Judges 9:21-31

21 And when Jotham had said these things, he fled, and went into Beer, and dwelled there, for dread of Abimelech, his brother (in fear of his brother Abimelech).
22 And Abimelech reigned on Israel three years. (And Abimelech reigned over Israel for three years.)
23 And the Lord sent the worst spirit betwixt Abimelech and the dwellers of Shechem, which began to hold him abominable, (And the Lord sent the worst spirit between Abimelech and the inhabitants of Shechem, who began to hold him abominable,)
24 and to areckon the felony of [the] slaying of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, and the shedding out of their blood, into Abimelech their brother, and into [the] other princes of Shechem, that had helped him. (and to reckon the felony of the slaughter of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, yea, the shedding out of their blood, unto their brother Abimelech, and unto those other men of Shechem, who had helped him.)
25 And men of Shechem set ambushments against the king in the highness of hills; and while they abode his coming, they haunted thefts, and took preys of men passing thereforth; and it was told to Abimelech. (And so the men of Shechem set men in ambush against the king in the highness of the hills; and while they waited for him, they robbed, and took plunder, from those who passed by; and this was told to Abimelech.)
26 And Gaal, the son of Ebed, came with his brethren, and passed into Shechem; at whose entering the dwellers of Shechem were raised, (And Gaal, the son of Ebed, came with his kinsmen, and went into Shechem; at whose entry, the inhabitants of Shechem were raised up, and turned to him,)
27 and went out into [the] fields, and wasted vineries, and trode grapes; and with companies of singers made, they entered into the temple of their God, and among meats and drinks they cursed Abimelech, (and they went into the fields, and emptied out their vineyards, and trod down the grapes at the winepress, and made merry; and they entered into the temple of their god, and over food and drink they cursed Abimelech,)
28 while Gaal, the son of Ebed, cried, Who is this Abimelech? And what is Shechem, that we serve him? Whether he is not the son of Jerubbaal, and made Zebul, his servant, prince on the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem? Why therefore shall we serve him? (while Gaal, the son of Ebed, cried, Who is this Abimelech? And why should we Shechemites serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal? Is not Zebul but his servant? Yea, we should serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem! Why do we serve him?)
29 Would God, (that) some man would give this people (to be) under mine hand, and (then) I should do away Abimelech from the midst of Shechem. And it was said to Abimelech, Gather thou the multitude of an host, and come thou (And then he said to Abimelech, as if he were there, Gather thou the multitude of thy army, and come thou out, if thou darest).
30 For when the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, were heard, Zebul, the prince of the city was full wroth; (And when the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, were heard, Zebul, the leader of the city was very angry;)
31 and he sent privily messengers to Abimelech, and said, Lo! Gaal, the son of Ebed, is come into Shechem with his brethren, and he exciteth the city to fight against thee; (and he sent messengers privately, or secretly, to Abimelech, and said, Lo! Gaal, the son of Ebed, is come into Shechem with his kinsmen, and he exciteth, or rouseth, the city to fight against thee;)
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.