Verse
BSB
Berean Standard Bible
YLT
Young's Literal Translation
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
,
and
Abimelech son of Jerubbaal goeth
to Shechem ,
unto
his
mother's
brethren,
and speaketh
unto
them ,
and unto
all the family
of the
house
of
his mother's
father
, saying,
“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
. ”
`Speak,
I
pray
you,
in
the
ears
of
all the masters
of Shechem, Which
`
is '
good
for you --
the
ruling
over
you
of
seventy men (
all the sons of Jerubbaal )
, or
the
ruling
over you of
one man? --
and
ye
have
remembered
that I `
am '
your bone
and your
flesh
. '
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 .”
And his mother's
brethren
speak
concerning
him ,
in the ears
of all the masters
of Shechem, all
these
words,
and
their heart
inclineth
after
Abimelech, for they said, `
He `
is '
our brother ;'
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 .
and
they give
to
him seventy silverings
out
of the house
of Baal-Berith, and Abimelech
hireth
with
them
men ,
vain
and
unstable,
and
they
go
after
him ;
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
.
and
he goeth
into
the
house of
his
father
at
Ophrah, and slayeth
his brethren
, sons of Jerubbaal ,
seventy
men,
on
one
stone;
and
Jotham, youngest son of Jerubbaal, is
left
, for
he was
hidden
.
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.
And
all the masters
of Shechem are
gathered
together,
and all
the
house
of
Millo ,
and
come
and
cause
Abimelech
to
reign
for
king
at
the oak of
the camp
which
`is'
in Shechem ;
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 .
and
they
declare
`it'
to Jotham, and
he goeth
and
standeth
on
the top of mount Gerizim, and
lifteth
up
his voice, and calleth,
and
saith
to them,
`Hearken
unto
me, O masters
of Shechem, and God doth
hearken
unto
you :
One
day
the trees set
out
to anoint a king for
themselves.
They said
to the olive tree
, ‘
Reign over us. ’
`
The trees have
diligently
gone
to anoint over
them
a king ,
and
they say
to the olive, Reign thou
over us.
But
the olive tree
replied
, ‘Should
I stop
giving
my oil
that
honors
both
God
and man
, to hold
sway
over the trees? ’
And
the olive saith
to
them
, Have
I ceased
from
my fatness,
by
which
they
honour
gods
and men
, that
I
have
gone
to stagger
over the trees?
Then
the trees said
to the fig tree
, ‘
Come and
reign over us. ’
And
the trees say
to the fig, Come thou,
reign over us.
But
the fig tree
replied
, ‘Should
I stop
giving
my sweetness and my good fruit
, to hold
sway
over the trees? ’
And
the fig saith
to
them
, Have
I ceased
from
my sweetness ,
and my good increase
, that
I
have
gone
to stagger
over the trees?
Then
the trees said
to the grapevine
, ‘
Come and
reign over us. ’
`And
the trees say
to the vine
, Come thou,
reign over us.
But
the grapevine
replied
, ‘Should
I stop
giving
my wine that
cheers
both
God
and man
, to hold
sway
over the trees? ’
And
the vine
saith
to
them
, Have
I ceased
from
my new
wine ,
which
is
rejoicing
gods
and men
, that
I
have
gone
to stagger
over the trees?
Finally
all the trees said
to
the thornbush
, ‘
Come and
reign over us. ’
And
all the trees say
unto
the bramble
, Come thou,
reign over us.
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. ’
And
the bramble
saith
unto
the
trees
, If in
truth
ye
are anointing me for
king over you, come ,
take
refuge in my shadow;
and
if not --
fire cometh
out from
the bramble,
and devoureth
the cedars of Lebanon.
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—
`And,
now ,
if in
truth
and in sincerity
ye
have
acted,
when
ye
make
Abimelech king ;
and
if ye
have done good
with
Jerubbaal ,
and with
his house;
and if according
to
the
deed
of
his
hands
ye
have done to him --
for
my father fought for you and risked
his life to
deliver you from the hand of Midian ,
because
my father hath
fought for you ,
and doth
cast
away
his life from
`him',
and
deliver you from the hand of Midian ;
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 —
and
ye
have risen against the
house of
my
father
to-
day ,
and slay
his sons ,
seventy
men,
on one
stone, and cause
Abimelech son of his handmaid
to
reign
over the masters
of Shechem ,
because he `
is '
your brother --
if you
have acted faithfully
and
honestly
toward
Jerubbaal and his house this day, then
may
you
rejoice in Abimelech, and he in you .
yea,
if in
truth
and
in
sincerity
ye
have acted with
Jerubbaal and with
his house this day, rejoice ye
in Abimelech, and he doth
rejoice
--
even
he
--
in you ;
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. ”
and
if not --
fire cometh
out
from Abimelech and devoureth
the masters
of Shechem and the
house
of
Millo, and fire cometh
out
from the masters
of Shechem and from
the
house
of
Millo ,
and devoureth
Abimelech. '
Then
Jotham ran
away
, escaping
to Beer, and he
lived
there for
fear
of his brother Abimelech
.
