
But there was a strongtower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the cityfledthere and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower.
54
Then he calledquickly to the youngman, his armorbearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, 'A womanslew him.' " So the youngmanpierced him through, and he died.