Christian Standard Bible

New American Standard Bible 1995

1Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem and spoke to his uncles and to his mother's whole clan, saying,

1And Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem to his mother's relatives, and spoke to them and to the whole clan of the household of his mother's father, saying,

2"Please speak in the hearing of all the citizens of Shechem, 'Is it better for you that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you or that one man rule over you?' Remember that I am your own flesh and blood."

2"Speak, now, in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem, 'Which is better for you, that seventy men, all the sons of Jerubbaal, rule over you, or that one man rule over you?' Also, remember that I am your bone and your flesh."

3His mother's relatives spoke all these words about him in the hearing of all the citizens of Shechem, and they were favorable to Abimelech, for they said, "He is our brother."

3And his mother's relatives spoke all these words on his behalf in the hearing of all the leaders of Shechem; and they were inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, "He is our relative."

4So they gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-berith. Abimelech used it to hire worthless and reckless men, and they followed him.

4They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the house of Baal-berith with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless fellows, and they followed him.

5He went to his father's house in Ophrah and killed his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerubbaal, on top of a large stone. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerubbaal, survived, because he hid.

5Then he went to his father's house at Ophrah and killed his brothers the sons of Jerubbaal, seventy men, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, for he hid himself.

6Then all the citizens of Shechem and of Beth-millo gathered together and proceeded to make Abimelech king at the oak of the pillar in Shechem.

6All the men of Shechem and all Beth-millo assembled together, and they went and made Abimelech king, by the oak of the pillar which was in Shechem.

7When they told Jotham, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim, raised his voice, and called to them: Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, and may God listen to you:

7Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and called out. Thus he said to them, "Listen to me, O men of Shechem, that God may listen to you.

8The trees decided to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, "Reign over us."

8"Once the trees went forth to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us!'

9But the olive tree said to them, "Should I stop giving my oil that people use to honor both God and men, and rule over the trees?"

9"But the olive tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my fatness with which God and men are honored, and go to wave over the trees?'

10Then the trees said to the fig tree, "Come and reign over us."

10"Then the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come, reign over us!'

11But the fig tree said to them, "Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, and rule over trees?"

11"But the fig tree said to them, 'Shall I leave my sweetness and my good fruit, and go to wave over the trees?'

12Later, the trees said to the grapevine, "Come and reign over us."

12"Then the trees said to the vine, 'You come, reign over us!'

13But the grapevine said to them, "Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, and rule over trees?"

13"But the vine said to them, 'Shall I leave my new wine, which cheers God and men, and go to wave over the trees?'

14Finally, all the trees said to the bramble, "Come and reign over us."

14"Finally all the trees said to the bramble, 'You come, reign over us!'

15The bramble said to the trees, "If you really are anointing me as king over you, come and find refuge in my shade. But if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon."

15"The bramble said to the trees, 'If in truth you are anointing me as king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, may fire come out from the bramble and consume the cedars of Lebanon.'

16"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 rewarded him appropriately for what he did--

16"Now therefore, if you have dealt in truth and integrity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have dealt with him as he deserved--

17for my father fought for you, risked his life, and rescued you from Midian,

17for my father fought for you and risked his life and delivered you from the hand of Midian;

18and now you have attacked my father's family today, killed his seventy sons on top of a large stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his slave woman, king over the citizens of Shechem 'because he is your brother'--

18but you have risen against my father's house today and have killed his sons, seventy men, on one stone, and have made Abimelech, the son of his maidservant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your relative--

19so if you have acted faithfully and honestly with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech and may he also rejoice in you.

19if then you have dealt in truth and integrity with Jerubbaal and his house this day, rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.

20But if not, may fire come from Abimelech and consume the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo, and may fire come from the citizens of Shechem and Beth-millo and consume Abimelech."

20"But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and consume the men of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the men of Shechem and from Beth-millo, and consume Abimelech."

21Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and lived there because of his brother Abimelech.

21Then Jotham escaped and fled, and went to Beer and remained there because of Abimelech his brother.

22When Abimelech had ruled over Israel three years,

22Now Abimelech ruled over Israel three years.

23God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully,

23Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

24so that the crime against the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come to justice and their blood would be avenged on their brother Abimelech, who killed them, and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him kill his brothers.

24so that the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood might be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who strengthened his hands to kill his brothers.

25The citizens of Shechem rebelled against him by putting men in ambush on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed everyone who passed by them on the road. So this was reported to Abimelech.

25The men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who might pass by them along the road; and it was told to Abimelech.

26Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the citizens of Shechem trusted him.

26Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his relatives, and crossed over into Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their trust in him.

27So they went out to the countryside and harvested grapes from their vineyards. They trampled the grapes and held a celebration. Then they went to the house of their god, and as they ate and drank, they cursed Abimelech.

27They went out into the field and gathered the grapes of their vineyards and trod them, and held a festival; and they went into the house of their god, and ate and drank and cursed Abimelech.

28Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem that we should serve him? Isn't he the son of Jerubbaal, and isn't Zebul his officer? You are to serve the men of Hamor, the father of Shechem. Why should we serve Abimelech?

28Then 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 Zebul not his lieutenant? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?

29If only these people were in my power, I would remove Abimelech." So he said to Abimelech, "Gather your army and come out."

