Abimelech’s Conspiracy 1 UDB Gideon's son Abimelech went to talk with his mother's brothers in the city of Shechem. Gideon was also called Jerub-Baal. He said to them and to all of his mother's relatives, BSB BSB: Now Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to his mother’s brothers at Shechem and said to them and to all the clan of his mother,
2 UDB "Ask all the leaders of Shechem: 'Do you think it would be good for all seventy of Gideon's sons to rule over you? Or would it be better to have only one man, Abimelech, to rule over you?' And do not forget that I am a part of your family!" BSB BSB: “Please ask all the leaders of Shechem, ‘Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or just one man?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and blood.”
3 UDB So Abimelech's mother's brothers spoke to all the leaders of Shechem about what Abimelech had said. They said to each other, "We should allow Abimelech to rule over us because he is our relative." BSB BSB: And when his mother’s brothers spoke all these words about him in the presence of all the leaders of Shechem, their hearts were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”
4 UDB So the leaders of Shechem took from the temple of their god Baal-Berith one kilogram of silver and gave it to Abimelech. With that silver he paid some worthless troublemakers to help him, and they went with Abimelech wherever he went. BSB BSB: So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-berith, with which Abimelech hired some worthless and reckless men to follow him.
5 UDB Abimelech went to Ophrah, his father's town, and he murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of his father Gideon. They killed all those men on one huge rock. But Gideon's youngest son Jotham hid from Abimelech and his men, and he escaped. BSB BSB: He went to his father’s house in Ophrah, and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid himself.
6 UDB Then all the leaders of the towns of Shechem and Beth Millo gathered under the big sacred tree at Shechem. There they appointed Abimelech to be their leader. BSB BSB: Then all the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo gathered beside the oak at the pillar in Shechem and proceeded to make Abimelech their king.
Jotham’s Parable 7 UDB When Jotham heard about that, he climbed up Mount Gerizim. He stood at the top of the mountain and shouted to the people down below, "You leaders of Shechem, listen to me, so that God will listen to you! BSB BSB: When this was reported to Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and cried out: “Listen to me, O leaders of Shechem, and may God listen to you.
8 UDB One day the trees decided to appoint a king to rule over all of them. So they said to the olive tree, 'You be our king!' BSB BSB: One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 UDB But the olive tree said, 'No! I will not be your king! Men and gods enjoy the oil from my fruit. I will not stop producing olives from which we make that oil in order to rule over you other trees!' BSB BSB: But the olive tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my oil that honors both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
10 UDB Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!' BSB BSB: Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11 UDB But the fig tree replied, 'No! I do not want to stop producing my good sweet fruit and go and rule over you other trees!' BSB BSB: But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 UDB Then the trees said to the grapevine, 'Come and be our king!' BSB BSB: Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 UDB But the grapevine replied, 'No! I will not be your king! The new wine that is made from my grapes causes people and gods who drink it to become very happy. I do not want to stop producing grapes and go and rule over you other trees!' BSB BSB: But the grapevine replied, ‘Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 UDB Then all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be our king!' BSB BSB: Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 UDB The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you truly want to appoint me to be your king, come into the shade of my tiny branches. But if you do not want to do that, I hope that fire will come out from me and burn up all the cedar trees in Lebanon country!'" BSB BSB: But the thornbush replied, ‘If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon.’
16 UDB After Jotham finished telling them this parable, he said, "So now I ask you, were you being completely honest and sincere when you appointed Abimelech to be your king? Have you rewarded Gideon (who is also called Jerub-Baal) by honoring him as he deserved because of all the good things he did for you? No! BSB BSB: Now if you have acted faithfully and honestly in making Abimelech king, if you have done well by Jerubbaal and his family, and if you have done to him as he deserves—
17 UDB Do not forget that my father fought a battle for you, and he was willing to die for you if that were necessary, to save you from the power of the Midianite people. BSB BSB: for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,
18 UDB But now you have rebelled against my father's family, and you have murdered seventy of his sons on one huge rock. And you have appointed Abimelech—who is the son of my father's slave girl, not the son of his wife—to be the king who will rule you people of Shechem. You have done that only because he is one of your relatives! BSB BSB: but you have risen up against my father’s house this day and killed his seventy sons on a single stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the leaders of Shechem because he is your brother—
19 UDB So, if today you think that you have truly acted fairly and sincerely toward Gideon and his family, I hope that he will cause you to be happy and that you will cause him to be happy. BSB BSB: if you have acted faithfully and honestly toward Jerubbaal and his house this day, then may you rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you.
