| NET Bible | New International Version |
| 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, | 1Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's brothers in Shechem and said to them and to all his mother's clan, |
| 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"Ask all the citizens of Shechem, 'Which is better for you: to have all seventy of Jerub-Baal's sons rule over you, or just one man?' Remember, I am your 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." | 3When the brothers repeated all this to the citizens of Shechem, they were inclined to follow Abimelek, for they said, "He is related to us." |
| 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. | 4They gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used it to hire reckless scoundrels, who became his followers. |
| 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 home in Ophrah and on one stone murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. But Jotham, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, escaped by hiding. |
| 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 Beth Millo gathered beside the great tree at the pillar in Shechem to crown Abimelek king. |
| 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 Jotham was told about this, he climbed up on the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted to them, "Listen to me, citizens of Shechem, so that God may 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!' | 8One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, 'Be our king.' |
| 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!' | 9"But the olive tree answered, 'Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and humans are honored, to hold sway over the trees?' |
| 10"So the trees said to the fig tree, 'You come and be our king!' | 10"Next, the trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and be our king.' |
| 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!' | 11"But the fig tree replied, 'Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?' |
| 12"So the trees said to the grapevine, 'You come and be our king!' | 12"Then the trees said to the vine, 'Come and be our king.' |
| 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!' | 13"But the vine answered, 'Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and humans, to hold sway over the trees?' |
| 14"So all the trees said to the thornbush, 'You come and be our king!' | 14"Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, 'Come and be our king.' |
| 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!' | 15"The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush 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"Have you acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelek king? Have you been fair to Jerub-Baal and his family? Have you treated him as he deserves? |
| 17my father fought for you; he risked his life and delivered you from Midian's power. | 17Remember that my father fought for you and risked his life to rescue you from the hand of 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. | 18But today you have revolted against my father's family. You have murdered his seventy sons on a single stone and have made Abimelek, the son of his female slave, king over the citizens of Shechem because he is related to you. |
| 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 have you acted honorably and in good faith toward Jerub-Baal and his family today? If you have, may Abimelek be your joy, and may you be his, too! |
| 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 you have not, let fire come out from Abimelek and consume you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and let fire come out from you, the citizens of Shechem and Beth Millo, and consume Abimelek!" |
| 21Then Jotham ran away to Beer and lived there to escape from Abimelech his half-brother. | 21Then Jotham fled, escaping to Beer, and he lived there because he was afraid of his brother Abimelek. |
| 22Abimelech commanded Israel for three years. | 22After Abimelek had governed 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 stirred up animosity between Abimelek and the citizens of Shechem so that they acted treacherously against Abimelek. |
| 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. | 24God did this in order that the crime against Jerub-Baal's seventy sons, the shedding of their blood, might be avenged on their brother Abimelek and on the citizens of Shechem, who had helped him murder 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. | 25In opposition to him these citizens of Shechem set men on the hilltops to ambush and rob everyone who passed by, and this was reported to Abimelek. |
| 26Gaal son of Ebed came through Shechem with his brothers. The leaders of Shechem transferred their loyalty to him. | 26Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in 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. | 27After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. |
| 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? | 28Then Gaal son of Ebed said, "Who is Abimelek, and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn't he Jerub-Baal's son, and isn't Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelek? |
| 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 this people were under my command! Then I would get rid of him. I would say to Abimelek, 'Call out your whole army!'" |
| 30When Zebul, the city commissioner, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed, he was furious. | 30When Zebul the governor of the city heard what Gaal son of Ebed said, he was very 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. | 31Under cover he sent messengers to Abimelek, saying, "Gaal son of Ebed and his clan have come to Shechem and are stirring up the city against you. |
| 32Now, come up at night with your men and set an ambush in the field outside the city. | 32Now then, during the night you and your men should come and lie in wait in the fields. |
| 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." | 33In the morning at sunrise, advance against the city. When Gaal and his men come out against you, seize the opportunity to attack them." |
| 34So Abimelech and all his men came up at night and set an ambush outside Shechem--they divided into four units. | 34So Abimelek and all his troops set out by night and took up concealed positions near Shechem in four companies. |
| 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. | 35Now Gaal son of Ebed had gone out and was standing at the entrance of the city gate just as Abimelek and his troops came out from their hiding place. |
| 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 them, he said to Zebul, "Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!" Zebul replied, "You mistake the shadows of the mountains for men." |
| 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." | 37But Gaal spoke up again: "Look, people are coming down from the central hill, and a company is coming from the direction of the diviners' tree." |
| 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!" | 38Then Zebul said to him, "Where is your big talk now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelek that we should be subject to him?' Aren't these the men you ridiculed? Go out and fight them!" |
| 39So Gaal led the leaders of Shechem out and fought Abimelech. | 39So Gaal led out the citizens of Shechem and fought Abimelek. |
| 40Abimelech chased him, and Gaal ran from him. Many Shechemites fell wounded at the entrance of the gate. | 40Abimelek chased him all the way to the entrance of the gate, and many were killed as they fled. |
| 41Abimelech went back to Arumah; Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem. | 41Then Abimelek stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his clan out of Shechem. |
| 42The next day the Shechemites came out to the field. When Abimelech heard about it, | 42The next day the people of Shechem went out to the fields, and this was reported to Abimelek. |
| 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. | 43So he took his men, divided them into three companies and set an ambush in the fields. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he rose to attack them. |
| 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. | 44Abimelek and the companies with him rushed forward to a position at the entrance of the city gate. Then two companies attacked those in the fields 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. | 45All that day Abimelek pressed his attack against the city until he had captured it and killed its people. Then he destroyed the city and scattered salt over it. |
| 46When all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem heard the news, they went to the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. | 46On hearing this, the citizens in the tower of Shechem went into the stronghold of the temple of El-Berith. |
| 47Abimelech heard that all the leaders of the Tower of Shechem were in one place. | 47When Abimelek heard that they had assembled there, |
| 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!" | 48he and all his men went up Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and cut off some branches, which he lifted to his shoulders. He ordered the men with him, "Quick! 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. | 49So all the men cut branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the stronghold and set it on fire with the people still inside. So all the people in the tower of Shechem, about a thousand men and women, also died. |
| 50Abimelech moved on to Thebez; he besieged and captured it. | 50Next Abimelek went to Thebez and besieged 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. | 51Inside the city, however, was a strong tower, to which all the men and women--all the people of the city--had fled. They had locked themselves in and climbed up on the tower roof. |
| 52Abimelech came and attacked the tower. When he approached the entrance of the tower to set it on fire, | 52Abimelek went to the tower and attacked it. But as he approached the entrance to the tower to set it on fire, |
| 53a woman threw an upper millstone down on his head and shattered his skull. | 53a woman dropped an upper millstone on his head and cracked 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. | 54Hurriedly he called to his armor-bearer, "Draw your sword and kill me, so that they can't say, 'A woman killed him.'" So his servant ran him through, and he died. |
| 55When the Israelites saw that Abimelech was dead, they went home. | 55When the Israelites saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home. |
| 56God repaid Abimelech for the evil he did to his father by murdering his seventy half-brothers. | 56Thus God repaid the wickedness that Abimelek had done to his father by murdering 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 made the people of Shechem pay for all their wickedness. The curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal came on them. |
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