And
Jotham hasteth
, and
fleeth,
and
goeth
to Beer, and dwelleth
there ,
from
the
face
of Abimelech
his brother.
After
Abimelech had
reigned
over Israel for
three years,
And
Abimelech is
prince
over Israel three years,
God sent
a
spirit of
animosity
between Abimelech and the leaders
of Shechem and caused
them
to
treat
Abimelech deceitfully
,
and
God sendeth
an
evil
spirit between Abimelech and the masters
of Shechem ,
and the
masters
of
Shechem
deal
treacherously
with
Abimelech,
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
.
for
the
coming
in of
the violence
`to'
the seventy sons of Jerubbaal ,
and of
their blood to
place
`it'
on Abimelech
their brother ,
who
slew
them,
and on the masters
of Shechem, who strengthened
his hands
to
slay
his
brethren
.
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.
And
the masters
of Shechem set for
him
ambushes
on the top
of
the
hills
, and rob
every
one
who passeth
over
by them in
the way,
and
it
is
declared
to Abimelech.
Meanwhile,
Gaal son of Ebed came
with
his brothers
and crossed
into Shechem, and the leaders
of Shechem put
their
confidence
in him .
And
Gaal son of Ebed cometh
--
also
his brethren
--
and they
pass
over
into Shechem, and the masters
of Shechem trust
in him ,
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.
and go
out into the field
, and
gather
their vineyards, and tread
, and make
praises,
and
go
into the house of their god ,
and eat
and drink
, and
revile
Abimelech.
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
?
And
Gaal son of Ebed saith
, `
Who `
is '
Abimelech, and who `
is '
Shechem, that we serve him? is `
he '
not son of Jerubbaal ?
and Zebul his commander
? Serve ye
the men of Hamor father of Shechem ,
and
wherefore
do
we serve him
--
we
?
If
only
this people were under
my authority,
I would
remove
Abimelech; I
would
say
to him
, ‘Muster
your
army
and come out !’”
and
oh
that
this people were in
my hand
--
then
I turn
Abimelech aside
; '
and
he
saith
to Abimelech
, `Increase
thy
host,
and come out .'
When
Zebul the
governor
of the city heard
the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he
burned
with
anger .
And
Zebul ,
prince
of the city ,
heareth
the words of Gaal son of Ebed, and
his
anger burneth,
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.
and
he sendeth
messengers unto
Abimelech deceitfully
, saying
, `Lo,
Gaal son of Ebed and his brethren
are
coming
into
Shechem ,
and lo,
they
are fortifying
the city against thee;
Now then
, tonight
you
and the people with
you
are to
come
and lie
in
wait in the fields.
and,
now, rise
by
night,
thou
and the people who
`
are '
with
thee,
and lay
wait in the field,
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
. ”
and it
hath
been,
in the morning, about
the
rising
of
the
sun,
thou
dost
rise
early,
and hast
pushed
against the city ;
and lo
, he
and
the
people
who
`
are '
with
him
are
going
out
unto
thee
--
and
thou
hast
done
to
him
as
thy
hand
doth
find
. '
So
Abimelech and all his
troops
set
out
by night and lay in
wait against Shechem in
four companies.
And
Abimelech riseth,
and all the
people
who
`are'
with
him,
by night ,
and they
lay wait against Shechem --
four detachments;
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.
and
Gaal son of Ebed goeth
out ,
and standeth
at the opening
of the gate of
the
city,
and Abimelech
riseth
--
also
the
people
who
`are'
with
him
--
from the
ambush,
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
. ”
and
Gaal seeth
the people, and
saith
unto
Zebul, `Lo
, people are coming down from the top
of
the
hills;'
and
Zebul saith
unto
him
, `
The shadow
of the hills
thou
art
seeing
like men. '
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. ”
And
Gaal addeth
yet
to
speak
, and
saith
, `Lo,
people are coming down from the high
part
of the land, and another
detachment
is coming by the
way of the oak of
Meonenim
. '
“
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!”
And
Zebul
saith
unto
him,
`
Where `
is '
now thy
mouth
, in
that
thou
sayest,
Who `
is '
Abimelech that we serve him? is
not this
the people against
which
thou
hast
kicked
? go out ,
I
pray
thee
now ,
and fight against
it.'