20 UDB But if what you did was not right, I wish that Abimelech will destroy Shechem and Beth Millo!" I wish that the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo will also destroy Abimelech!" BSB BSB: But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech.”
21 UDB After Jotham finished saying that, he escaped from them and ran away to the town of Beer. He stayed there because he was afraid that his brother Abimelech would try to kill him. BSB BSB: Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
Gaal Conspires with the Shechemites 22 UDB For three years Abimelech was the leader over the people of Israel. BSB BSB: After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,
23 UDB Then God sent an evil spirit to cause trouble between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem, with the result that the leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech. BSB BSB: God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,
24 UDB The leaders of Shechem had helped Abimelech murder seventy of Gideon's sons, who were his brothers. So now God sent the evil spirit to punish all of them for what they had done. BSB BSB: in order that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood be avenged on their brother Abimelech and on the leaders of Shechem, who had helped him murder his brothers.
25 UDB The leaders of Shechem set an ambush on the hilltops. Those men robbed everyone who passed by. But someone told Abimelech about it, so he did not go near them. BSB BSB: The leaders of Shechem set up an ambush against Abimelech on the hilltops, and they robbed all who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.
26 UDB There was a man named Gaal son of Ebed who moved into Shechem, along with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem grew to trust him. BSB BSB: Meanwhile, Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the leaders of Shechem put their confidence in him.
27 UDB They went out to their vineyards to pick some grapes. They pressed the grapes to make juice, and then they made wine. Then they had a feast in the house of their god, and they ate much food and drank much wine. Then they cursed Abimelech. BSB BSB: And after they had gone out into the fields, gathered grapes from their vineyards, and trodden them, they held a festival and went into the house of their god; and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.
28 UDB Gaal son of Ebed said, "Why should we allow Abimelech to rule over us? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal? And is Zebul not his officer? You should serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelech? BSB BSB: Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?
29 UDB If you would appoint me to be your leader, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, 'Get your army ready! Come and fight us!'" BSB BSB: If only this people were under my authority, I would remove Abimelech; I would say to him, ‘Muster your army and come out!’”
The Fall of Shechem 30 UDB Someone told Zebul what Gaal had said, and he became very angry. BSB BSB: When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.
31 UDB He sent messengers to Abimelech. They told him, "Gaal and his brothers have come here to Shechem, and they are stirring up the people so they will rebel against you. BSB BSB: So he covertly sent messengers to Abimelech to say, “Look, Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you.
32 UDB You and your men should get up during the night and go and hide in the fields outside the city. BSB BSB: Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.
33 UDB As soon as the sun rises in the morning, get up and attack the city. When Gaal and his men come out to fight against you, you can do to them whatever you want to." BSB BSB: And in the morning at sunrise, get up and advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, do to them whatever you are able.”
34 UDB So Abimelech and all the men who were with him got up during the night. They divided into four groups and hid in the fields near Shechem. BSB BSB: So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 UDB The next morning, Gaal went out and stood at the entrance to the city gate. While he was standing there, Abimelech and his soldiers came out of their hiding places and started walking toward the city. BSB BSB: Now Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelech and his men came out from their hiding places.
36 UDB When Gaal saw the soldiers, he said to Zebul, "Look! There are people coming down from the hills!" But Zebul said, "You are seeing only the shadows of trees on the hills. They are not people; they only look like people." BSB BSB: When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the mountains!” But Zebul replied, “The shadows of the mountains look like men to you.”
37 UDB But Gaal looked again, and said, "Look! There are people coming down in the middle of the land! There is a group of them coming down from by way of the oak tree where people claim to talk with the spirits of dead people!" BSB BSB: Then Gaal spoke up again, “Look, people are coming down from the center of the land, and one company is coming by way of the Diviners’ Oak.”
