| NET Bible | Christian Standard Bible |
| 1Now Abimelech son of Jerub-Baal went to Shechem to see his mother's relatives. He said to them and to his mother's entire extended family, | 1Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem and spoke to his uncles and to his mother's whole clan, saying, |
| 2"Tell all the leaders of Shechem this: 'Why would you want to have seventy men, all Jerub-Baal's sons, ruling over you, when you can have just one ruler? Recall that I am your own flesh and blood.'" | 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." |
| 3His mother's relatives spoke on his behalf to all the leaders of Shechem and reported his proposal. The leaders were drawn to Abimelech; they said, "He is our close relative." | 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." |
| 4They paid him seventy silver shekels out of the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech then used the silver to hire some lawless, dangerous men as his followers. | 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. |
| 5He went to his father's home in Ophrah and murdered his half-brothers, the seventy legitimate sons of Jerub-Baal, on one stone. Only Jotham, Jerub-Baal's youngest son, escaped, because he hid. | 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. |
| 6All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo assembled and then went and made Abimelech king by the oak near the pillar in Shechem. | 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. |
| 7When Jotham heard the news, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He spoke loudly to the people below, "Listen to me, leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you! | 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: |
| 8"The trees were determined to go out and choose a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king!' | 8The trees decided to anoint a king over themselves. They said to the olive tree, "Reign over us." |
| 9But the olive tree said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my oil, which is used to honor gods and men, just to sway above the other trees!' | 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?" |
| 10"So the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!' | 10Then the trees said to the fig tree, "Come and reign over us." |
| 11But the fig tree said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my sweet figs, my excellent fruit, just to sway above the other trees!' | 11But the fig tree said to them, "Should I stop giving my sweetness and my good fruit, and rule over trees?" |
| 12"So the trees said to the grapevine, 'You come and be our king!' | 12Later, the trees said to the grapevine, "Come and reign over us." |
| 13But the grapevine said to them, 'I am not going to stop producing my wine, which makes gods and men so happy, just to sway above the other trees!' | 13But the grapevine said to them, "Should I stop giving my wine that cheers both God and man, and rule over trees?" |
| 14"So all the trees said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our king!' | 14Finally, all the trees said to the bramble, "Come and reign over us." |
| 15The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to choose me as your king, then come along, find safety under my branches! Otherwise may fire blaze from the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!' | 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." |
| 16"Now, if you have shown loyalty and integrity when you made Abimelech king, if you have done right to Jerub-Baal and his family, if you have properly repaid him-- | 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-- |
| 17my father fought for you; he risked his life and delivered you from Midian's power. | 17for my father fought for you, risked his life, and rescued you from Midian, |
| 18But you have attacked my father's family today. You murdered his seventy legitimate sons on one stone and made Abimelech, the son of his female slave, king over the leaders of Shechem, just because he is your close relative. | 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'-- |
| 19So if you have shown loyalty and integrity to Jerub-Baal and his family today, then may Abimelech bring you happiness and may you bring him happiness! | 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. |
| 20But if not, may fire blaze from Abimelech and consume the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo! May fire also blaze from the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo and consume Abimelech!" | 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." |
| 21Then Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother. | 21Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and lived there because of his brother Abimelech. |
| 22Abimelech commanded Israel for three years. | 22When Abimelech had ruled over Israel three years, |
| 23God sent a spirit to stir up hostility between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem. He made the leaders of Shechem disloyal to Abimelech. | 23God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the citizens of Shechem. They treated Abimelech deceitfully, |
| 24He did this so the violent deaths of Jerub-Baal's seventy sons might be avenged and Abimelech, their half-brother who murdered them, might have to pay for their spilled blood, along with the leaders of Shechem who helped him murder them. | 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. |
| 25The leaders of Shechem rebelled against Abimelech by putting bandits in the hills, who robbed everyone who traveled by on the road. But Abimelech found out about it. | 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. |
| 26Gaal son of Ebed came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him. | 26Gaal son of Ebed came with his brothers and crossed into Shechem, and the citizens of Shechem trusted him. |
| 27They went out to the field, harvested their grapes, squeezed out the juice, and celebrated. They came to the temple of their god and ate, drank, and cursed Abimelech. | 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. |
