1 GLT 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 family 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 GLT “Please speak in the ears of all of the citizens of Shechem,‘What is better for you, seventy men ruling over you, all of the sons of Jerubbaal, or one man ruling over you? 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 GLT The brothers of his mother spoke all of these things on his behalf in the ears of all of the citizens of Shechem, and their heart turned aside 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 GLT Then they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal Berith, and Abimelech hired with them unprincipled and undisciplined men, so 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 GLT Then he went to the house of his father at Ophrah, and he killed his brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy 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 GLT Then all of the prominent citizens of Shechem and all of Beth Millo assembled themselves and they went and installed Abimelech as king beside an oak tree near the standing 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.
7 GLT When they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He lifted up his voice and cried out and said to them,“Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so 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 GLT Once the trees went about in order to anoint a king over themselves. So 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 GLT But the olive tree replied to them,‘Have I stopped producing my fatness, when by me 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 GLT So the trees said to the fig tree,‘You come! Reign over us.’ BSB BSB: Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and reign over us.’
11 GLT But the fig tree said to them,‘Have I stopped producing 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 GLT Then the trees said to the vine,‘You come! Reign over us.’ BSB BSB: Then the trees said to the grapevine, ‘Come and reign over us.’
13 GLT Then the vine said to them,‘Have I stopped producing my new wine, which cheers gods and man, 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 GLT Then all of the trees said to the thornbush,‘You come, reign over us.’ BSB BSB: Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and reign over us.’
15 GLT The thornbush said to the trees,‘If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come, seek refuge 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 GLT Therefore, now if in truth and in integrity you have acted when you installed Abimelech as king, and if you have done well concerning Jerubaal and with his household, and if according to the deed 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 GLT that my father fought on your behalf, and threw aside his life even out front, when he delivered you out of 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 GLT but today you have risen up against the house of my father and have killed his sons, seventy men, upon one stone. Then you have installed Abimelech, the son of his female servant, as king over the citizens 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 GLT Now if you have acted in truth and in integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, rejoice about Abimelech, and he himself will also rejoice about 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 GLT But if not, fire shall come forth from Abimelech and it shall consume the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo. Fire shall also come forth from the citizens of Shechem and from Beth Millo and it shall 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 GLT Then Jotham fled away and escaped, and he went to Beer. He settled there away from the presence of Abimelech, his brother. BSB BSB: Then Jotham ran away, escaping to Beer, and he lived there for fear of his brother Abimelech.
22 GLT Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years. BSB BSB: After Abimelech had reigned over Israel for three years,
23 GLT Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and between the citizens of Shechem so that the citizens 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 GLT by revisiting the violent treatment of the seventy sons of Jerubbaal and by putting their blood upon Abimelech their brother, who had killed them, and upon the citizens 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 GLT So the citizens of Shechem positioned men in ambush after him along the tops of the hills. They robbed everyone who would pass by them along the road, and it was reported 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 GLT Then Gaal, the son of Ebed came along with his brothers and they went over to Shechem. The citizens of Shechem trusted 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 GLT They went out into the field and they picked grapes from their vineyards, and they pressed them. They celebrated harvest festivals and they went into the house of their gods, then they ate and they drank, and 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 GLT 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 Zebul his deputy? Serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve him, ourselves? 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 GLT Who will give this people into my hand? Then I would depose Abimelech. He said to Abimelech,‘Enlarge your army and come forth.’” 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!’”
30 GLT When Zebul, the prince of the city, heard the words of Gaal, the son of Ebed, his anger burned. BSB BSB: When Zebul the governor of the city heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he burned with anger.
31 GLT So he sent messengers to Abimelech in secret, saying,“Look, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers are coming to Shechem, and look, 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 GLT Therefore, now, rise up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in ambush 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 GLT Then it shall happen, in the morning, at the rising of the sun, you shall set out early and you shall spread out in an attack against the city. Watch, when he and the people who are with him are coming out to you, then you do to him just as your hand finds occasion.” 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 GLT So Abimelech and all of the people who were with him rose up by night, and they set up an ambush against Shechem. They were four units. BSB BSB: So Abimelech and all his troops set out by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.
35 GLT Gaal, the son of Ebed, went out and he stood in the entrance of the gate of the city. Then Abimelech and the people who were with him rose up 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 GLT When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul,“Look, a group of people is coming down from the tops of the hills!” Zebul said to him,“You are seeing the shadow of the hills 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 GLT Again, Gaal continued to speak and said,“Look, groups of people are coming down from beside the summit of the land, and one unit is coming from 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 GLT Then Zebul said to him,“Where then is your mouth, with which you said,‘Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?’ Is this not the people who you regard it with contempt? Indeed, go out now and fight against him.” 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 GLT So Gaal went out before the citizens of Shechem, and he fought against Abimelech. BSB BSB: So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,
40 GLT Abimelech pursued him, and he fled from his presence. Many fell fatally wounded as far as the entrance of 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 GLT Then Abimelech settled in Arumah. Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers away from dwelling in Shechem. BSB BSB: Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
42 GLT Now it happened that the next day the people went out into the field, and they reported it to Abimelech. BSB BSB: The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields, and this was reported to Abimelech.
43 GLT So he took the people, and he split up into three units. Then he waited in ambush in the field. When he saw and look, the people were going out of the city, then he rose up against them and he 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 GLT Abimelech and the units that were with him spread out and they stood at the entrance of the gate of the city. But two units spread out against everyone who was in the field and they 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 GLT Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city, and he killed the people who were in it. Then he tore down the city and scattered salt on it. 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 GLT When all the lords of the tower of Shechem heard, they went 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 GLT Then it was reported to Abimelech that all 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 GLT So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. Abimelech took the proper ax in his hand and cut off a branch from the trees. He lifted it and set it upon his shoulder and said to the people who were with him,“Whatsoever you have seen that I have done, hurry, do the same as 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 GLT So all the people also each cut off a branch and they went after Abimelech. Then they piled them on top of the underground chamber, thus on account of them they burned the underground chamber with fire. As a result all the distinguished people in the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand 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.
50 GLT Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he set up camp around Thebez and he captured it. BSB BSB: Then Abimelech went to Thebez, encamped against it, and captured it.
51 GLT But there was a strong tower in the midst of the city, so all of the men and the women and all the prominent citizens of the city fled to there. They closed it up behind themselves and they went up on 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 GLT Then Abimelech came towards the tower and he fought against it, and he approached as far as the entrance of the tower in order to burn it with fire. BSB BSB: When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.
53 GLT But one woman threw down 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 GLT Then he cried out hurriedly to the young man bearing his armor, and he said to him,“Draw out your sword and put me to death, lest they will say about me,‘A woman killed him.’” So his young man stabbed him so that 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 GLT When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech had died, they went each to his own place. BSB BSB: And when the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.
56 GLT Thus God avenged the evil of Abimelech that he did to his father by killing his seventy brothers. BSB BSB: In this way God repaid the wickedness that Abimelech had done to his father in murdering his seventy brothers.
57 GLT All the evil of the men of Shechem God caused to return back upon their own heads and on them came the curse of Jotham, the son of Jerubbaal. 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.