38 UDB Zebul said to Gaal, "Now what good is your bragging—you who said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you hated? Go out now and fight against them." BSB BSB: “Where is your gloating now?” Zebul replied. “You said, ‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Are these not the people you ridiculed? Go out now and fight them!”
39 UDB So Gaal led the men of Shechem outside the city to fight the army of Abimelech. BSB BSB: So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,
40 UDB Abimelech and his men pursued them, and they killed many of Gaal's men before they could return safely inside the city gate. BSB BSB: but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. And many Shechemites fell wounded all the way to the entrance of the gate.
41 UDB Abimelech then stayed at Arumah, about five miles away from Shechem, and Zebul's men forced Gaal and his brothers to leave Shechem. BSB BSB: Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 UDB The next day, the people of Shechem got ready to leave the city and work in their fields. When someone told Abimelech about that, BSB BSB: The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
43 UDB he divided his men into three groups and told them to hide in the fields. So they did that. And when they saw the people coming out of the city, they jumped up and attacked them. BSB BSB: So he took his men, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose up against them and attacked them.
44 UDB Abimelech and the men who were with him ran to the city gate. The other two groups ran out to the people in the fields and attacked them. BSB BSB: Then Abimelech and the companies with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two companies rushed against all who were in the fields and struck them down.
45 UDB Abimelech and his men fought all day. They captured the city and killed all the people. They tore down all the buildings and then they threw salt over the ruins to try to keep anything from growing there again. BSB BSB: And all that day Abimelech fought against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.
46 UDB When the leaders who lived in the tower outside of Shechem heard what had happened, they ran and hid inside the fortress, which was also a temple of their god El-Berith. BSB BSB: On hearing of this, all the leaders in the tower of Shechem entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.
47 UDB But someone told Abimelech that all the leaders had gathered there. BSB BSB: And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,
48 UDB So he and all the men who were with him went up Mount Zalmon, which is near Shechem. Abimelech cut some branches of trees with an axe and put them on his shoulders. Then he said to all the men who were with him, "Quickly, do what I have just done!" BSB BSB: he and all his men went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his axe in his hand and cut a branch from the trees, which he lifted to his shoulder, saying to his men, “Hurry and do what you have seen me do.”
49 UDB So all of his men cut branches carried them down the mountain, following Abimelech. They went to the fortress and piled the branches against its walls. Then they kindled a fire, and the fire burned down the fortress and killed all the people who were inside. So all the people who were inside the fortress—about a thousand men and women—died. BSB BSB: So each man also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. Then they piled the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire above them, killing everyone in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women.
Abimelech’s Punishment 50 UDB Then Abimelech and his men went to the city of Thebez. They surrounded it and captured it. BSB BSB: Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.
51 UDB But there was a strong tower inside the city. So all the men, women, and leaders of the city ran to the tower. When they were all inside, they locked the door. Then they climbed up to the roof of the tower. BSB BSB: But there was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and leaders of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.
52 UDB Abimelech and his men came to the tower and he came up to the door to light a fire to burn down the door. BSB BSB: When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
53 UDB But when Abimelech came near the doorway, a woman who was on the roof dropped the upper half of a large grinding stone on his head, which cracked the bone of his skull. BSB BSB: But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.
54 UDB Abimelech quickly called to the young man who carried Abimelech's weapons, and said, "Pull out your sword and kill me with it! I do not want people to say 'A woman killed Abimelech.'" So the young man thrust his sword into Abimelech, and Abimelech died. BSB BSB: He quickly called his armor-bearer, saying, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So Abimelech’s armor-bearer ran his sword through him, and he died.
55 UDB When the Israelite soldiers saw that Abimelech was dead, they all returned to their homes. BSB BSB: And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
56 UDB In that way God punished Abimelech for all the evil things that he had done to his father by murdering all seventy of his brothers. BSB BSB: In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
57 UDB God also punished the men of Shechem for the evil things that they had done. And when these things happened, it made true the curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal. BSB BSB: And God also brought all the wickedness of the men of Shechem back upon their own heads. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.