So
Gaal went
out before the leaders
of Shechem and fought
against Abimelech,
And
Gaal goeth
out before the masters
of Shechem ,
and fighteth
against Abimelech,
but
Abimelech pursued
him, and Gaal
fled
before
him.
And many Shechemites
fell
wounded all
the
way
to
the entrance
of the gate.
and
Abimelech pursueth
him, and he
fleeth
from
his
presence,
and many fall
wounded --
unto
the opening
of the gate.
Abimelech stayed
in Arumah, and Zebul drove
Gaal and his brothers
out
of
Shechem.
And
Abimelech abideth
in Arumah, and Zebul casteth
out
Gaal and his brethren
from
dwelling
in
Shechem.
The next
day
the people of
Shechem
went
out into
the fields
, and this
was
reported
to Abimelech .
And
it
cometh
to
pass,
on
the morrow,
that
the people go
out to
the field
, and they
declare
`it'
to Abimelech ,
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.
and
he taketh
the
people
, and
divideth
them into three detachments
, and layeth
wait in a
field,
and
looketh,
and
lo,
the people are
coming out from
the city, and
he riseth
against them ,
and smiteth
them.
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.
And
Abimelech and the detachments
who
`are'
with him have
pushed
on,
and stand at the opening
of the gate of
the city,
and
the
two detachments
have
pushed
against all who are
in the field,
and smite
them ,
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.
and Abimelech hath
fought against the city all
that
day,
and captureth
the
city,
and
the
people who
`are'
in
it
he hath
slain,
and
he
breaketh
down
the city ,
and soweth
it `
with '
salt.
On
hearing
of
this,
all the leaders
in
the tower of Shechem entered
the inner
chamber
of the temple
of El-
berith .
And
all the masters
of
the tower of Shechem hear,
and
go
in
unto
the high
place
of the house
of the
god
Berith ,
And when
Abimelech was
told
that all the leaders
in
the tower of Shechem were
gathered there
,
and it
is
declared
to
Abimelech that all the masters
of
the tower of Shechem have
gathered themselves
together
,
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. ”
and Abimelech
goeth
up to mount Zalmon ,
he
and
all
the
people
who
`are'
with
him,
and
Abimelech taketh
the
great
axe in his hand ,
and cutteth
off
a bough
of
the trees, and
lifteth
it
up
, and
setteth
`it'
on
his shoulder
, and saith
unto
the
people
who
`are'
with
him,
`
What ye
have seen I
have
done
--
haste,
do ye
like
it
. '
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.
And
all
the
people
also cut down
each
one
his bough,
and go
after
Abimelech ,
and set `
them '
at
the
high
place
, and
burn
by
these
the high
place
with
fire,
and
also
all
the
men
of
the
tower of Shechem die
, about a thousand men and women.
Then
Abimelech went
to
Thebez, encamped
against it
, and captured
it .
And
Abimelech goeth
unto
Thebez, and
encampeth
against Thebez
, and captureth
it ,
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.
and
a strong tower hath
been
in
the midst
of
the
city, and thither
flee
do
all the men and
the
women, and all
the
masters
of the city ,
and
they shut
`it'
behind
them,
and go
up on
the roof of the tower.
When
Abimelech came
to
attack
the tower, he
approached
its
entrance
to set
it on
fire .
And
Abimelech cometh
unto
the tower, and
fighteth
against
it,
and
draweth
nigh
unto
the
opening
of
the
tower
to burn
it with
fire ,
But
a woman dropped
an
upper
millstone
on Abimelech’s
head, crushing
his skull .
and
a certain
woman doth
cast
a
piece
of
a
rider
on the
head of
Abimelech
, and
breaketh
his skull ,
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
.
and
he calleth
hastily
unto
the
young
man
bearing
his weapons
, and
saith
to
him
, `
Draw thy
sword ,
and thou
hast
put
me to
death
, lest they say of me --
A woman slew
him ;'
and
his young
man
pierced
him through
, and he dieth
.
And when
the Israelites
saw
that Abimelech was
dead, they
all
went
home.
And the men
of
Israel
see
that Abimelech `is'
dead, and
go
each
one
to
his
place;
In
this
way
God repaid
the wickedness
that
Abimelech had
done
to his father in
murdering
his seventy brothers.
and
God turneth
back
the evil
of
Abimelech which
he
did
to his father to
slay
his seventy brethren;
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
.
and all the evil
of the men of Shechem hath
God
turned
back on
their head,
and
come
unto
them
doth
the cursing
of Jotham son of Jerubbaal.
Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible and Young's Literal Translation. Public domain; source text distributed by BSB Publishing, LLC.; Public domain..