| 28Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelech and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal, and is not Zebul the deputy he appointed? Serve the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem! But why should we serve 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? |
| 29If only these men were under my command, I would get rid of Abimelech!" He challenged Abimelech, "Muster your army and come out for battle!" | 29If only these people were in my power, I would remove Abimelech." So he said to Abimelech, "Gather your army and come out." |
| 30When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious. | 30When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was angry. |
| 31He sent messengers to Abimelech, who was in Arumah, reporting, "Beware! Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers are coming to Shechem and inciting the city to rebel against you. | 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. |
| 32Now, come up at night with your men and set an ambush in the field outside the city. | 32Now tonight, you and the troops with you, come and wait in ambush in the countryside. |
| 33In the morning at sunrise quickly attack the city. When he and his men come out to fight you, do what you can to him." | 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." |
| 34So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem--they divided into four units. | 34So Abimelech and all the troops with him got up at night and waited in ambush for Shechem in four units. |
| 35When Gaal son of Ebed came out and stood at the entrance to the city's gate, Abimelech and his men got up from their hiding places. | 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. |
| 36Gaal saw the men and said to Zebul, "Look, men are coming down from the tops of the hills." But Zebul said to him, "You are seeing the shadows on the hills--it just looks like men." | 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." |
| 37Gaal again said, "Look, men are coming down from the very center of the land. A unit is coming by way of the Oak Tree of the Diviners." | 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." |
| 38Zebul said to him, "Where now are your bragging words, 'Who is Abimelech that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you insulted? Go out now and fight them!" | 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!" |
| 39So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out and fought Abimelech. | 39So Gaal went out leading the citizens of Shechem and fought against Abimelech, |
| 40Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran from him. Many Shechemites fell wounded at the entrance of the gate. | 40but Abimelech pursued him, and Gaal fled before him. Numerous bodies were strewn as far as the entrance of the city gate. |
| 41Abimelech went back to Arumah; Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. | 41Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers from Shechem. |
| 42The next day the Shechemites came out to the field. When Abimelech heard about it, | 42The next day when the people of Shechem went into the countryside, this was reported to Abimelech. |
| 43he took his men and divided them into three units and set an ambush in the field. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and struck them down. | 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. |
| 44Abimelech and his units attacked and blocked the entrance to the city's gate. Two units then attacked all the people in the field and struck them down. | 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. |
| 45Abimelech fought against the city all that day. He captured the city and killed all the people in it. Then he leveled the city and spread salt over it. | 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. |
| 46When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. | 46When all the citizens of the Tower of Shechem heard, they entered the inner chamber of the temple of El-berith. |
| 47Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place. | 47Then it was reported to Abimelech that all the citizens of the Tower of Shechem had gathered. |
| 48He and all his men went up on Mount Zalmon. He took an ax in his hand and cut off a tree branch. He put it on his shoulder and said to his men, "Quickly, do what you have just seen me do!" | 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." |
| 49So each of his men also cut off a branch and followed Abimelech. They put the branches against the stronghold and set fire to it. All the people of the Tower of Shechem died--about a thousand men and women. | 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. |
| 50Abimelech moved on to Thebez; he besieged and captured it. | 50Abimelech went to Thebez, camped against it, and captured it. |
| 51There was a fortified tower in the center of the city, so all the men and women, as well as the city's leaders, ran into it and locked the entrance. Then they went up to the roof of the tower. | 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. |
| 52Abimelech came and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire, | 52When Abimelech came to attack the tower, he approached its entrance to set it on fire. |
| 53a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered his skull. | 53But a woman threw the upper portion of a millstone on Abimelech's head and fractured his skull. |
| 54He quickly called to the young man who carried his weapons, "Draw your sword and kill me, so they will not say, 'A woman killed him.'" So the young man stabbed him and he died. | 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. |
| 55When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home. | 55When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they all went home. |
| 56God repaid Abimelech for the evil he did to his father by murdering his seventy half-brothers. | 56In this way, God brought back Abimelech's evil--the evil that Abimelech had done to his father when he killed his seventy brothers. |
| 57God also repaid the men of Shechem for their evil deeds. The curse spoken by Jotham son of Jerub-Baal fell on them. | 57God also brought back to the men of Shechem all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Jerubbaal came upon them. |
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