Abimelech’s Conspiracy 1 ULT Now Abimelech, the son of Jerubbaal, went to Shechem to the brothers of his mother, and he spoke to them and to all of the clan of the house of the father of his mother, saying, 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 ULT “Please speak in the ears of all of the lords of Shechem,‘What is better for you, 70 men ruling over you, all of the sons of Jerubbaal, or one man ruling over you?’ Now remember that I{ am} your bone and your flesh.” 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 ULT And the brothers of his mother spoke all of these things for him in the ears of all of the lords of Shechem, and their heart turned after Abimelech, for they said,“He{ is} our brother.” 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 ULT Then they gave 70 silver to him from the house of Baal- Berith, and with them Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men, and they went after him. 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 ULT Then he went{ to} the house of his father in Ophrah and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, 70 men upon one stone. But Jotham was left, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, for he had hidden himself. 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 ULT Then all of the lords of Shechem and all of Beth Millo gathered themselves, and they went and made Abimelech reign as king beside the oak of the pillar that{ was} in Shechem. 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 ULT And they declared to Jotham, and he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and he lifted his voice and cried out and said to them,“Listen to me, lords of Shechem, that God may 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 ULT Going, the trees went to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree,‘Reign over us.’ BSB BSB: One day the trees set out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’
9 ULT But the olive tree said to them,‘Should I discontinue my fatness, which, by it, they honor gods and men, that I should go to wave over the 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 ULT So the trees said to the fig tree,‘Come, you reign over us.’ BSB BSB: Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11 ULT But the fig tree said to them,‘Should I discontinue my sweetness and my good fruit, that I should go to wave over the 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 ULT So the trees said to the vine,‘Come, you reign over us.’ BSB BSB: Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 ULT But the vine said to them,‘Should I discontinue my new wine, cheering gods and men, that I should go to wave over the 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 ULT So all of the trees said to the thornbush,‘Come, you reign over us.’ BSB BSB: Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 ULT And the thornbush said to the trees,‘If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come, shelter in my shade. But if not, may fire go forth from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’ 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 ULT So now, if you have acted in truth and in integrity and made Abimelech reign, and if you have done good with Jerubbaal and with his house, and if according to the deserving of his hands you have done to him, 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 ULT that my father fought for you and threw his life in front and delivered you from the hand of Midian— BSB BSB: for my father fought for you and risked his life to deliver you from the hand of Midian,
18 ULT but today you have arisen against the house of my father and have killed his sons, 70 men upon one stone, and you have made Abimelech, the son of his female slave, reign over the lords of Shechem because he is your brother— 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 ULT now if you have acted in truth and in integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and may he also rejoice in you. 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 ULT But if not, may fire go forth from Abimelech, and may it consume the lords of Shechem and Beth Millo, and may fire go forth from the lords of Shechem and from Beth Millo, and may it consume 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 ULT Then Jotham escaped and fled, and he went to Beer. And he dwelled there from the face of Abimelech his brother. 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 ULT And Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. BSB BSB: After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,
23 ULT Then God sent a bad spirit between Abimelech and between the lords of Shechem, and the lords of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech, BSB BSB: God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,
24 ULT the violence of the 70 sons of Jerubbaal to come, and their blood to put, upon Abimelech their brother who killed them and upon the lords of Shechem who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers. 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 ULT And the lords of Shechem put ambushers against him on the tops of the hills, and they robbed everyone who passed by them on the road, and it was told to Abimelech. 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 ULT Then Gaal, the son of Ebed, came with his brothers and they went over into Shechem. And the lords of Shechem trusted in 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 ULT And they went out{ into} the field and cut off their vineyards and trod, and they made offerings and went{ into} the house of their god, and they ate and drank and 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 ULT Then Gaal, the 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 deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. But we, why should we serve him? 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 ULT Now who will give this people into my hand? Then I would remove Abimelech.” And he said to Abimelech,“Increase your army and come out.” 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 ULT And Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his nose burned. BSB BSB: When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.