29"Would, therefore, that this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech." And he said to Abimelech, "Increase your army and come out."

30When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was angry.

30When Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger burned.

31So he secretly sent messengers to Abimelech, saying, "Beware! Gaal son of Ebed, with his brothers, have come to Shechem and are turning the city against you.

31He sent messengers to Abimelech deceitfully, saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his relatives have come to Shechem; and behold, they are stirring up the city against you.

32Now tonight, you and the troops with you, come and wait in ambush in the countryside.

32"Now therefore, arise by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.

33Then get up early, and at sunrise attack the city. When he and the troops who are with him come out against you, do to him whatever you can."

33"In the morning, as soon as the sun is up, you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and behold, when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you shall do to them whatever you can."

34So Abimelech and all the troops with him got up at night and waited in ambush for Shechem in four units.

34So Abimelech and all the people who were with him arose by night and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

35Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood at the entrance of the city gate. Then Abimelech and the troops who were with him got up from their ambush.

35Now Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate; and Abimelech and the people who were with him arose from the ambush.

36When Gaal saw the troops, he said to Zebul, "Look, troops are coming down from the mountaintops!" But Zebul said to him, "The shadows of the mountains look like men to you."

36When Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains." But Zebul said to him, "You are seeing the shadow of the mountains as if they were men."

37Then Gaal spoke again, "Look, troops are coming down from the central part of the land, and one unit is coming from the direction of the Diviners' Oak."

37Gaal spoke again and said, "Behold, people are coming down from the highest part of the land, and one company comes by the way of the diviners' oak."

38Zebul replied,"What do you have to say now? You said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Aren't these the troops you despised? Now go and fight them!"

38Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your boasting now with which you said, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Is this not the people whom you despised? Go out now and fight with them!"

39So Gaal went out leading the citizens of Shechem and fought against Abimelech,

39So Gaal went out before the leaders of Shechem and fought with Abimelech.

40but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. Numerous bodies were strewn as far as the entrance of the city gate.

40Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him; and many fell wounded up to the entrance of the gate.

41Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers from Shechem.

41Then Abimelech remained at Arumah, but Zebul drove out Gaal and his relatives so that they could not remain in Shechem.

42The next day when the people of Shechem went into the countryside, this was reported to Abimelech.

42Now it came about the next day, that the people went out to the field, and it was told to Abimelech.

43He took the troops, divided them into three companies, and waited in ambush in the countryside. He looked, and the people were coming out of the city, so he arose against them and struck them down.

43So he took his people and divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field; when he looked and saw the people coming out from the city, he arose against them and slew them.

44Then Abimelech and the units that were with him rushed forward and took their stand at the entrance of the city gate. The other two units rushed against all who were in the countryside and struck them down.

44Then Abimelech and the company who was with him dashed forward and stood in the entrance of the city gate; the other two companies then dashed against all who were in the field and slew them.

45So Abimelech fought against the city that entire day, captured it, and killed the people who were in it. Then he tore down the city and sowed it with salt.

45Abimelech fought against the city all that day, and he captured the city and killed the people who were in it; then he razed the city and sowed it with salt.

46When all the citizens of the Tower of Shechem heard, they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

46When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith.

47Then it was reported to Abimelech that all the citizens of the Tower of Shechem had gathered.

47It was told Abimelech that all the leaders of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48So Abimelech and all the troops who were with him went up to Mount Zalmon. Abimelech took his ax in his hand and cut a branch from the trees. He picked up the branch, put it on his shoulder, and said to the troops who were with him, "Hurry and do what you have seen me do."

48So Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand and cut down a branch from the trees, and lifted it and laid it on his shoulder. Then he said to the people who were with him, "What you have seen me do, hurry and do likewise."

49Each of the troops also cut his own branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the inner chamber and set it on fire; about a thousand men and women died, including all the men of the Tower of Shechem.

49All the people also cut down each one his branch and followed Abimelech, and put them on the inner chamber and set the inner chamber on fire over those inside, so that all the men of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.

50Abimelech went to Thebez, camped against it, and captured it.

50Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he camped against Thebez and captured it.

51There was a strong tower inside the city, and all the men, women, and citizens of the city fled there. They locked themselves in and went up to the roof of the tower.

51But there was a strong tower in the center of the city, and all the men and women with all the leaders of the city fled there and shut themselves in; and they went up on the roof of the tower.

52When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire.

52So Abimelech came to the tower and fought against it, and approached the entrance of the tower to burn it with fire.

53But a woman threw the upper portion of a millstone on Abimelech's head and fractured his skull.

53But a certain woman threw an upper millstone on Abimelech's head, crushing his skull.

54He quickly called his armor-bearer and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, or they'll say about me, 'A woman killed him.'" So his armor-bearer ran him through, and he died.

54Then he called quickly to the young man, his armor bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, so that it will not be said of me, 'A woman slew him.'" So the young man pierced him through, and he died.

55When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home.

55When the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, each departed to his home.

56In this way, God brought back Abimelech's evil--the evil that Abimelech had done to his father when he killed his seventy brothers.

56Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father in killing his seventy brothers.

57God also brought back to the men of Shechem all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

57Also God returned all the wickedness of the men of Shechem on their heads, and the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal came upon them.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

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