31 ULT And he sent messengers to Abimelech in deceit, saying,“Behold, Gaal, the son of Ebed, and his brothers{ are} come to Shechem, and behold,{ they are} inciting the city 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 ULT So now arise{ at} night, you and the people who{ are} with you, and hide in the field. BSB BSB: Now then, tonight you and the people with you are to come and lie in wait in the fields.
33 ULT And it shall happen in the morning, as the sun rises, you shall start early and you shall rush against the city. And behold, he and the people who{ are} with him{ will be} coming out against you, and you shall do to him according to what your hand finds.” 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 ULT So Abimelech and all of the people who{ were} with him arose{ at} night, and they ambushed against Shechem,{ in} four companies. BSB BSB: So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 ULT And Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city, and Abimelech and the people who{ were} with him arose from the ambush. 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 ULT And Gaal saw the people and he said to Zebul,“Behold, a people{ is} coming down from the tops of the hills!” But Zebul said to him,“The shadow of the hills, you{ are} seeing as men.” 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 ULT And Gaal resumed to speak more and he said,“Behold, people{ are} coming down from the navel of the land, and one company{ is} coming along the way of the Oak of the Diviners.” 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 ULT Then Zebul said to him,“Where now{ is} your mouth,{ by} which you said,‘Who{ is} Abimelech, that we should serve him?’{ Is} this not the people that you despised? Indeed, go out now and fight with it.” 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 ULT So Gaal went out to the face of the lords of Shechem, and he fought with Abimelech. BSB BSB: So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,
40 ULT And Abimelech pursued him, and he fled from his face. And many wounded fell, up to the entrance of the 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 ULT Then Abimelech dwelt in Arumah. And Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers from dwelling in Shechem. BSB BSB: Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 ULT And it happened on the next day that the people went out{ to} the field, and they reported{ this} to Abimelech. BSB BSB: The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
43 ULT So he took the people and divided them into three companies and hid in the field. Then he saw and behold, the people{ were} gone out from the city, and he arose against them and killed 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 ULT For Abimelech and the companies that{ were} with him rushed out. And they stood{ at} the entrance of the gate of the city, while two of the companies rushed against all who{ were} in the field and killed 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 ULT And Abimelech fought with the city all of that day. And he captured the city, and he killed the people who{ were} in it. Then he tore down the city and sowed it{ with} salt. 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 ULT And all of the lords of the tower of Shechem heard, and they entered into the citadel of the house of 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 ULT And it was reported to Abimelech that all of the lords of the tower of Shechem had assembled themselves. BSB BSB: And when Abimelech was told that all the leaders in the tower of Shechem were gathered there,
48 ULT So Abimelech went up Mount Zalmon, he and all of the people who{ were} with him, and Abimelech took axes in his hand. And he cut a branch of the trees and lifted it and set{ it} on his shoulder and said to the people who{ were} with him,“What you have seen I have done, hurry, do like me.” 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 ULT So all the people also cut, a man a branch, and they went after Abimelech. And they set{ them} against the citadel, and they burned the citadel upon them with fire. So all of the men of the tower of Shechem also died, about 1, 000 men and women. 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 ULT Then Abimelech went to Thebez and encamped against Thebez, and he captured it. BSB BSB: Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.
51 ULT But a strong tower was in the midst of the city, and all of the men and women and all of the lords of the city fled there. And they closed{ it} behind them and went up onto 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 ULT Then Abimelech came to the tower and fought with it. And he came near to the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire. BSB BSB: When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
53 ULT But one woman threw an upper millstone onto the head of Abimelech, and it crushed his skull. BSB BSB: But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head, crushing his skull.
54 ULT Then he cried hastily to the young man bearing his armor and said to him,“Draw your sword and kill me, lest they say about me,‘A woman killed him.’” So his young man stabbed him, and he 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 ULT And the men of Israel saw that Abimelech had died, and they went away, a man to his place. BSB BSB: And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
56 ULT So God turned back the evil of Abimelech, which he did to his father by killing his 70 brothers. BSB BSB: In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
57 ULT And all of the evil of the men of Shechem, God turned back upon their head, and the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal, came upon them. 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.